Autotech & Mobility Sector Sees Second-Highest Number of M&A Deals Ever Recorded in a Six-Month Period, Says Hampleton Partners’ Report
London, UK – 13 September 2023. The latest global Autotech & Mobility M&A report from Hampleton Partners, the international M&A and corporate finance advisory firm for technology companies, reveals that 68 transactions were recorded in the first half of 2023. This is the second-largest deal volume of any six-month period within the sector, just behind the all-time high of 76 transactions recorded in 1H2022.
The EV and AI revolutions, along with surging interest in technologies addressing autonomous driving, sustainability and customer experience, have helped drive market activity, with OEMs expanding their product portfolios and acquiring companies developing disruptive solutions for the sector.
Meeting the challenge from China
A significant development in the Autotech & Mobility sector has been the rising importance of Chinese OEMs, which are satisfying global demand for affordable EVs. Having been ahead of the curve when it comes to investing in the creation of an electric vehicle ecosystem, China now dominates the global landscape, selling more than twice the number of EVs in 2022 than Europe and the US combined.
Michel Annink, director at Hampleton Partners, said “Similarly to Japanese brands flooding the market in the 1970s, Chinese automakers like BYD, NIO, Xpeng and more are beginning to reach European and American consumers, with North American, European and Asian incumbent OEMs struggling to respond.”
The pressure from China is currently set to cost European manufacturers around €7 billion in annual net profits by 2030. Staying competitive will require not only cost reductions but continuous and tireless innovation. This need for competitive solutions should accelerate M&A activity in this sector still further.
Oil giants make further strides in EV charging
Racing to diversify their offerings in a world that’s increasingly focused on sustainability, some of the world’s biggest oil giants have become major players in the EV charging subsector. A prime example is Shell, which this year acquired US-based EV charging network Volta for $169 million, as well as Swiss charging network evpass for an undisclosed amount.
Shell’s mission to operate 2.5 million charging points worldwide by the end of the decade underscores how competitive the EV infrastructure industry has become, with the subsector accounting for 12% of all Autotech & Mobility deals in the past 30 months.
Top Autotech & Mobility acquirers – past 30 months
There have been 238 active acquirers within the Autotech & Mobility sector throughout the past 30 months. Of these, 49 have made more than one acquisition, with the top three most prolific buyers being:
Imaweb – 6 acquisitions, including Carswip (automotive remarketing SaaS), Custeed (auto retailer CRM SaaS), and FordonsData Nordic (automotive dealer management software).
Reynolds & Reynolds – 5 acquisitions, including Carl Street (automotive dealership management SaaS), DealerCorp Solutions (automotive retail management SaaS), and Proton Dealership IT (IT consulting and cybersecurity services).
Valsoft – 5 acquisitions, including BDK Informatik (transport and logistics management SaaS), Freicon Software (automotive dealer management SaaS), and Enrich Software Corporation (ERP for the truck leasing sector).
Download the full Hampleton Partners Autotech & Mobility M&A Market Report 2H2023
Download the full Hampleton Partners Autotech & Mobility M&A Market Report 2H2023, which reveals the megatrends shaping the sector right now, and takes a close look at the five key segments: Enterprise Applications, Internet Commerce & Content, Embedded Software & Systems, Mobility & Fleet Management, and EV Infrastructure here: https://www.hampletonpartners.com/reports/autotech-mobility-report/
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Note to editors:
Hampleton Partners’ M&A Market Reports are compiled using data and information from the 451 Research database (www.451research.com); Capital IQ, CB Insights, Gartner, IDC and more.
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About Hampleton Partners
Hampleton Partners advises technology company owners on M&A and growth financing transactions with strategic buyers or financial investors. Hampleton’s experienced deal makers have advised hundreds of tech industry shareholders and provide hands-on expertise and unrivalled advice to entrepreneurs looking to sell their companies, partially exit, or to accelerate growth.
With offices in London, Frankfurt, Stockholm and San Francisco, Hampleton offers a global perspective with sector expertise in: Enterprise Software, Digital Commerce, IT & Business Services, Artificial Intelligence, Autotech, Cybersecurity, Fintech, Healthtech, HR Tech, and Insurtech.