Attention CTOs: R&D needs a different type of efficiency program

Munich, December 2024

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Attention CTOs: R&D needs a different type of efficiency program

Munich, December 2024
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alling vehicle sales, with a drop of up to 18 percent in August 2024 alone is just one sign of the growing urgency for change facing OEMs in Europe¹.

Rising costs, shrinking margins, and the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) are significant challenges that also require immediate attention. And increasingly, these economic factors are deeply tied to the responsibilities of the Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

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It is the first article from our series „R&D Efficiency“. Next publications will release insights and experiences from seasoned professinals sharing their view on success factors, possible shortcuts and mistakes to avoid.

Berylls Insights
Attention CTOs: R&D needs a different type of efficiency program
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Authors
Dennis Röhr

Partner

Christian Kaiser

Partner

Altan Yamak

Associate Partner

Steven Schumacher

Associate Partner

Marcel Friebel

Associate Partner

Max Bienlein

Project Manager

Press Release: Analysis of the TOP 25 suppliers worldwide

München, Dezember 2024

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Press Release: Berylls by AlixPartners press release - Analysis of the TOP 25 suppliers worldwide

Munich, December 2024
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024 was tough, 2025 remains tough. There is news from Berylls by AlixPartners. Supplier experts Alexander Timmer and Jürgen Simon have taken a look back and ahead at the industry and in particular at the top 25 global players. Bosch and ZF are not included in the overview because the companies do not publish quarterly figures.

As anticipated in our analysis last year, 2024 began with a noticeable headwind for suppliers. The quarterly figures for Q1 to Q3 2024 confirmed the increasing challenges for the automotive industry.

And there is no short-term improvement in sight. Our experts forecast that 2025 will be as critical for suppliers as the pandemic crisis, with an increasing risk of insolvency, especially for small and medium-sized companies.

However, a look at the attached charts also shows that OEMs are also suffering from declining margins, despite a slight increase in revenue. They fell from 8.9 percent in 2023 to just 7.2 percent in 2024 – figures that suppliers are nowhere near. Their average margin in 2023 was 5.9 percent, falling to just 5.5 percent in 2024. However, many suppliers are not achieving this average, which makes it difficult or even impossible to operate profitably.

China, which remains the most important market for the automotive industry and its suppliers, is dampening business with a persistent real estate crisis and the resulting economic downturn. In future, China will not be able to maintain the high growth rates of the past and is expected to remain at an annual level of two percent, which is only slightly above the expected global growth in car sales. The threshold to stagnation therefore remains within reach here too. Above-average growth in record sales figures is a thing of the past.

The tariffs announced for 2025 on vehicles produced in China are further exacerbating the situation. At the same time, the pressure on margins in the EU for e-mobility is growing because the emission limits for new vehicles are becoming considerably stricter.

Berylls Insight
Berylls by AlixPartners press release - Analysis of the TOP 25 suppliers worldwide
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Ansprechpartner
Christian Bangemann

Spokes person

Car manufacturers dealing with their heritage

Munich, December 2024

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Car manufacturers dealing with their heritage

Munich, December 2024
W

ith Audi in China and Jaguar's global rebranding, we are currently observing how established brands are reacting to weakening sales by radically breaking with their tradition.

For this reason, we looked at the risks car manufacturers are taking with such a move and analyzed how other manufacturers are dealing with their heritage and incorporating it into brand names, communication and product design. Although heritage is generally an opportunity, it can also be a burden in some situations. The decisive factor is how the public and, above all, target customers perceive this. 

Heritage as a burden – a trend?  

In a very short time, we have seen two manufacturers in the automotive market turn their backs on parts of their brand and history and redefine them in an unusually radical way.  

In November 2024, Jaguar launched a widely publicized rebranding: The font was fundamentally modernized and the classic visual Jaguar logos, the leaper and the growler, were swapped for a monogram – a development that has also been observable at numerous fashion brands in recent years. Jaguar seems to want to detach itself completely from its heritage. In the media, this approach has been received very critically.  

Concrete plans from Audi also envisage a break with brand tradition: The German manufacturer has developed a sub-brand specifically for the Chinese market. Although it is called AUDI, it dispenses with the traditional four rings. The products that AUDI will sell under this brand from 2025 will be developed by Chinese partner SAIC and produced locally – a radical shift in value creation. By abandoning the four rings, AUDI is attempting to preserve its brand essence of Vorsprung durch Technik. This core should not be directly associated with the vehicles developed by SAIC. At the same time, they are consciously setting aside this claim in order to be able to reposition themselves as a brand in the Chinese market. A radical step, but one which is not only met with skepticism.    

These examples illustrate that the topic of heritage can certainly be a burden for car manufacturers steeped in history. In critical situations, for example when sales figures plummet, there can be good arguments for turning away from (large) parts of its history.  

