A special report in this week's edition of The Economist offers an interesting view of the future. A few nuggets:
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Emerging markets in China and India will drive dramatic expansion of the industry.
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In a few years, China will be the second-largest national market, after the U.S.
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It is probable that more cars will be made in the next 20 years than in the entire history of the industry.
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Growth will require 180 new factories worldwide, each producing 300,000 cars and light trucks annually.
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Today's auto plants will not be competitive with the newer plants without extensive retooling.
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Companies that have grown by mergers and acquisition (GM, Ford, DaimlerChrysler) will be too inefficient to compete effectively with new competitors without extensive streamlining.
Much more here (or on newstands).
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