European Auto Makers Fight Back in Mobility Race

German automakers push a comeback at IAA Mobility

Munich’s IAA Mobility this week felt like a deliberate rebuttal: VW Group, Mercedes and BMW brought new electric models, software upgrades and lofty promises aimed squarely at slowing the rise of Chinese competitors in Europe.

Executives framed the message bluntly. VW’s Oliver Blume signaled a focused push to regain EV competitiveness in China, while each OEM highlighted tech that mixes affordability with advanced in-car computing and battery innovation.

The urgency is real: Chinese brands, led by BYD, nearly doubled their European market share over the past year, per JATO Dynamics. New models — Mercedes’ all-electric GLC, BMW’s iX3 with four “superbrain” computers, and VW’s ID Polo and ID Cross concept — are designed to protect share and push growth.

Battery and autonomy headlines to watch

Rimac Technology announced solid-state battery packs it says will reach the market by late 2027 and charge from 10% to 80% in under 10 minutes. If real at scale, this could reshape EV range, charging infrastructure and vehicle packaging.

On autonomy, Hyundai has quietly stepped back in to fund Motional after Aptiv’s exit, disbursing a reported $452 million tranche this year and more next year. The move underscores how OEMs are hedging bets between internal programs and external partners like Waymo.

Deals, hires and regulatory moves shaping the sector

Mobility finance and talent are active: Via completed an IPO raising nearly $493 million at a $3.7 billion valuation; Arc Boats signed a $160 million hybrid-electric tug deal; LeydenJar and Standard Fleet closed funding rounds. General Motors hired AI and energy storage leaders from Cruise and Tesla respectively.

Regulators also nudged the market: the FAA opened an eVTOL pilot program to allow limited testing pre-certification, while several startups and incumbents face operational and safety setbacks — Supernal paused its electric air taxi program and Jaguar Land Rover reported an assembly-line-stopping cyberattack.

What this means for industry leaders

The headline is twofold: Europe’s legacy OEMs are accelerating product and software pushes to defend market position, and disruptive players — from battery startups to Chinese OEMs and AV specialists — are forcing faster pivots. For executives, that translates into a tighter race on cost, charging speed, software differentiation and strategic partnerships.

Decision-makers should validate vendor claims (especially around next-gen batteries), model how new entrants change pricing and adoption curves, and stress-test partnership models for autonomy and air mobility. The next 18 months will reveal which battery and autonomy bets are credible and which are marketing.

QuarkyByte translates these signals into action: we synthesize technical timelines, market-share scenarios, and partnership risk profiles so leaders can prioritize investments and accelerate commercialization without getting caught chasing headlines.

Stay tuned: as models, batteries and regulation evolve, Europe’s mobility story will be won by those who pair engineering credibility with ruthless market planning.