Both brands see their future viability at risk: both Jaguar and Audi have been fighting – globally and especially in China – against a dramatic decline in sales for years. Jaguar’s market share has disastrously collapsed from a good two percent in the early 2010s to just 0.08 percent. Audi recorded a double-digit percentage drop in sales in China last year. The radical rebranding (coupled with a new vehicle substance) is intended to stop the downward trend, or at best reverse it, and shows that both manufacturers see their history as a burden rather than an opportunity – in the case of Audi, only in China for the time being. The change in brand image is the visible expression of a manufacturer’s turnaround for every customer. The aim is to create a fresher, younger and future-proof image in order to create a positive assessment of its own innovative ability and local proximity. With the concept car presented, Audi is already demonstrating that it is about far more than just a realignment of the brand. Jaguar has also announced a completely new all-electric product orientation and market positioning, while at the same time halting current production. 

Despite all the criticism, Jaguar’s chosen path may well lead to success. It has the potential to tap into new target groups with its radical approach, especially in China. Jaguar may be able to reach customers who have not yet experienced the brand and its history. The provocative design of the first study gives a glimpse of how Jaguar will position itself as an expressive, modern status symbol. However, in a market dominated by domestic BEV manufacturers, entering the market will by no means be easy. At the same time, Jaguar must reinvent itself as a global brand and identify and largely recapture its target group in all regions. This is because traditional Jaguar customers have so far been rather negative about the brand shift. Jaguar is willing to accept losing them with the realignment of the brand.

Heritage is more than just a font and logo – success stories from the industry  

Other car manufacturers show in a variety of ways how they link their history with the future and incorporate it into important touchpoints with the customer.  

Mercedes-Benz has been incorporating its history into its communication for years: This includes regularly referring to itself as the inventor of the automobile or remaking iconic models such as the Vision One-Eleven. This trend is finding its way into the product lines for the first time: The G-Class is being extended by the all-electric EQG and Mini-G to form an entire product family. The iconic vehicle design is thus being further cannibalized, although the characteristics of these new models are far removed from the competencies of the original G-Class (which are irrevocably linked to the “G” product brand). This is not a harmless balancing act between preserving the heritage and expressing the future. 

At Porsche, heritage is also heavily reflected in the product portfolio. The iconic design of the 911 is purposefully cited in every other production model from the manufacturer. Every customer, regardless of which Porsche model they buy, acquires a piece of Zuffenhausen sports car history. In the form of the 911 model series, Porsche often embeds its heritage directly into the current product portfolio via limited special models or homage equipment. Although this approach has been successful for many years, it is not a universal remedy: recent sales challenges – particularly in China – show that vehicle sales are not automatically a guaranteed success. Here, the racing victories of the past play no role at all with the often very young customers. 

Heritage as an opportunity 

Heritage can be an opportunity and be woven into the growth and future history of a brand to create value. However, success requires an “organic” connection in the story that is understood by the customer. A strong awareness of one’s own origins, positive experiences in dealing with them and a clear strategic direction are therefore indispensable.   

Particularly beyond the automotive industry, this combination of tradition and innovation in product and communication is a tried and tested recipe. Louis Vuitton pushes its heritage as a suitcase manufacturer on the one hand – in product lines, in the names of the products or with the iconic LV pattern. At the same time, they engage trend-setting designers such as Virgil Abloh and Pharell Williams to constantly reinvent the brand. Chanel recently ventured into the design of tech wearables – yet hardly a collection goes by without a reference to the world-famous Chanel tweed costume. 

However, we are not talking about fashion brands here, but about tech companies – they must stand for innovation per se. So repositioning the brand and placing a clearer focus on innovation is not necessarily wrong. However, it is advisable not to completely throw away heritage as a trump card up the sleeve of a long-standing brand, but to weave it in in a meaningful and reinterpreted way. After all, it is the long-standing history of a brand that really sets it apart from younger players in terms of credibility. To completely turn away from this would be like throwing away potential for a unique selling point in a highly competitive market. 

The examples above show different areas of action in which heritage can be further incorporated:   

  • Integrating heritage into product design 
    Whether through the transfer of design elements from iconic products or through the development of product families based on iconic models: Especially in industries where brands are primarily defined by their products, consciously quoting the past in innovative products is by no means just about nostalgia. The degree of innovation and future orientation is crucial in order to avoid appearing outdated through the use of retro elements. In the automotive industry, design studies or concept vehicles are a first and fairly low-risk step. 

 

  • Integrating heritage into product names 
    Product names are a powerful medium. Bringing innovative products to life with names steeped in history allows customers to buy a piece of heritage – without having to compromise on technological progress. Whether you use actual former product names or refer more indirectly to the brand history and its iconic moments in the naming depends on the willingness to take risks. Here, the reasons that originally led to the departure from a certain nomenclature should be taken into account. In terms of naming, risk steering can also be practiced through the choice of products to be named. The closer the product is linked to the brand, the stronger the effect, but the higher the risk. 
     
