Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility Business Minute

In this episode of the Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility Business Minute podcast, speakers Raman Ram, Mike Cadenazzi and Mike Iacono examine the turbulence shaping the aerospace and defense sector.

While airlines are placing more orders, supply chain issues and safety concerns are impeding production rates. Pilot shortages have become an issue, particularly for regional carriers. In terms of deal activity, private equity has championed creative financing solutions and has emerged as a net buyer despite complex market fundamentals.

Regulatory scrutiny remains a significant concern, necessitating proactive planning and engagement with antitrust counsels. Furthermore, sellers are increasingly evaluating prospective buyers for their ability to close deals without regulatory hiccups.

Industry leaders anticipate more orders, new solutions to supply chain issues, updates on sustainability challenges and technologies, and more transaction announcements in 2024. As businesses focus on strategic portfolio rationalization, private equity is expected to play an increasingly important role in driving transaction volume and deal value.

The podcast also includes perspective from EY Americas A&D Leader Raman Ram and EY Americas A&D Managing Director Mike Cadenazzi, as well as EY Americas Strategy and Transactions Partner Mike Iacono, on where larger deals are getting done in the A&D sector.

Key takeaways:

• North American airlines were profitable last year and it's expected that the rest of the world's airlines will also be in the black this year.
• Despite underwhelming market fundamentals, private equity is leveraging sector resiliency and capital availability to continue with strong buying.
• While pilot shortage is a looming issue, fleet availability is seen as a more immediate concern.
• Strategic buyers continue to shape their portfolios, even as they remain cautious about buying.

In this episode of the Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility Business Minute podcast, EY analysts Anuj Chandna and Angsuman Sharma share insights from the latest EY Electric Vehicle Country Readiness Index.

The EY Electric Vehicle Country Readiness Index (EVCRI) examines global auto markets and their preparedness for an electric vehicle (EV) future. The most recent index evaluated 20 crucial EV markets, representing over 93% of worldwide EV volumes, to gauge their maturity.

The index evaluates three fundamental areas — supply, demand and regulatory — to determine what works in driving the overall EV ecosystem and the best practices for each country.

China continues its dominance of the EV market, remaining the undisputed leader in electrification of its vehicle market. Norway retains the second position in electrification, with the US, Sweden and the UK completing the rest of the leadership positions.

Rising fuel costs, increasing availability of EV models and swelling penalties on internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles encourage consumer adoption of EVs across the globe. However, the lack of charging stations and higher upfront cost of EVs continue to be concerns.

Key takeaways:

• Factors such as fuel costs, availability of EV models and charging stations, penalties on ICE vehicles and cost of vehicles influence consumer decisions.
• Key markets are rapidly developing their own local EV ecosystem and addressing the issues in the battery supply chain.
• Public-private partnership is the way to invite investments in developing charging infrastructure.
• Regulators and policies wield significant influence in fostering EV ecosystems.

In this episode of the Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility Business Minute podcast, Raman Ram and Mike Cadenazzi discuss what lies ahead for the aerospace and defense (A&D) sector.

While the war in Ukraine continues to drive innovation in the defense industry, defense spending in the US and across Europe has been restrained as countries prioritize reducing deficits accrued during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the commercial aerospace side, airlines and major network carriers are seeking to clear debt from their balance sheets in anticipation of expected increases in air travel demand.

This recurring theme of fiscal prudence was also evident in the number of orders placed at Paris Air Show 2023, which came in less than industry analysts had been expecting. At the same time, the US is investing more money into its industrial base to build a new fleet of submarines, and is also making significant investments in ammunition production to support Ukraine. Will these investments open the door to more robust defense spending in the face of ongoing geopolitical uncertainty?

The podcast also includes perspective from EY Americas A&D Leader Raman Ram and EY Americas A&D Managing Director Mike Cadenazzi on the readiness of the supply chain to support stronger levels of production in both the defense and commercial aerospace sectors.

Key takeaways:

• Air traffic demand is projected to double by 2040.
• Per passenger profits have increased to over US$2, after being in the negative in 2022.
• Competitive intensity in the A&D sector is not bringing down the yield.
• Supply chain will play a pivotal role in the ability of A&D companies to meet market demands.

In this episode, EY Global Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility analysts Gaurav Batra and Menaka Samant share insights from the 2023 EY Mobility Consumer Index.

The Mobility Consumer Index (MCI) is an annual study conducted by EY Global Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility. The study reviews and assesses the latest trends and patterns in the mobility sector. The latest edition of MCI surveyed over 15,000 consumers in 20 countries.

