The implications of E-mobility for the automotive value chain and business models

E-mobility will have broad implications on the value chain in the automotive industry. First, e-mobility combines three types of value chains: electricity production, charging infrastructure, and automotive, which were not necessarily coupled in the past. In addition, emobility will redistribute the activities within the value chain, leading to some actors taking over new activities, others losing activities, and even leaving the value chain. Third, three main scenarios with large implications for business models are possible in the future. In the first scenario, the automotive manufacturers will continue leading the whole value chain, but this is not guaranteed, as the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in the car industry may have to give up their leading position, by losing control in favor to other actors. In the second scenario, the energy producers take a lead position, whereas in the third scenario the service providers are those who have a dominant role in the value chain. Whether scenario one, two, or three, will really emerge depends on market conditions (acceptance of e-cars by customers and hence the volume of e-cars sold), and the level of support that the government will allocate to e-mobility. For instance, good market conditions will be favorable for the first scenario, in which the OEMs are in the lead positions.