  • Integrating heritage into communication 
    Communication is multifaceted and offers many opportunities to integrate heritage. In the product-focused automotive industry, communication can therefore be a good and closely controllable way of experimenting with the topic of heritage and linking it more subtly with your own brand. Furthermore, communication in the form of press releases, campaigns or social media presence offers greater flexibility than products, which are characterized by long development and life cycles. This makes it correspondingly more challenging to measure the effect that heritage communication has on the public and target customers. 

 

  • Integration of heritage with collaborations 
    Collaborations – e.g., for concept vehicles or even beyond the company’s own product world – are a proven way of boosting brands. On the one hand, an impressive partner can give a brand a new face or at least generate a lot of buzz – even beyond the core customer segments. On the other hand, collaborations can be used to maintain a healthy distance from your own core brand, as it shares the stage with another brand. Nevertheless, collaborations are also not risk-free, as a partner that is too strong can swallow up your own brand – which would mean that only the collaboration is perceived, but not your own brand. 

A radical change can help a brand on the brink of collapse to regain its economic momentum. Audi’s Chinese partner SAIC has already made a name for itself as the savior of a brand that was thought to have gone down – with its subsidiary MG, SAIC has breathed new life into a former British icon and achieved mid-single-digit market shares in the growing electric vehicle segment in core markets such as Germany in just a few years. Apart from the familiar octagonal logo, the MG brand has been left with little from the past. 

The final verdict on the approach to heritage will be made by the end customers. They either punish the loss of trust and misunderstandings with their purchasing behavior – or they become advocates and (new) fans of the brand. 

Authors
Jonas Wagner

Partner

Henri Laux

Associate

Marie-Charlotte Schmidt

Associate

Antonia Tomas

Analyst

Berylls by AlixPartners Launches elyvate.ai: Transforming Automotive Task Force Management

Munich, December 2024

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Berylls by AlixPartners Launches elyvate.ai: Transforming Automotive Task Force Management

Munich, November 2024
I

n a significant advancement for the automotive industry, Berylls by AlixPartners proudly announces the launch of elyvate.ai, an innovative digital platform that fundamentally transforms how automotive task forces operate and deliver results. 

This groundbreaking solution represents a leap forward in automotive project management, seamlessly integrating decades of specialized industry knowledge with state-of-the-art digital technologies to establish unprecedented standards of excellence in the automotive sector.

„Our vision is to make ourselves redundant,“ declares Dr. Ralf Walker, Partner und Managing Director of Berylls by AlixPartners at the outset of each product demonstration, exemplifying their unwavering dedication to maximizing efficiency and driving innovation forward. Born from the company’s rich history of successfully managing critical task forces across the globe, this platform now emerges as a comprehensive public solution, making expert-level task force management accessible to the broader automotive industry. Under the visionary leadership of distinguished industry veterans Dr. Ralf Walker and Peter Trögel, elyvate.ai tackles one of the most persistent challenges in task force management: transforming the traditionally cumbersome reporting process into a seamless, natural extension of project execution. This transformation is achieved through an extensive suite of sophisticated task management features, including intuitively synchronized list and kanban board views, a meticulously designed roles and responsibilities framework, and revolutionary one-click standardized reporting capabilities that eliminate administrative overhead.

Initial deployment has surpassed expectations, significantly reducing weekly administrative workload for organizations. This substantial time savings enables consultants to dedicate more attention to their essential responsibilities: ensuring the security of critical production components and enhancing product quality standards across automotive manufacturing operations. A particularly revolutionary aspect of elyvate.ai is its sophisticated shop floor integration capabilities, delivering real-time KPI updates and comprehensive performance analytics directly from the production environment. The platform’s advanced KPI Wizard, incorporating Berylls‘ extensive task force expertise accumulated over decades, enables teams to establish, monitor, and achieve their goals with unprecedented precision. The system’s flexible KPI updating capabilities – whether by shift, hourly intervals, or real-time monitoring – provide manufacturing operations with a level of operational visibility and control previously unattainable in the industry.

The evolution of elyvate.ai represents more than just a technological advancement; it embodies a strategic commitment to revolutionizing automotive project management for the future. The journey began with an innovative proof of concept within the Berylls Digital department, progressing through multiple iterations of refinement guided by extensive user research and real-world feedback. Through a strategic partnership with a specialized South African development firm, the company has established a dedicated team of experts focused on continuous platform enhancement and comprehensive consultant support, ensuring the solution remains at the cutting edge of industry needs.

For automotive manufacturing organizations grappling with the complexities of modern production environments, elyvate.ai delivers an unparalleled combination of industry-specialized project management capabilities and advanced shop floor integration features. The platform’s remarkable ability to optimize operational processes while upholding the highest standards of quality control establishes it as an indispensable tool in the arsenal of automotive task force management solutions, setting a new benchmark for excellence in the industry.

