Overview
- Berylls' May 26, 2026 ranking places battery maker CATL in the global top three and finds Chinese suppliers' revenue share now on par with the U.S., while 62 of the world’s top 100 suppliers reported falling sales in 2025.
- The supplier industry saw overall weakness despite higher car output in 2025, with average margins slipping from 5.8% to 5.2% and firms recording overcapacity and one-off write-downs.
- Analysts blame a mix of forces: lower Chinese producer prices, faster tech development in batteries and software, weaker EV demand outside China, adverse exchange rates, and rising geopolitical friction.
- German tier suppliers have taken large hits — roughly 100,000 jobs lost over eight years, notable rank drops for names like Continental, and an expected 20–25% fall in domestic value creation without major new investment.
- Berylls urges urgent spending on software, AI, robotics and batteries, but suppliers face tighter bank lending and tougher price demands from automakers, raising the risk of more offshoring and job cuts.