The Rise of Electric Vehicles and Robotaxis
New Normal Consulting
Wed 14 Jan 2026 - 16:00 CET / 15:00 BST / 10:00 ET
Summary
Paul discussed how ageing demographics, collapsing internal combustion engine demand and China’s aggressive push into EVs are reshaping global transport, arguing that cost, convenience and digitalisation are driving the rise of electric vehicles and robotaxis. He set out the knock-on consequences for car manufacturers, energy markets and the chemical industry, highlighting how urbanisation, overcapacity and shifting regulation are likely to create clear structural winners and losers over the coming decade.
Topics
● EVs are now 40% of sales in the Top 3 markets (China, Europe, USA) – which are 2/3rds of global volume
● Chinese companies are pulling ahead, and building factories in Thailand, Brazil, Hungary, Turkey and possibly Spain to avoid tariffs
● Robotaxis have now reached take-off point with both Waymo and Baidu having driven over 100 million miles autonomously
● We believe Robotaxis could lead to a 2nd transport revolution, paralleling the move from horses to cars in 1900-1925 given their very strong value proposition