To explore the full range of capabilities and transformative potential of elyvate, please visit elyvate.ai

Authors
Dr. Ralf Walker

Partner

Peter Trögel

Partner

David Rehkamp

Director Product Design

Eren Duygun

Senior Consultant

Hardware meets Software

Munich, November 2024

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Hardware meets software

Munich, November 2024
T

he importance of software partnerships in Automotive

The automotive industry has long been known for pushing the boundaries of engineering and design. However, the car as we have known it is now being reimagined. As a consequence, OEMs are undergoing a profound transformation, where innovation is not defined solely by engine performance and efficiencies, but becomes focused on the complex software systems that will control the cars of tomorrow.

Vehicles are now defined by their software and digital capabilities, and OEMs must prepare for the new era of the SDV, in which seamless vehicle integration with other digital devices and ecosystems becomes the norm.

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Berylls Insight
Hardware meets Software - The importance of Software Partnerships in Automotive
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Authors
Sebastian Bräuer

Associate Partner

Jakob Gabriel

Consultant

Philipp Pesek

Consultant

Solid-State Batteries: BEV Holy Grail or an Expensive Distraction?

Munich, November 2024

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Solid-State Batteries: BEV Holy Grail or an Expensive Distraction?

Munich, November 2024
T

he shift from conventional engines to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is revolutionizing the auto industry. However, until battery performance and cost improve, BEVs will continue to struggle to take over from gasoline-powered vehicles as the mainstream choice for drivers.

Widespread adoption of BEVs is essential to meet emissions reduction targets and for OEMs and suppliers to see a return on their huge investments in the engine technology. Achieving it hinges, in part, on critical advancements in battery technology.

Undoubtedly, the BEVs available now offer a number of benefits, including lower emissions and less engine noise. However, limitations on range, long charging times, high cost and safety concerns are dampening consumer enthusiasm for the electric vehicle transition. Improvements in battery technology hold the key to solving these critical issues, particularly advancements in energy density, charging speed and safety.  In this article, we assess the changes in battery technology that could unlock the full potential of BEVs, focusing on solid-state batteries, long held out as the solution to longer battery life. 

Lithium-ion batteries have the dominant role in BEVs – but come with limitations

The success BEVs have had to date only became possible through advancements in lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery technology. Li-ion batteries offer medium-to-high energy density, storing a significant amount of energy per unit weight compared to other battery technologies, giving them a longer driving range. Li-ion batteries also have a comparatively long life cycle, meaning they can be recharged and used hundreds to thousands of times before capacity and performance starts to diminish. This translates into a longer lifespan for the battery pack in BEVs, reducing replacement costs, decreasing maintenance needs, and minimizing the environmental impact of battery production and disposal.

Compared to newer technologies still under development, Li-ion battery production is also well-understood and efficient. An established manufacturing process has resulted in greater cost-effectiveness, driving down the overall cost of BEVs and making them more accessible to a wider range of consumers.

However, charging a Li-ion battery still takes significantly longer than refilling a car’s gas tank, even using a fast charger. The average refueling time for a vehicle with an internal combustion engine is less than 5 minutes, while charging time for a BEV with a 65 kWh battery using an ultra-fast 150 kW charger is around 20 minutes. This can be inconvenient for drivers, especially on long trips, and doesn’t suit driving habits that have come to rely on making quick stops to refuel. Faster charging is crucial for improving the overall driver experience with BEVs.

Another key downside is in the supply chain. Production of Li-ion batteries relies heavily on the key components of lithium, nickel and cobalt, which are only produced in large quantities in a limited number of places around the world, creating supply chain vulnerabilities and raising ethical concerns regarding sourcing practices in certain regions. Finding alternative materials or more sustainable sourcing methods is essential for the long-term viability of BEV technology.

New battery technologies: strengths and weaknesses

Several new battery technologies aim to solve the shortcomings of Li-ion. Sodium-ion-graphite batteries, for example, have been in development over the past few years but have not yet progressed to commercialization due to their current high cost and lower energy density. Lithium-sulfur batteries are in the early stages of research and development so less is known about their potential, but they cost roughly the same as Li-ion batteries and have a higher energy density. Lithium-sulfur batteries have relatively low performance in charging speed, safety, and battery lifetime, but will likely progress with further development.

Source: Berylls by AlixPartners, FFB Münster

Solid-state batteries: the solution the auto industry has been looking for?

One of the main focuses in current battery R&D is solid-state batteries (SSBs). Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries that rely on liquid electrolytes, SSBs use solid electrolytes. These come in different forms, including oxide, sulfide and polymer. One of the most exciting aspects of SSBs is their potential for significantly higher energy density compared to the Li-ion batteries being made today. This means longer driving ranges and faster charging times for BEVs, which could eliminate range anxiety, one of the major barriers to widespread BEV adoption.

