The impact of the 'ACES' - separating myth from reality

Despite a greater amount of realism being in evidence over recent months, there remains a considerable amount of hype around the potential impact on the automotive sector of four so-called 'mega-trends', collectively referred to as the 'ACES', so Autonomous vehicle technology, Connectivity, Electrification, and Sharing (mobility schemes and other alternatives to traditional vehicle ownership).

Much has been written on the changes that the ACES might bring to players, channels, and customers, to relationships, and to traditional revenue flows, causing one well-respected industry commentator to remark that there are probably more consultants' reports on autonomous vehicles than there are autonomous vehicles on the roads, and he may not be too far wide of the mark ...

Consideration of the ACES now pervades all topics of ICDP research, and for example we have recently completed a specific piece of work looking at the potential impact of these trends on the aftermarket (reported at our April 2019 Aftermarket Workshop, and available for programme members to download from the Member Events Archive page of icdp.net). But rather than add to the flow of ink, we can also point you in the direction of a video we produced recently for our activities in Brazil, in which our MD, Steve Young, puts forward our assessment of where the myths stop, and reality starts.

We hope you enjoy it, and look forward to your comments.