After years of strong dynamism, the global automotive M&A market has experienced a sharp slowdown. Data from Bain & Company show that since 2024 there has been a significant contraction in both the number and the value of transactions, reflecting an increasingly complex and unstable industrial environment.
In the short term, the focus is shifting away from large-scale acquisitions toward more flexible forms of consolidation, such as partnerships and joint ventures, which allow companies to share investments and risks in a context of still-uncertain demand and technology.
Extraordinary transactions are no longer limited to manufacturers and sales networks, but now involve the entire value chain, from components and spare parts to services.
According to Pietro Meda, interviewed on the topic by Milano Finanza, “It is undeniable that the automotive industry, and the entire supply chain, is going through a period of great production uncertainty, both in terms of volumes and demand. Current regulations, especially in Europe, and the tariff situation are creating significant uncertainty, which has led to a major market crisis. I therefore believe that potential merger transactions can represent an excellent tool for industrial recovery and should not be viewed merely as defensive moves to protect the business.”
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