A new survey of German car industry managers suggests the sector is further into its electric vehicle transition than public debate tends to imply, with a small group of slower-moving firms distorting the wider picture and potentially dragging down the broader shift. The research, carried out jointly by the University of Sussex and the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, drew on responses from 74 industry managers gathered toward the end of 2025.
The findings highlight a dichotomy within the industry: while companies like Ferrari N.V. (NYSE: RACE) that have laid out ambitious EV plans are accelerating, others are lagging, creating a bottleneck. This uneven progress could slow the overall EV transition, as the slower firms may lack the scale or supply chain integration to keep pace.
According to the study, the majority of managers reported significant investments in EV technology, but a minority—often legacy manufacturers with entrenched internal combustion engine (ICE) production lines—are resisting change. These firms are not only slower to adopt but also influence the broader ecosystem, including suppliers and infrastructure development.
Implications for the industry are significant. If laggards continue to delay, they risk losing market share to more agile competitors, but their slow pace could also hinder the development of charging infrastructure and battery supply chains. The study suggests that policy interventions, such as stricter emissions targets or incentives for early adopters, may be needed to level the playing field.
The survey was conducted by the University of Sussex and the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, with the full results expected to be published later this year. For more details, visit GreenCarStocks, a platform focused on EV and green energy news.
