White Paper: Shifting to Polarization The Newest Driving Force of Automotive Transformation

With the emergence of hybrid, electric, and connected vehicles, we see that the vision for a unified framework is fading. Rather, it is evident the automotive industry is becoming increasingly polarized.

In late 2024, Roland Berger, a global consultancy, published a new report, Automotive Outlook 2040, which not only set a new milestone, but introduced a new acronym: PACE (Polarized, Autonomous, Connected, Electrified). The acronym’s main difference from its predecessor is Polarization, a signal of the departure from the globalization that defined past decades, with the industry now splintering into distinct ideologies and ecosystems.

This white paper focuses on the element of Polarization, and what the shifts in political, regional, and technological landscapes mean for the global automotive market and related regulatory compliance.

It will explore the differences across regions both culturally, and politically, and how manufacturers and suppliers can optimize their resources to be market-ready.