SSBs also have a significant safety advantage over lithium-ion batteries. The absence of flammable liquids or gases in the solid electrolyte minimizes the risk of explosion or fire compared with traditional lithium-ion batteries, which could be a major selling point for consumers hesitant about BEVs due to safety concerns

There has been significant global interest in SSB technology from OEMs (including Stellantis, BYD, Toyota and GM), incumbent battery suppliers (CATL, Samsung and LG, among others) and startups (including QuantumScape, Solid Power and Factorial Energy). The major SSB players are primarily in the US, East Asia, and to a smaller degree Europe. OEMs are engaging in partnerships with SSB startups – Volkswagen’s joint venture with QuantumScape for example – to capitalize on the technology’s potential when it becomes available on a commercial scale. New collaboration models like China’s CASIP (China All-Solid-State Battery Collaborative Innovation Platform), a consortium of battery incumbents, startups and OEMs, highlight the technology’s significance and the resource commitment being made by many stakeholders.

As the chart below shows, other cooperation models already underway include silent investment, for example by Toyota and Nissan, and technology “openness”, as seen in Factorial’s technology development partnership with Mercedes-Benz.

Note: CASIP: newly established R&D network named China All-Solid-State Battery Collaborative Innovation Platform

Source: PEM Motion, Berylls by AlixPartners

Solid state’s challenges and hurdles

For all these reasons, SSBs have considerable promise for the auto industry. However, there are two fundamental challenges hindering their widespread adoption at scale: production difficulties and technical hurdles.

Production difficulties: Transitioning from established Li-ion battery production to SSBs requires transformational changes in manufacturing. Producing solid electrolytes involves complex processes that are quite different from the well-established methods used for lithium-ion battery components. Developing and scaling up this technically difficult production process will take significant investment in new manufacturing infrastructure. High costs and quality control issues, particularly for oxide and sulfide-based electrolytes, also pose major challenges to mass production and further contribute to the higher cost of SSB production.

Technical hurdles: Materials are one of the key challenges for solid-state battery technology because the solid electrolyte (separator that allows ions to pass) needs to be both ionically conductive and mechanically robust. This ensures efficient operation and prevents leaks or degradation within the battery. Additionally, interface compatibility between the electrodes (the positive and negative battery terminals) and the electrolyte is crucial. Dendrite formation (needle-like lithium structures) and lithium loss can occur at the interface, leading to a reduced cycle life (the number of times the battery can be charged and discharged) for the SSB.

There is an appetite for SSB investment – and startups are benefitting
Overcoming these production and technical challenges is vital in order to manufacture SSB batteries on the scale needed for the auto industry. Fortunately, there is significant investment going into R&D and production capability, and the global market for solid-state batteries is forecast to grow substantially. Optimistic estimates¹ suggest production capacities could reach 420 GWh by 2035, reflecting a potential compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21%. Polymer electrolyte-based SSBs are expected to have the highest market share by 2035 (224 GWh, or 53%) followed by sulfide (117 GWh, 28%) and oxide (78 GWh, 19%).

SSB startups have benefitted from the interest in the technology with more than $4bn invested to date. That compares with investment (or planned investment) of >$10bn across the industry including OEMs and incumbent battery manufacturers. Larger startups have seen the bulk of this funding, however, with the top seven receiving around 85% of the investment, leaving 37 companies to compete for the remaining 15%. This is likely to lead to consolidation, so that only the largest players survive the race to develop SSBs at scale. The charts below show where funding has gone to date, and the key investors:

Note: Selected companies based on relevance

Source: Crunchbase, Leap435, PEM Motion, Berylls by AlixPartners

When and how will OEMs see a return on SSB investment?

While there is great theoretical potential in SSBs, we believe the industry is still five to 10 years from a commercially viable product. For OEMs considering how, or indeed whether, to invest in the battery technology, Berylls’ solution is to take a three-pronged approach, made up of a 360-degree partnership assessment, tech and competitor benchmarking, and strategy development.

Berylls’ partnership assessment takes a 360-degree view of selected dimensions, including value creation and risk management to quantify performance levels, thus revealing strengths, weaknesses and potential for optimization. The key goal is to identify and make transparent the gaps in partnership and collaboration approach to build the foundation of a sustainable improvement program.

Technology and competitor benchmarking uses Berylls’ comprehensive quantitative and qualitative datasets as the basis for customized and expanded assessments of how peers are performing in specific SSB use cases.Our proprietary database continuously tracks more than 3,000 startups and scaleups across the mobility value chain, including around 250 battery-related companies and around 50 automotive SSB startups and scaleups.These are technology-based profiles, including KPIs for battery energy density and charging cycle efficiency, as well as our proprietary research insights into industry claims.

Our standardized strategy development process then uses the results of the partnership assessment and benchmarking, combined with comprehensive internal and external analysis, to define and implement a data-backed strategy. It takes in future customers, competencies, and strategic direction to set automakers on the best path forward.

