The pressure is rising for automotive companies and their suppliers to evolve. To realise your growth ambitions, it's essential to develop long-term strategies

The upstream and downstream automotive markets are changing.

The upstream market continues to see further cost down reductions, disruption to the supply chain and shortage of raw materials. The just-in-time approach, historically key to success in the manufacturing industry, needs to be adapted for the current market.

  • Industry experts
  • Global automotive expertise
  • National scale
  • Industry experts
    Industry experts
    We have several specialist and senior OEM, and ex-government automotive advisers with extensive practical experience and technical expertise in your industry.
  • Global automotive expertise
    Global automotive expertise
    Our global team of automotive experts can show you the way in an increasingly international environment.
  • National scale
    National scale
    Our experts are based across the UK, bringing clear and actionable solutions to you.

In the next 5-10 years, the downstream market is expected to see more disruption than the previous 50 years. The distribution and retail sector will move to direct sales – the agency model and increased digitalised sales. Digital vehicle finance and subscription services are also anticipated. The growth in mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) will remain an important sector of the downstream automotive industry.

We recognise significant pressure from five key challenges:

  • Moving from the internal combustion engine (ICE) to electric vehicles (EV)
  • Resilience of the manufacturing supply chain
  • Agency model and subscription in vehicle distribution, retailing, and financing
  • Cost pressures
  • International trade, including the Brexit agreement
Oliver Bridge
Head of Operations Consulting
Oliver Bridge

Value chain roadmap

You can't look at just one element of the automotive value chain in isolation — the upstream and downstream segments are intertwined. Our extensive knowledge of both segments brings our clients a complete picture of the automotive industry, including potential growth opportunities across the entire automotive market.

Our upstream and downstream specialists work with clients at every stage of the automotive value chain: from assisting businesses within the supply chain to helping dealerships.

We service companies over the life of both passenger and commercial vehicles, including trucks, trailers and on and off-highway construction machinery, excavators, and agricultural equipment.

Automotive industry trends and predictions for 2024

With 2024 set to be another year of change across the supply, distribution and retail automotive markets, Owen Edwards summarises the outlook for the year ahead.

Why Grant Thornton

Our automotive services range from supply chain through to distribution, retail and usership. With diverse experience of working and operating in the industry, our team understands what you need from advisers to succeed in your unique market.

Our global scale enables us to call on technical experts worldwide, so you get a quality service wherever you need it.

Our automotive insight includes:

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