The automotive industry is undergoing a major transformation, as sustainability becomes a defining issue for the public as well as governments and regulators. In addition to ever-stricter environmental legislation, customers are growing increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their choices, so that OEMs must integrate sustainability into the core of their operations. It is no longer enough for manufacturers to produce electric cars and reduce their footprint in the sourcing and production of their vehicles, however. Rather, manufacturers must develop and deliver a comprehensive and cohesive customer experience that embodies sustainability, right across the first contact with the customer to the ownership lifecycle. Now that all the major OEMs have battery electric vehicles in their portfolio, manufacturers are finding it harder to differentiate their products on sustainability, even though this is becoming an important purchase criterion for customers.
What’s more, electric vehicle sales are proving to be erratic rather than on a straight upward trajectory. This is true especially in countries where governmental incentives are changing, and/or where the public charging infrastructure is still struggling to catch up with the availability and take-up of electric vehicles. A further pressure takes the form of new players in the market, particularly as Chinese manufacturers enter the electric vehicle industry with credible offerings, pushing western OEMs to rethink their strategies for attracting customers and reinforcing their brand loyalty. All of this is shifting the focus from the product to the wider customer experience as the key to sustainability-related differentiation. So, let‘s put ourselves in the customer‘s shoes…
Curious? Read the full article now!
Copyright Berylls
