We’ve said it many times recently, but who would be an automotive CEO or product planner right now? Aside from dedicating your life to engineering ADAS systems in the knowledge the first thing anyone in their right mind does is switch them off, attempting to formulate and execute a cohesive and consistent long-lead product strategy must surely be the most thankless task imaginable.

 

In recent times we’ve heard from a succession of top-tier brands announcing radical changes of plan. And no wonder, for compared to the stability of the ’00s and ’10s, the ’20s are proving to be absolute carnage thanks to economic uncertainty fuelled by conflict, tariffs and the increasing pressures of achieving Net Zero. A slump in sales of premium and luxury cars to China and a lack of confidence in residual values of top-end EVs being an additional kick in the goolies for all the major European car brands.