To discuss your solid-state battery ambitions with our team, please contact Dr. Alexander Timmer.

¹ Joint study conducted by Berylls by AlixPartners and PEM Motion

Authors
Dr. Alexander Timmer

Partner

Cameron Gormley

Project Manager

Pressemitteilung: KI beschleunigt und vereinfacht den Autokaufprozess

München, Oktober 2024

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Pressemitteilung: KI beschleunigt und vereinfacht den Autokaufprozess

München, Oktober 2024
B

erylls by AlixPartners schließt sich mit dem KI-Unternehmen FULLY AI zusammen, um einen virtuellen, KI-basierten Assistenten zu entwickeln.

München, 30. September 2024 – Die Berylls by AlixPartners Marketing und Sales-Experten rund um Jonas Wagner, geben eine Partnerschaft mit FULLY AI bekannt. Das Unternehmen, mit engen Beziehungen zur Tech-Szene des Silicon Valley, entwickelt zukunftsweisende KI-Lösungen nach höchsten Standards in Bezug auf Datenqualität und -sicherheit. Gemeinsam wollen die Partner die Automobilbranche grundlegend verändern und setzen in ihrer Zusammenarbeit bei der Customer Journey an.

Die gesamte Pressmitteilung ist zum Download verfügbar.

Berylls Pressemitteilung
Pressemitteilung: KI beschleunigt und vereinfacht den Autokaufprozess
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Ansprechpartner
Christian Bangemann

Pressesprecher

Jonas Wagner

Jonas Wagner, Jahrgang 1978, ist Partner und Geschäftsführer von Berylls by AlixPartners (ehemals Berylls Mad Media). Mit etwa 20 Jahren Beratungserfahrung in der Automobilindustrie ist Jonas ein vertrauenswürdiger Berater für das Top-Management, der sich auf Strategie, Organisationsentwicklung und große Transformationsprojekte für führende, globale Automobilhersteller spezialisiert hat.

Jonas ist ein Experte darin, Automobilunternehmen durch die Transformation ihrer Vertriebs- und Marketingfunktionen zu führen. Er hat eine nachweisliche Erfolgsbilanz in der Digitalisierung von Customer Journeys zur Verbesserung der Kundenerlebnisses, des Vertriebserfolges und der Kundenbindung. Seine Expertise umfasst die Einführung und Umsetzung neuer Vertriebs- und Geschäftsmodelle, sowie den Aufbau datengetriebener Vertriebs- und Marketingorganisationen zur Performance- und Effizienzsteigerung. Sein Expertise umfasst sämtliche On- und Offline Touchpoints, sowie alle Geschäftsbereiche, einschließlich Vertrieb, After-Sales, Finanzdienstleistungen sowie neue Geschäftsmodelle.

Vor seinem Einstieg bei Berylls war Jonas Berater der Automobil-Practise von Oliver Wyman, wo er mit globalen Automobilherstellern zusammenarbeitete und deren strategische Initiativen und Operations optimierte.

Jonas hat einen Abschluss in Betriebswirtschaftslehre von der Aarhus School of Business und der Universität Mannheim, mit einem Schwerpunkt auf Internationalem Management, Marketing und Controlling. Durch die Kombination von tiefem Branchenwissen und strategischem Scharfsinn ist Jonas Wagner ein wertvoller Partner für Manager im Automobilsektor, die komplexe Transformationen meistern.

Industriestrompreis-Debatte: Auswirkungen auf die deutsche Automobilindustrie?

Munich, September 2024

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Industriestrompreis-Debatte: Auswirkungen auf die deutsche Automobilindustrie?

Munich, September 2024
D

ie jüngsten Meldungen von Volkswagen haben Deutschland überrascht und die Diskussionen über einen Industriestrompreis neu entfacht. In Kombination mit Ankündigungen, dass bei einem Wahlsieg der Republikaner in den USA bedeutend mehr Öl und Gas gefördert werden soll, erfordert dies einen kritischen Blick auf die Auswirkungen der aktuellen Energiekosten auf die deutsche und europäische Automobilindustrie.

Aktuelle Situation und Ausblick: Sind die Energiekosten in Deutschland und Europa derzeit ein entscheidender Nachteil für die Automobilindustrie? Drei zentrale Botschaften lassen sich aus den aktuellen Daten ableiten:

  1. Weiterhin hohe Energiepreise in der EU: Die Energie- und insbesondere die Strompreise in der gesamten EU bleiben hoch, insbesondere im Vergleich zu den USA.
  2. Struktureller Vorteil der USA: Der Vorteil der USA gegenüber der EU wird zumindest mittelfristig bestehen bleiben, da dieser strukturell bedingt ist.
  3. Wettbewerbsnachteil für energieintensive Fertigungsschritte: Für energieintensive Teile der Wertschöpfungskette besteht ein Wettbewerbsnachteil in Europa, jedoch nur partiell für die OEM-Produktion.