In this episode of the Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility Business Minute podcast, Gaurav Batra, EY Global Advanced Manufacturing & Mobility Analyst Leader, and Menaka Samant, EY Global Advanced Manufacturing & Mobility Analyst, explore the shifts in the mobility landscape, with a focus on EV adoption and acceptance. They discuss the broad themes that emerged from the latest edition of MCI research, identify five EV customer personas and share three no regret moves that will help move consumers toward EV adoption.

Key takeaways:

• More than half (55%) of the survey respondents are planning to purchase a fully electric, hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicle over the next two years.
• SUVs have emerged as the most preferred body type for potential EV buyers across geographies.
• While range continues to be a major factor driving the hesitancy in buying an EV, lack of charging infrastructure, upfront purchase costs and inadequate charging stations also play a crucial role.
• To alleviate consumer uncertainty regarding the EV ownership experience, continued education should be provided.

In this episode of the Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility Business Minute podcast, Andrea Weinberger explains why automotive companies need a broader ESG agenda to achieve a more sustainable future.

Although the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is gaining popularity and considered as one of the crucial steps toward decarbonization, professionals believe that for transforming to a more sustainable future, automotive companies need to address wider topics. These include minimizing resource extraction and depletion, reducing waste and water usage, and promoting circular business models.

To make a meaningful transformation, automotive companies need to integrate sustainability into their operating model, rather than treating it as a separate project. Making environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives a part of day-to-day operations will help simplify sustainability and make significant progress.

In this episode of the Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility Business Minute podcast, Andrea Weinberger, Partner, Strategy and Transactions, Ernst & Young GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, describes why the automotive industry should leverage a wider sustainability strategy. 

Key takeaways:

• It is important for automotive companies to understand that more sustainability initiatives do not mean less profitability.
• Although electrification of vehicles and decarbonization are important, they are not sufficient to transform into a sustainable future.
• Creating a positive social impact in the communities where a company is operating would be a valuable step in the transformation.
• Authenticity is one of the crucial factors that distinguishes a credible sustainability strategy.

In this episode of the Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility Business Minute, EY leaders Raman Ram and Mike Cadenazzi discuss the impact of changes in the Aerospace & Defense (A&D) sector.

The commercial aerospace sector continues to demonstrate resiliency as both global and domestic air traffic volume draws closer to 2019 levels. On the defense industry side, global spending is increasing, and a consistent set of growth drivers is emerging in the US. A&D is recovering from steep declines in airplane production and aftermarket service across the sector. That’s the good news.

Increasing debt levels at airlines and a sustained reduction in business travel are concerning, however. Will business travel recover to previous levels, or is this the normal in a world where it’s easier than ever to conduct business via digital technology? In the defense sector, how will artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) transform the way armies operate and fight, and how will that impact the supply chain?

The podcast also includes perspective from EY Americas A&D Leader Raman Ram and EY Americas A&D Managing Director Mike Cadenazzi on what to expect at Paris Air Show 2023. The event will likely feature updates on orders within the industry and the regions where those orders are being made. Technology and capability advancements could also offer a glimpse at what’s next in A&D.

Key takeaways:

• Air traffic could exceed 2019 levels by 2024, and should continue to grow at a rate of 3 or 4 percent over the next decade.
• With aircraft utilization up, deferred maintenance and aftermarket services are coming back. And with traffic up, airplane production should also increase.
• Geopolitical decisions are having a real-world effect on funding flow and spending decisions in the defense sector.
• Unlike past economic downturns, talent is not flowing into defense at the same pace. 

In this episode, EY Global Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility analysts Anil Valsan and Anuj Chandna discuss the EY Mobility Lens Forecaster Suite and the future of EVs.

The electric vehicle (EV) sector is witnessing consistent growth despite the numerous challenges in the mobility market, brought on by frequent supply chain disruptions, consumer hesitancy and inflationary pressures, among others. But what is the future for EVs and EV adoption?

The EY Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility team has developed a dynamic forecasting model that will support the mobility industry in decision-making process, product planning, partnerships and market-entry strategy.

The EY Mobility Lens Forecaster Suite is a neural net-based model powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that takes various metrics into consideration, such as geopolitical events, supply chain crises, charging infrastructure rollout and others. It enables the model to refresh regularly and provide accurate forecasts as per the evolving market.

In this episode of the EY Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility Business Minute podcast, Anil Valsan, EY Global Automotive & Transportation Lead Analyst, and Anuj Chandna, EY Global Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility Analyst, explore the future of EV adoption, with the insights generated with the EY Mobility Lens Forecaster Suite.

