Fuel For Thought

In this edition of Fuel for Thought, we’re looking ahead to 2027 through the lens of OEM strategy—at a time when demand is constrained, affordability is calling the shots, and competition is getting sharper by the quarter.

The core tension is simple: households are still stretched, vehicle prices remain high, and the market is more volatile and more regional than it’s been in years. Meanwhile, the competitive bar is moving: faster development cycles, lower cost structures, and bigger questions about who owns the tech stack.

Our host Guido Vildozo speaks with Thomas Meininger, Executive Director, Global Vehicle Demand Group, Mobility Global, to understand the latest cars sales trends heading into 2027 and learn where OEMs should prioritize their strategic investments. 

Read our written newsletter. and follow us on LinkedIn for more insights. 

Speakers: 

Thomas Meininger, Executive Director, Global Vehicle Demand Group, Mobility Global

Guido Vildozo, Senior Manager, Consulting, Mobility Global (Host)

Editor's note: This podcast was originally published on May 11, 2026. Due to technical difficulties, it was republished on August 3. 

Automotive procurement and planning leaders face a growing concern in 2026: A structural tightening in the supply of DRAM chips that underpin modern vehicle electronics.

DRAM suppliers are reallocating capacity toward AI data‑center applications, where memory‑intensive GPUs are absorbing a disproportionate share of manufacturing resources. The impact for automakers is higher prices and tighter availability, particularly for older generations of automotive‑grade DRAM.

In this episode of Fuel for Thought, we're sharing a clip from our recent webinar with Automotive News on how OEMs can navigate this landscape over the next several years.

Speakers: 

Jeremie Bouchaud, Executive Director, Supply Chain and Technology, S&P Global Mobility

Guido Vildozo, Associate Director, Consulting, S&P Global Mobility (Host)

Automotive procurement and planning leaders face a growing concern in 2026: A structural tightening in the supply of DRAM chips that underpin modern vehicle electronics.
DRAM suppliers are reallocating capacity toward AI data‑center applications, where memory‑intensive GPUs are absorbing a disproportionate share of manufacturing resources. The impact for automakers is higher prices and tighter availability, particularly for older generations of automotive‑grade DRAM.

In this episode of Fuel for Thought, we're sharing a clip from our recent webinar with Automotive News on how OEMs can navigate this landscape over the next several years.
Speakers: 
Jeremie Bouchaud, Executive Director, Supply Chain and Technology, S&P Global Mobility
Guido Vildozo, Associate Director, Consulting, S&P Global Mobility (Host)

With average monthly car payments pushing toward $800 and nearly 20% of US consumers making $1,000 payments, buyers are weighing brand attachment against purchasing reality.  

Recent automotive market analysis shows that affordability pressures are fundamentally changing car buyer behavior, creating new risks for retention but also new opportunities for conquest. 

The result is a market in motion: Households that once returned reliably to brands and models are now open to change. Sellers that understand this dynamic will be best positioned to capture the moment. 

In this episode of Fuel for Thought, our host Guido Vildozo speaks with loyalty expert Tom Libby on key conquest and retention opportunities available for OEMs in this environment. 

Participants: 

Guido Vildozo, Associate Director, Consulting, S&P Global Mobility (Host)

Tom Libby, Director, Loyalty Solutions and Industry Analysis, S&P Global Mobility

For North American automakers, the familiar megatrends of electrification, regionalization, the rise of Chinese competitors, technological transformation, and supply chain resilience are evolving amid global supply risks and shifting regulatory pressures.

Our latest whitepaper, The next phase of automotive megatrends, explores how regulatory uncertainty, affordability pressures, shifting consumer expectations, and global supply risks are reshaping strategy for OEMs across the region. From upcoming USMCA negotiations to new semiconductor shortages, our host Guido Vildozo sits down with the whitepaper authors to discuss what's truly different in this next phase—and what leaders should be doing now to prepare.

Participants:

Guido Vildozo, Associate Director, Consulting, S&P Global Mobility (Host)

Henner Lehne, VP, Research and Analysis, S&P Global Mobility

Peter Nagle, Research and Analysis Associate Director, S&P Global Mobility