BCG and A2MAC1 Join Forces to Transform Automotive Cost Performance

September 9, 2025 – As rising input costs, accelerating tech cycles, and intensifying price pressure squeeze margins across the automotive industry, Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and A2MAC1, a global leader in automotive product and cost benchmarking, today announced a strategic partnership to help OEMs and suppliers accelerate and rethink their cost transformations.

The collaboration brings together BCG’s deep transformation expertise across cost, operations, R&D, and sourcing with A2MAC1’s extensive teardown database and detailed insights across the full vehicle lifecycle. Together, the firms will develop and deploy a suite of advanced AI-powered tools to help clients identify and act on cost opportunities with greater speed and precision.

“Amid rising margin pressures, product cost programs are essential to the future success of car manufacturers,” said Felix Stellmaszek, a BCG managing director and senior partner and global leader of the firm’s automotive and mobility work. “Through this partnership with A2MAC1, we can help clients zero in on the most urgent cost levers, and move with speed and confidence to capture impact.”

“For car OEMs and suppliers, cost advantage starts with visibility,” said Patrick Katenkamp, CEO of A2MAC1. “By pairing our comprehensive benchmarking data and cost analytics knowledge with BCG’s cost transformation expertise, we’re turning complex data into clear, actionable decisions that help clients to bring their costing strategy to the next level.”

BCG and A2MAC1 will deliver impact in three key areas:

• Accelerated cost ideation. The first jointly developed AI-powered solution in this suite of tools—the Cost Measure Ideator—draws on real vehicle designs to generate tailored cost-reduction ideas for each client. By enabling faster, more targeted idea generation, these co-created AI-powered tools will help accelerate and sharpen early cost program decisions.
• Deep system insights. A2MAC1 and BCG will collaborate to leverage teardown-based comparisons across platforms, suppliers, and regions to pinpoint cost gaps and inform redesigns, supplier negotiations, and make-or-buy strategies.
• Scalable platform solutions. Together, BCG and A2MAC1 will deliver detailed insights into vehicle architecture choices to support long-term cost positioning.

This partnership brings together the data, tools, and expertise to build lasting cost advantage.