Key takeaways:

• The flexibility and scalability to customize mobility forecasts gives a competitive edge for the EY Mobility Lens Forecaster.
• Sustainability is one of the vital motivators for consumers to buy an electric vehicle.
• Creative leasing models can help the consumer to surpass the hesitancy and try the EV experience.
• The introduction of more digital features and personalized digital experiences are going to attract first-time EV buyers.

In this episode, EY Global Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility analysts Gaurav Batra and Anuj Chandna share insights from the latest EY Electric Vehicle Country Readiness Index.

The EY EV Country Readiness Index assessed each country’s capabilities and progress concerning the transition to an electric vehicle (EV) future. These 14 countries were then ranked based on how they scored in the supply, demand and regulatory parameters.

China’s high number of lithium gigafactories, reliable access to raw materials and a developed public charging infrastructure were some of the factors for ranking first in the Index. Interestingly, Norway ranked second. Its regulatory environment — which saw Norway having the highest EV penetration, with 72% of the cars sold in 2021 being EVs — was key for its high ranking. The US ranked seventh and it is only now beginning to see a shift toward electrification with the newly proposed government regulatory actions.

For countries to support this EV transition, governments will need to promote policies that increase investor confidence and prepare for long-term success. Continued R&D support for battery technology and production will be critical, along with securing access to raw materials. In a growing and evolving EV ecosystem, consistency will be fundamental.

Key takeaways:

• China ranked first in the EY EV Country Readiness Index. China is likely to have capacity to produce nearly 1,000 GWh of lithium batteries by 2025 —more than twice the capacity of Europe by that time.
• Norway will discontinue the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE) cars by 2025 — which is 10 years ahead of the EU target.
• The regulatory policies set up over the years by the leading countries in the Index have already established a market with rising EV demand and supply in those regions.

In this episode, Claudio Knizek, EY-Parthenon Global Advanced Manufacturing & Mobility Consulting Leader, discusses why businesses are decoupling existing supply chains and repositioning production facilities.

Due to a concurrence of large-scale global events, geopolitical issues and wage inflation in lower-cost countries, industrial companies are restructuring their traditional supply chains. According to the EY Industrial Supply Chain Survey, most firms are strategizing and implementing supply chain transformations, including decoupling their existing supply chains, and repositioning production facilities and suppliers closer to their customers.

While reimagining their supply chains, industrial leaders must integrate agility into their supply chain footprint and supplier network. They must also utilize this once-in-a-generation opportunity to make their supply chains more sustainable. The widespread nearshoring of business operations and new regulatory measures, such as the EU’s carbon border tax, suggests that these transformations may alter the established global supply chain models. Consequently, these initiatives will yield clear winners and losers in the market.

Key takeaways:

• Industrial companies have responded to supply chain constraints by remodeling their global supply chains — with 53% of the respondents to the EY Industrial Supply Chain Survey saying that they have already nearshored or reshored some of their operations in the last 24 months.
• As a result of the US government’s support for domestic manufacturing and sourcing, industrial companies in North America have started bringing production and suppliers closer to home — to reduce complexity and ease delays.
• Firms should conduct a holistic assessment of their global business operations and implement a supply chain architecture that can handle new risks and opportunities.

In this episode, EY Global Advanced Manufacturing and Mobility analysts Gaurav Batra and Akshi Goel share insights from the 2022 EY Mobility Lens Consumer Index.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, transforming consumer behaviors toward travel and modal choices have been shaping the outlook of the mobility industry. As businesses continue to adopt hybrid working models, some of the shifts in mobility patterns are no longer temporary. In fact, both the work and nonwork journeys have declined by 11% and 8% respectively from the pre-pandemic levels. Furthermore, consumer confidence in electric vehicle technology is increasing. Nearly 52% of the consumers who intend to buy a car in the next 24 months prefer either a fully electric, plug-in hybrid or a hybrid vehicle. This growing shift is a result of many factors, including rising gas prices and environmental concerns. The 2022 EY Mobility Lens Consumer Index explores in detail how such consumer attitudes may impact the advanced manufacturing and mobility industry in the long term.

Key takeaways:

• As multiple companies continue to implement hybrid working models, commuting is increasingly becoming a weekly activity — with 31% of the surveyed consumers working from home at least three to four times a week.
• For most car buyers, the electric vehicle is becoming the mainstream choice. In fact, 90% of all electric car buyers are willing to pay a premium price — due to rising environmental concerns and bans on internal combustion engine vehicles.
• For consumers, their personal cars have become the preferred modes of travel over the public transportation system — due to concerns over safety, hygiene and risk of infection.