Signals

: But there is a new idea brewing – the idea that globalisation, as we know it, is waning. A globe is an object made for human manipulation – hence it is the human economies, human politics etc that define what is meant by ‘globalisation’.

: Is it time to make way for the planetary view? One that isn’t led by human flows of goods, say, but by natural flows, like water cycles. It moves our position to one of merging human with nonhuman systems, whether nature or tech (data flow doesn’t have borders either). It also allows us to prepare for thinking beyond our planet.

: At Davos 2026, Canadian prime minister Mark Carney captured this shift in thinking. ‘Over the past two decades, a series of crises in finance, health, energy and geopolitics have laid bare the risks of extreme global integration… The multilateral institutions on which the middle powers have relied – the WTO, the UN, the COP, the very architecture of collective problem-solving – are under threat. As a result, many countries are drawing the same conclusions that they must develop greater strategic autonomy in energy, food, critical minerals, in finance and supply chains. And this impulse is understandable. A country that cannot feed itself, fuel itself or defend itself has few options. When the rules no longer protect you, you must protect yourself. But let’s be clear-eyed about where this leads. A world of fortresses will be poorer, more fragile and less sustainable. The question is whether we adapt by simply building higher walls, or whether we can do something more ambitious’ (source: World Economic Forum).

: Remember, foresight isn’t prediction – it’s preparation. So get reading, get in touch if you have any questions and let’s be ambitious – together – about the coming years. 

US – Despite a major push from automakers and third-party platforms, only 7% of car buyers in the US complete their purchase entirely online, according to a survey of 2,344 people by Cox Automotive.

Over one-quarter (28%) of car buyers enter the process intending to buy online, yet only 7% do so. More than half (53%) of consumers complete their purchase entirely in person, drawn by the need to see, touch and test-drive a vehicle.

However, the report identifies AI as showing promise in improving the vehicle buying process: 81% of buyers who completed half of their process online using AI were satisfied with the shopping experience, compared to 71% of users who didn’t use AI. Around three-quarters (81%) of those using AI technologies were also satisfied with how long the purchasing process took, compared with 65% of those not using AI.

The study reveals that the purchase of high-value items, such cars, still relies on tactile, experiential moments. Head to our Mobility sector for more on the ideas, innovations and experts shaping the future of the automotive industry.