You can get angry with reality and convince yourself that the changes that are taking place do not concern us, but the facts are that the era of internal combustion engines is nearing its end. How is the industry preparing for this and - and more importantly - who will benefit?
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Before we think about the answer to this question, it is worth considering where these changes come from? Of course, they were initiated by the development of technology, and with its decisions, they were accelerated by the European Union, which in its long-term plans decided to increase the total pool for the sale of electric cars to as much as 20 percent in 2025!
Leaders and marauders
The Brussels directives are obviously one side of the coin. Member States have to consider these provisions and implement them within their borders. It is also a fact that many countries are taking action on their own, ahead of EU legislation. Some propose to market only those vehicles that guarantee zero emissions, others want to significantly limit the access of petrol and diesel cars to city centers.
As with any revolutionary change, we are dealing with those who act quickly and effectively. In this case, countries such as Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany can be distinguished. However, there are also those who prefer to postpone the perspective of the inevitable - at least for the moment - changes. Here, in turn, we can mention Poland, for which the time horizon of changes is only 2050.
Great piece of cake
Regardless of whether the decline of internal combustion cars will be faster or will be spread over time, it will be necessary to adapt to these changes appropriately. For all manufacturers, this will not only mean enormous costs, but also a number of logistical problems. The production of new types of cars differs significantly from what we already know and it is no wonder that it is the changes and what they mean that a whole series of different analyzes have been devoted.
Volkswagen decided to introduce radical changes three years ago, which wants only electric cars to roll off the production lines of its plant in Zwickau soon. Yes, it is exactly the same company that was fined PLN 120 million in 2020 for manipulating the exhaust emission indicators in cars of its brands, not only Volkswagen, but also Audi, Seat and Skoda.
The changes taking place in the automotive industry are widely commented on, because, according to the calculations of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, this sector provides employment to as many as 14.6 million working citizens of the Old Continent. To make it even clearer what numbers are we talking about, it is worth adding that it accounts for nearly 7 percent of the total number of those who are employed at all and work for profit. Impressive, right?
Who will lose, who will gain?
Therefore, changes await not only the companies that will have to switch from the beaten track to completely new paths. Their plants will be modernized, but that's not all. Also, employees of these factories will have to acquire new qualifications, and it is possible that some of them - as part of an increasingly bold bet on revolution 4.0 solutions - will say goodbye to their positions.
However, those who operate in the industrial automation sector, and who largely supply the automotive industry, should benefit the most. With changes and production transformation on the horizon, it seems that this will be an opportunity for many companies for completely new business perspectives. If we add to this the fact that the market of semiconductors and broadly understood electrics is still growing, and components from these sectors are needed in an increasing number of devices, we have a ready recipe for new lucrative contracts and large orders.
So someone will lose combustion engines at dusk, such as those whose main activity is the supply of all kinds of fuels. Others, however, can gain, and the coming changes - even those over time - present even more entrepreneurial opportunities for long-term capital capture.
