An active duo on the front line

To envisage an effective and sustainable rebound in the automotive industry, we still need players capable of activating the levers. This new study by the Cetelem Observatory clearly identifies two of them, manufacturers and public authorities. An inseparable couple, united for the better, motorists hope, and not for the worse. A couple that has serious assets to succeed, assets that are however unevenly supported.

Manufacturers and governments: it’s up to them to act

When motorists were asked about the entities that could ensure the recovery of the market, two stood out. In their view, manufacturers and governments have a vital role to play in creating this momentum.

Car manufacturers are clearly in the lead, garnering a third of opinions. In all countries except Turkey and China, they are the first choice, with very high scores especially in Japan, but also in Germany, the Netherlands, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Our previously mentioned pair of categories, senior citizens and people living in rural areas, clearly show their preference. In second place in this ranking, governments received an average of 1 vote out of 5. While China and Turkey have made this their first choice, the liberal Anglo-American pair are clearly rejecting the idea.

Note that distributors are clearly in third place: we will cover them in the fourth part of the report, discussing the role they can play as a lever for recovery.

Relatively positive public support for manufacturers

The combination of these two may seem promising, given the support extended to manufacturers through public policy. Slightly more than 1 in 2 people think they are hea- ding in the right direction. However, geographical location is also crucial.

Several European countries with national brands, including Germany, France and Italy, have joined forces to question their relevance. This is in stark contrast to Asian neighbours China and Japan, who have no doubts about their effectiveness.