Société Générale says Chinese EV makers intensify pressure on global automakers
XLY•Société Générale says Chinese competition, electrification and software-driven vehicles are reshaping automakers, with electric cars projected to reach about 28% of global new-car sales in 2026.
1. Industry faces major shifts
Société Générale says automakers face a simultaneous overhaul of their business models as electrification, software-driven vehicles and Chinese competition reshape the industry. Citing IEA estimates, it says electric cars could account for about 28% of global new-car sales in 2026, compared with one in four registrations in 2025.
2. Investment and regional strategies
Plug-in hybrids and battery-electric vehicles account for six in 10 new cars sold in China, while Chinese electric-vehicle exports have more than doubled. Hundreds of billions of euros are being invested across the electric-vehicle supply chain; Société Générale says automakers need regional electrification strategies as adoption diverges, noting that investment ahead of consumer demand has already led to multibillion-dollar write-downs at some manufacturers.