 

Seit den historischen Preisspitzen in Europa im Sommer 2022 sind nun bereits zwei Jahre vergangen. Grafik 1 vergleicht die Börsenpreise für Strom und Gas in wesentlichen Standorten der Automobilindustrie seit diesen Spitzen. Es zeigt sich, dass seit den Verwerfungen im Jahr 2022 wieder eine gewisse Normalität eingetreten ist. Dennoch bestehen weiterhin signifikante Preisunterschiede zwischen Deutschland bzw. Kontinentaleuropa und den USA. Der aktuelle Jahresdurchschnitt der vergleichbaren Börsenpreise für Strom liegt in Deutschland 136 % höher als in den USA. Ein vergleichbarer Börsenpreis für Gas liegt in Europa sogar 303 % höher als in den USA. Nur die von Kontinentaleuropa weitgehend entkoppelten Strommärkte in Skandinavien weisen geringere Unterschiede auf.

Source: Berylls Strategy Advisors, Bloomberg, JEPX

Grafik 2 zeigt die Entwicklung und den Vergleich zwischen Europa, USA, Japan und China im längeren Kontext. Bereits vor den Verwerfungen im Jahr 2022 waren die Preise in den USA strukturell niedriger als in Europa. Besonders seit dem Jahr 2017 lässt sich ein struktureller Unterschied feststellen. Waren bis 2017 die Unterschiede im Börsenpreis für Strom sowohl absolut als auch relativ gering, hat sich der Unterschied mittlerweile manifestiert. Im Jahresdurchschnitt 2024 liegt dieser Unterschied bei 87 € bzw. 329 %. Diese Unterschiede werden zumindest mittelfristig fortbestehen.

Source: Berylls Strategy Advisors, Bloomberg, JEPX

Auswirkungen auf die Automobilindustrie: Ein Großteil des Energieaufwands für die Fahrzeugproduktion liegt in der Zulieferkette, nur ca. 10-20 % fällt in der Endmontage bei den OEMs an. Bei einem Gesamtenergieeinsatz von ~20 MWh* für die Produktion eines durchschnittlichen Fahrzeugs zeigt sich, dass der Energieaufwand für den OEM in den eigenen Werken limitiert ist und nur einen geringeren Teil entlang der gesamten Wertschöpfungskette ausmacht. Die Mehrkosten für die Herstellung eines Fahrzeugs in Deutschland im Vergleich zu den USA liegen daher, bei den aktuellen Energiepreisen, im niedrigen dreistelligen Euro-Bereich. Ein Industriestrompreis hätte auf einen OEM daher nur einen geringen Effekt. Direkte Produktionsverlagerungen oder Standortentscheidungen werden dadurch nicht primär beeinflusst.

Ein anderes Bild ergibt sich bei den energieintensiven Unternehmen in der Zulieferkette. Hier kann der Energieaufwand im Vergleich zu der Fertigung bei den OEMs schnell einen signifikanten Anteil ausmachen. Eine Batterie mit einer Speicherkapazität von 50 kWh erfordert in der Herstellung einen Energieaufwand von bis zu 10 MWh (~100 bis 200 kWh Energieaufwand pro 1 kWh Speicherkapazität) und damit deutlich mehr als die Endmontage des Fahrzeugs durch den OEM. Es stellt sich jedoch die Frage, ob Zulieferer bei einem Industriestrompreis aufgrund ihrer geringeren Größe überhaupt davon profitieren könnten bzw. ob dieser für energieintensive Zulieferer ausreichende langfristige Planungssicherheit bietet. Ein Industriestrompreis wird aufgrund der hohen Kosten für den Staatshaushalt strukturelle Unterschiede nicht langfristig ausgleichen können.

Fazit: Zusammenfassend lässt sich feststellen, dass insbesondere der Standort Deutschland weiterhin von hohen Energiekosten belastet wird. Diese haben auch Auswirkungen auf die Automobilindustrie. Betrachtet man jedoch ausschließlich die Fertigung bei den OEMs, ist der Effekt der Energiekosten nur von sekundärer Bedeutung. Ein Industriestrompreis würde daher nur einen geringen Effekt haben und vor allem zu geringfügigen Mitnahmeeffekten führen. Darüber hinaus lenkt er von den Maßnahmen ab, die wesentlich für einen wettbewerbsfähigen Standort sind. Diese umfassen insbesondere Planungssicherheit, Bürokratieabbau und effektive Antworten auf Subventionsprogramme anderer Staaten.

*Exemplarischer Wert: Die exakte Höhe des Energieaufwandes ist insb. von dem Antriebkonzept sowie der Integration entlang der Wertschöpfungskette anhängig und kann hiervon abweichen. Der Energiemix zwischen den wesentlichen Energieträgern Strom und Gas kann ebenfalls variieren, wenngleich die Bedeutung von Strom immer weiter zunimmt.

