Growth slower than the market? Why this is more dangerous than it seems

There is a silent but dangerous opponent in the automotive supply industry: slow growth compared to the market.

Many companies are happy about rising sales and stable customer relationships - but what if the market is growing faster than their own company? Then growth actually means a loss of market share, and this can become an existential threat.

After all, if you lag behind market growth, you not only lose sales potential, but also competitiveness, customer access and, in the long term, even relevance in the industry.

Staying competitive: Why market share matters

The automotive industry is in a state of constant change: e-mobility, new drive systems, software-defined vehicles and global shifts are putting suppliers under pressure. Companies that do not keep pace with the dynamics of the market are gradually falling behind.

The result? A downward spiral:

- OEMs prefer stronger, faster-growing suppliers for new projects

- Lack of economies of scale increases costs and reduces margins

- Declining bargaining power in price and condition negotiations

- Declining ability to invest in innovations

But how do you recognize loss of market share early on?

Many suppliers focus exclusively on their own growth figures without putting these in relation to the overall market. This is where the crucial mistake lies:

Sales growth of 5% sounds good - but not if the market is growing by 10%.

The solution: growth controlling in comparison to the market

To avoid losing market share, suppliers must consistently compare their growth with market growth. Three strategic steps are crucial for this:

1. Continuous analysis of own growth vs. market

The first step is to regularly compare your own growth with market growth. A segment-specific analysis is particularly important:

- Which vehicle segments are growing particularly strongly?

- Where is the company losing market share?

- Which regions offer untapped potential?

Digital solutions that compare relevant market data with the company's own growth figures and make trends visible at an early stage are suitable for this.

2. Close gaps with strategic target projects

If gaps are identified between your own growth and the market, it is important to identify specific strategic projects.

- Which OEMs offer the greatest opportunities?

- Which new technologies or product segments should be addressed more intensively?

- Which customers or regions should be specifically expanded?

This requires intelligent data analysis and strategic planning in order to occupy the right growth areas.

3. Consistent implementation through target visualization, resource planning and acquisition processes

Only those who implement concrete measures can sustainably prevent market share losses. Use successful suppliers:

✅ Target visualization: Clear, measurable targets for market share gains

✅ Resource planning: optimal distribution of sales capacities

✅ Target-oriented acquisition processes: Focus on the most important growth projects

✅ Results monitoring: Continuous monitoring of success for course correction

The solution: Market and growth analysis with Digital Automotive

Manual analyses are error-prone and often too slow. Digital Automotive offers an automated solution for strategic growth planning:

🔹 Automated comparison of own growth vs. market growth

🔹 Identification of strategic growth areas

🔹 Integrated target tracking and acquisition planning

🔹 Real-time monitoring to measure success

🚀 The goal? Identify growth opportunities, secure market share and remain competitive in the long term.

Conclusion: gaining market share instead of losing it

In the automotive supply industry, it is not enough to simply grow - growth must be faster than the market. Those who do not actively compare themselves with market growth and take strategic countermeasures will lose market share unnoticed and their competitiveness in the long term.

👉F ind out how Digital Automotive can help you secure market share and grow profitably. Book a live demo now at Digital Automotive Contact