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2. BMW i is the sub-brand of BMW founded in 2011 for the design and manufacturing of plug-in and all- electric vehicles. BMW has expertise in engine design and manufacturing and is known for its sporty DNA. The group has a cash flow balance of €12,036 million. They own brands like MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad. Even though the Electric powertrain system is not BMW’s thing, to keep up with the future they introduced BMW e-drive. BMW is known for innovations, they are heavily investing in IT. They fund startups that are incubated within the company for new technology development. The BMW i series and MINI electric are all set for the future. They have to work on the cost of their EV with respect to the range to compete with rivals who are already working on cheaper EV’s.

3. Porsche The German sports car maker has a successful track record and is trusted by customers worldwide. The brand has a cash balance of €353 million. The need for E-mobility for the future has led Porsche to develop new technologies related to EV’s. The Porsche Taycan is the first EV from the brand which is very successful in terms of technology. The car was awarded “ World car of the year for performance 2020” at the 2020 world car awards. The innovations are still in the basic architectural level such as battery voltages, two- speed transmission and charging voltage to boost performance. Porsche has a great opportunity in terms of E-performance vehicles as the brand itself is known for its performance. There is a very limited future technology that Porsche is working on. The advanced driver assist and autonomous drive tech are still a bit far for Porsche.

4. GM The company with brands like Cadillac, Chevrolet, Holden is known for its SUVs and trucks. Customers trust GM’s trucks and cars for their decades of car manufacturing experience. The brand has a cash balance of €19,787 million. GM’s Chevrolet Bolt EV is the best selling electric car after tesla. The company is already known for E-mobility because of the Bolt EV. GM plans to bring 10 EVs to the market by 2023. The joint venture with Chinese partner Wuling which makes the second highest-selling EV in china and new technology developments such as its ultium batteries that have more power density per kg are all signs that GM wants to be a major part of the EV revolution. The autonomous tech that GM uses in Cadillac called supercruise is a lane maintaining feature and is not close to what rivals offer. GM might be a major auto manufacturer but they have to take proper steps at the right time to get into the market.

5. Audi Audi is known as one of the best luxury car makers and is a member of the Volkswagen group. Audi with a cash balance of €11,731 million and is focused on luxury EV production starting from its concepts and now stepping towards production. Audi has launched its electric series as Audi e-Tron, the luxury SUVs with Audi’s comfort. It is setting up its battery assembly plant where they will be able to make up to 95kw battery pack. The old batteries after serving in an EV are used for stationary energy storage. They have a motor production facility but the cost for the Audi EVs is on the higher side considering there are no advanced features on offer compared to rivals. You can only milk your brand name so much.

6. Hyundai and Kia Hyundai and Kia are the biggest car manufacturers in South Korea. The sister companies work together in their EV technology development. The combined cash balance of both is €108 million. The brands are known for their design and safety and also have a strong presence in the Chinese market. They already have launched several EVs which are doing well in the market. Hyundai, Kia and Canoo, a Los Angeles based startup are co-developing all-electric platforms for their upcoming vehicles. The innovative heat pump technology for cold regions can be used for heating the car without affecting the driving range. The companies are known for their cost-effectiveness and reliability. If the EVs they develop also fulfill the same customers then they will retain their reputation. However, most of the rivals are moving a bit ahead in terms of technology and innovation. They have to work on charging infrastructure in some countries where they are very well known.

7. Ford The Ford motor company is one of the leading automakers in the world. They have more than a century of car-making experience. The company has all categories of vehicles that are doing well in the market along with America’s highest sold truck F-150. Ford’s first official EV was the Ford Ranger which used a Lead acid battery in 2003. Ford is struggling with investors when it is about to launch the upcoming Ford Mustang Mach E, Ford’s flagship EV. Moreover $6 billion loan in 2009 still haunts the company. The company has also launched North America’s largest charging network called Ford pass. Ford is all set for its electric future with several models lined up including an electric F-150. If the costing and range are competitive then there is no look back for Ford in its electric venture. The company should focus on the US market for its EVs instead of losing focus in an attempt to increase marketing footprint.