Supercharging the global electric vehicle supply chain

The regionalisation and localisation of supply chains can amplify their resiliency and sustainability, creating potential long-term investment opportunities.

Key points

• Current environmental and geopolitical conditions are causing headwinds for automobile manufacturers, which is urging them to rethink traditional supply chains.
• Deglobalisation, regionalisation and localisation move into the spotlight as companies seek to lessen their reliance on China.
• We believe there are compelling positive implications for sustainability when localising the supply chain.
• In our view, building resilient and sustainable supply chains should create attractive long-term opportunities for investors.

Mobility is rapidly evolving as the industry speeds toward the transition to electric vehicles (EVs), spurring interest and increased investment as companies vie for green supremacy. As this transition evolves, so will the EV supply chain, which strongly differs from that of the traditional internal combustion engine (ICE). While most manufacturers and component suppliers have adapted to and mastered the complexity and relative immobility of supply chains, current environmental and geopolitical headwinds are causing many companies to rethink this process and reinvent how – and where – they manufacture products, which ushers in a potential new age of deglobalisation, regionalisation and localisation. We think this catalyst for change should encourage investors to take a long-term view. Ultimately, we believe building resilient and sustainable supply chains can enable a resilient and sustainable future and thus create attractive long-term opportunities for investors.

China’s supply-chain dominance

Today’s world is propelled by fossil-fuel ICEs, whose supply chains are highly globalised with component parts sourced from many countries to produce the final product. This highly complex dynamic can create supply chains with a multitude of risks or weak links that can affect efficiency and reliability. However, with the rise in popularity of EVs, so too comes potential for more streamlined and efficient supply chains. For example, a full electric passenger vehicle has around 20 moving parts, while ICEs have 2,000 parts.

Currently, the majority of EV battery manufacturing capacity is located in Asia, with the largest share in China. While the initial end of lockdowns in China provided some near-term relief to the mobility supply chain as factories reopened, the respite was short-lived. Broadly, many companies across the globe are seeking to reduce or diversify their supply-chain dependence on China for two main reasons: geopolitical risk and innovation. More recently, recurrent lockdowns in China have proven there could be long-term headwinds to continuing production in the country, which is causing companies to seek supply-chains in alternate locations in search of resiliency. In particular, auto manufacturers are focusing on deglobalisation and planning for further insourcing of key components, such as in-house e-powertrains, software and battery cell production. These companies aren’t stopping at relocating production; some are also beginning to consider the enhancement of their raw-material procurement by forming ‘offtake’ agreements with mining companies for the key battery metals. Companies aren’t alone in their interest to diversify their efforts beyond China as governments also try to move away from overseas production, as evidenced by the European Union’s green new deal.

Deglobalisation or something more?

China’s early focus on developing the EV supply chain is a key reason for its outsized role in manufacturing. However, over the next decade, we expect that China’s dominance should decline as localisation of battery factories increases in Europe, North America and the rest of the world.

As these companies begin to move away from their reliance on China as a hub of production, many investors can become overly focused on the prospect of deglobalisation, but we believe this is only part of a broader narrative. There are actually three issues at hand: deglobalisation, regionalisation and localisation. Regionalisation has already begun, mostly in part owing to former US President Trump’s tariffs, which have acutely affected the technology industry. Additionally, in a move towards localisation, certain Chinese lithium-ion battery manufacturers are considering greenfield projects in various regions around the world, including the US, which will allow them to supply US original equipment managers (OEMs) more efficiently.

We believe the localisation of select links in the supply chain should create new opportunities for investors, including a more dynamic portfolio and mobility universe over time.

A sustainable future through supply chains

The global transition to EVs can offer numerous environmental, social and governance (ESG) benefits, including the obvious environmental advantage of lower emissions owing to the introduction of the battery-powered propulsion system. Additionally, the regionalisation and localisation of supply chains will naturally lower emissions related to transportation as companies lessen their dependence on the shipment of products from one side of the globe to the other. Instead, companies can build, source and sell regionally or locally.

We also believe there are compelling positive implications for sustainability. Localising companies can create opportunities to increase the resiliency of supply chains through dual sourcing, by which they can still source materials or components from other countries, while enhancing their level of control with local production practices. This can allow EV companies to be nimble and not wholly dependent upon one region, especially during times of geopolitical unrest.

However, localisation can still present challenges, as local policies and restrictions can sometimes limit the ability to reshore manufacturing plants and factories. From start to finish, the battery supply chain is complex and there are environmental and sustainability concerns with the mining and processing of key metals. For example, a large US-based EV manufacturer previously ran into numerous issues while attempting to build battery plants on US soil. The country’s environmental requirements to build such a factory are stringent and require specific permits from individual municipalities. Ironically, these very restrictions created the initial push of globalisation and moving manufacturing to countries, such as China, with lower regulatory friction.

Developing a more robust recycling system to help offset negative effects of battery manufacturing could rectify some ESG and sustainability concerns. Further to this cause, there is a need to enhance materials processing so that it uses renewable-energy sources. At the end of the day, the ultimate, somewhat lofty, goal is to create a closed-loop system, where metals can be recycled, and fewer mining activities are required. In the mid to long-term, we believe that recycling could be the key to sustainability and forming a truly circular ecosystem.

Opportunities linked to the great transition

The EV supply chain remains in the earliest of stages, given the relative early days of mass-market EVs, but nonetheless continues to evolve, undergoing a great transition itself. Between localising links in the supply chain and the integration of certain ESG principles, there are many factors at play and opportunities that we believe active managers with long-term views can seize. This multi-decade theme is in its infancy with many knowns and unknowns on the horizon.

There are also some difficult realities with which those in the EV supply chain must contend. Mining and processing of key metals is a dirty business, and a closed-loop recycling system may be unrealistic. Additionally, it will take a very long time, if ever, for particular regions to localise certain areas of the supply chain, making it near impossible to bring the entire manufacturing process in-house. Finally, localising pieces of the supply chain will generate some friction owing to more stringent local regulations in places like Europe and the US. Conversely, there are some areas where we are more optimistic, including localisation of battery assembly production by both the OEMs and cell manufacturers.

Early-stage themes, such as the mobility supply-chain revolution, allow focused investors to dig deep and take truly differentiated viewpoints, while seeing the potential pitfalls native to a nascent trend. We believe that a more resilient and sustainable future is on the horizon as supply chains enhance their flexibility through localisation and regionalisation.

Authors

Robert C Zeuthen

Head of secular pod, portfolio manager

Frank J Goguen

Research analyst, portfolio manager

George Saffaye

Global investment strategist