Overview
- EY, in a study released Sunday, said write-downs tied to batteries and electric programs neared €60 billion and drove a 59% drop in combined profit for 19 major car groups in 2025.
- The report found demand in Europe and the United States fell short of forecasts, prompting a strategy shift that includes scrapped projects, revised sales plans, and a focus on more realistic ramp-ups.
- Chinese brands expanded through 2025, with Geely the only one of the 19 groups to grow profit, and industry data show China exported 2.2 million cars in the first quarter of 2026 with nearly one million of them electric.
- Recent market signs point to a near-term lift, with Germany registering 70,663 new battery‑electric cars in March and Austria reporting a 24.9% BEV share for the month.
- Affordability is improving, with Verivox putting a 1,000‑km home‑charged EV at about €53 versus roughly €160 for a comparable petrol car and with new entry models now listed below €19,000 in Germany.