Authors
Stefan Schneeberger

Associate Partner

BEV Consumer Survey: German scepticism meets chinese progressiveness and US brand affinity

Munich, September 2024

Featured Insights

BEV consumer survey: German scepticism meets Chinese progressiveness and US brand affinity

Munich, September 2024
M

any OEMs are struggling with accelerating BEV (battery electric vehicle) sales. The key to overcoming this challenge is differentiation by listening to what customers need.

As a result, we have asked BEV customers and considerers in Germany, The USA, China and Korea about what they care for during various steps of the BEV purchase journey. There are notable differences in how respondents in the four surveyed countries perceive BEVs.

Here are some of our key insights:

German BEV consideres are more sceptical than consumers from the US or China

While many German respondents regard electric vehicles as neutral or not good value for money, their Chinese and US American counterparts demonstrate a much more positive attitude towards BEVs.

Test drives play a crucial role to convince BEV prospects in all markets

The initial driving experience with a BEV is a key factor in shaping a positive consumer perception towards e-mobility. It is therefore crucial that OEMs and dealers join forces to put customers behind the steering wheel of their electric cars.

Many consumers don’t know right from the start whether they want to buy a BEV

Our survey shows that only a quarter of BEV customers and considerers knew right from the start that they want to purchase a BEV. Almost equal shares of respondents were convinced while interacting with the brand, discussing with their peers, or during the test drive.

Download the full insight now!

In our latest Webinar in cooperation with Civey, our experts show what is important to automotive customers along the entire process of buying an electric vehicle – from Germany to the USA to China and Korea. Enjoy watching!

Berylls Insight
BEV consumer survey: German scepticism meets Chinese progressiveness and US brand affinity
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Authors
Jonas Wagner

Partner & Managing Director

Henri Laux

Associate

Dennis Koschmieder

Associate

Jonas Wagner

Jonas Wagner, born in 1978, is a Partner and Managing Director of Berylls by AlixPartners (formerly Berylls Mad Media). With around 20 years of consulting experience in the automotive industry, Jonas is a trusted advisor for top management, specializing in strategy, organizational development and large transformation programs for leading, global automotive manufacturers.

Jonas excels in guiding automotive companies through the transformation of their sales and marketing functions. He has a proven track record in digitalizing customer interfaces to enhance customer experience, sales conversion and loyalty. His expertise includes introducing and implementing new sales and business models tailored to the evolving market landscape and developing data-driven sales and marketing organizations to optimize performance and efficiency. His expertise includes all on- and offline touchpoints as well as business segments, ranging from sales, after-sales, financial services to new business models.

Before joining Berylls, Jonas was a leading consultant within the Automotive Practise of Oliver Wyman, where he worked with global automotive manufacturers, enhancing their strategic initiatives and operations.

Jonas holds a degree in Business Administration from the Aarhus School of Business and the University of Mannheim, with a focus on International Management, Marketing, and Controlling. Combining deep industry knowledge with strategic acumen, Jonas Wagner is a valuable partner for automotive leaders navigating complex transformations.

Jonas Wagner

Jonas Wagner, Jahrgang 1978, ist Partner und Geschäftsführer von Berylls by AlixPartners (ehemals Berylls Mad Media). Mit etwa 20 Jahren Beratungserfahrung in der Automobilindustrie ist Jonas ein vertrauenswürdiger Berater für das Top-Management, der sich auf Strategie, Organisationsentwicklung und große Transformationsprojekte für führende, globale Automobilhersteller spezialisiert hat.

Jonas ist ein Experte darin, Automobilunternehmen durch die Transformation ihrer Vertriebs- und Marketingfunktionen zu führen. Er hat eine nachweisliche Erfolgsbilanz in der Digitalisierung von Customer Journeys zur Verbesserung der Kundenerlebnisses, des Vertriebserfolges und der Kundenbindung. Seine Expertise umfasst die Einführung und Umsetzung neuer Vertriebs- und Geschäftsmodelle, sowie den Aufbau datengetriebener Vertriebs- und Marketingorganisationen zur Performance- und Effizienzsteigerung. Sein Expertise umfasst sämtliche On- und Offline Touchpoints, sowie alle Geschäftsbereiche, einschließlich Vertrieb, After-Sales, Finanzdienstleistungen sowie neue Geschäftsmodelle.

Vor seinem Einstieg bei Berylls war Jonas Berater der Automobil-Practise von Oliver Wyman, wo er mit globalen Automobilherstellern zusammenarbeitete und deren strategische Initiativen und Operations optimierte.

Jonas hat einen Abschluss in Betriebswirtschaftslehre von der Aarhus School of Business und der Universität Mannheim, mit einem Schwerpunkt auf Internationalem Management, Marketing und Controlling. Durch die Kombination von tiefem Branchenwissen und strategischem Scharfsinn ist Jonas Wagner ein wertvoller Partner für Manager im Automobilsektor, die komplexe Transformationen meistern.