Extrusion International 1-2020

48 Extrusion International 1/2020 WIRE TUBE 2020 “The market potential is enormous,” Wafios emphasises. “Accordingly, the forecasts are positive.” For this reason, e-mobility became the focus of the company’s attention already some years ago. “Technical triggers were enqui- ries from the automotive sector, both on the OEM side, supplier level and in the equipment sector about three years ago,” explains the supplier of machines for bending wire and tubes. E-mobility picked up speed. However, the industry is still “clear and concentrated on a few market participants”, explains Wafios. According to AlixPartners Global Automotive Outlook 2019, the global market share of electric drive units in terms of ve- hicles sold amounted to 2.7 per cent in 2018. A share that is clearly expandable, which is shown by the growth rate of the e-drive of more than 65 per cent. Thus, according to Outlook 2019, the market is speeding ahead “in the ir- reversible market run-up”. Faster than expected According to the VDA, electric mobility is coming faster than many expect. One reason is, for example, the tight- ening of regulations and the improved incentive systems for electric mobility in order to reduce CO 2 emissions. For example, there will be no new registrations for conven- tional drives in Norway from 2025 - the sale of electric cars will be promoted with massive tax incentives. The Nether- lands, Ireland and Israel want to use only emissions-free vehicles from 2030. A sales ban on combustion engines is planned from 2040 in Great Britain and France. In the USA some states, such as California, plan to permit only emissions-free cars from 2040. In order to get their act to- gether, suppliers have to target these figures. According to the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), electric vehicles are suitable for the market. A “young, still small market with high dynamics” has developed around e-cars - even though vehicles with combustion engine technology currently still dominate the global automotivemarket. Suppliers of thewire and cable industry are already picking up speed and see e-mobility as an opportunity Increasingly electrified Electric mobility is coming faster thanmany expect (Photo: Pixabay) Audi Hungaria starts series productionof electricmotors (Photo: AUDI AG)