Buckle up, because we're about to shift gears! I'm here to talk about something super important for car makers today: how you can plan smarter and navigate this wild ride we call the global automotive industry, all with the power of Anaplan. In this blog, I'm going to dive into some real-world case studies, pinpoint the biggest challenges you're facing, and peer into the future of connected planning in automotive manufacturing.

You don't need me to tell you that the global automotive industry is revving its engine into a decade of serious transformation. Between the ongoing geopolitical drama, the massive shift to EVs, and the ever-tightening environmental regulations, I imagine that car and component manufacturers like you are feeling the heat. As a result, there's a mounting pressure to become more agile, more resilient, and truly ready for whatever the future throws our way.

Just recently, I was chatting with a client who makes car parts, and their main concern hit home. They were grappling with how to completely reshape their supply chain and manage production capacity in response to truly unpredictable forces – like wars and tariffs. It's a challenge that’s echoing across the entire sector, and it’s just one piece of a much, much larger puzzle.

To tackle these challenges head-on, many industry leaders are choosing to, well, shift gears! They’re rethinking their entire planning approach, tearing down those all to familiar data silos, and embracing technology that helps them anticipate and adapt. In this article, I want to show you how Anaplan supports smarter, more responsive planning, and how global automotive brands are already using it to completely transform their operations.

Automotive Leaders Already Driving Change with Anaplan

It’s not just talk! Automotive manufacturers around the world are genuinely turning to Anaplan to navigate volatility, manage complexity, and build more intelligent supply chains. Let me show you how some of the industry’s most recognised names are putting connected planning into practice.

Jaguar Land Rover: Unifying Planning to Drive Strategic Agility

Jaguar Land Rover jumped on board with Anaplan to connect their financial and operational planning across the entire business. What’s the big win? With end-to-end visibility, they can now adapt much faster to changing demand, optimise production, and make sure their resources are perfectly aligned with their strategic goals. Plus, cross-functional teams collaborate in real-time – and for them, that’s a critical capability in today’s volatile market.
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Lumag: Streamlining Finance for Data-Driven Decisions

Anna Fengier, Financial Controller at Lumag, knows a thing or two about needing clear, reliable data. Their financial processes were often a labyrinth of spreadsheets, making it tough to truly trust the numbers or react quickly to market changes. With Profit&'s help, Lumag implemented Anaplan to transform their finance operations. Now, they're not just saving time; they're making optimal decisions based on data they can truly trust, gaining agility and seeing the value far outweighing their initial Investment.
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Hitachi Astemo Brake Systems: Agile Planning for Component Manufacturing

As a Tier 1 supplier, Hitachi Astemo Brakes was staring down the barrel of increasing customer complexity and intense lead time pressure. By implementing Anaplan, they completely transformed their demand and supply planning processes. The result? Improved responsiveness, much better inventory accuracy, and closer alignment with their OEM clients. Just what they needed!
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Nissan: Transforming Planning Across Global Operations

Nissan used Anaplan to ditch their fragmented spreadsheets (we've all been there!) and replace them with a scalable, connected platform for both strategic and tactical planning. The outcome? Greater forecast accuracy, improved cross-functional alignment, and much stronger resilience when global supply chain shocks hit. Now that’s smart planning!
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Why Now?

Let’s be honest, disruption isn’t just a passing phase anymore – it’s the new normal for car and component manufacturers. The ones who are going to succeed are the ones who can adapt with speed, clarity, and genuine confidence.

From retooling factories for EV production to reacting to sudden shifts in tariffs, every single decision now has downstream effects that ripple across your entire supply chain. The future belongs to those who can connect their data, model scenarios in real-time, and truly turn planning into a strategic advantage.

The Roadblocks Ahead 

Geopolitical Disruption and Tariffs 

From the war in Eastern Europe to ongoing trade tensions, global automotive supply chains are more exposed than ever before. Sudden changes in trade policy or sanctions can completely disrupt material flow and spike costs overnight. It's a real headache, and you need to be ready.

Transition to Electric Vehicles (EVs)

The EV transformation isn't just about a new drivetrain – it demands a full-scale reimagining of the entire supply ecosystem. Battery materials, rare earth minerals, and brand-new production capabilities must be planned and procured at scale and speed. It’s a huge undertaking!

Supply Chain Fragmentation and Lack of Visibility 

The semiconductor crisis and the pandemic really laid bare just how opaque traditional supply chains can be. Without connected data, planners are constantly forced to react after the fact – and that’s a dangerous delay in such a fast-moving industry.

Environmental and Regulatory Pressure

Sustainability is no longer a corporate and social responsibility initiative — it’s a compliance and reputational imperative. Manufacturers must now track carbon, trace materials, and prove ethical sourcing across the value chain. It’s a huge responsibility.

Labour and Skills Shortages

Here’s another big one: EV production and digital planning both require new skills. The fight for talent is on, and organisations have to build capacity while upskilling their existing workforce to manage these modern planning systems

The Case for Connected Planning 

Here's the problem: these challenges aren’t isolated – they’re all tightly interconnected. You can’t plan production capacity without understanding material availability. You can’t meet emissions targets without tracking supplier practices. You can’t forecast demand without real-time market signals.

The answer isn’t just more data – you need a planning platform that genuinely connects the dots. And that's where the Anaplan Supply Chain App comes in.

How the Anaplan supply chain app Supports Automotive Resilience 

Anaplan’s Supply Chain App is built to help businesses like yours plan, pivot, and perform with confidence — no matter what the market throws at them. 

1. Real-Time Scenario Planning

Imagine modeling multiple supply and demand scenarios side-by-side. What happens if tariffs go up? If a key supplier suddenly drops out? If EV uptake outpaces projections? With Anaplan, you can test these assumptions, visualise the impacts, and respond decisively. How cool is that?

2. End-to-End Supply Chain Visibility 

Anaplan absolutely demolishes data silos, connecting data from procurement, production, logistics, and sales. This shared planning environment lets cross-functional teams align faster and truly act as a unifying force.

3. Dynamic Demand and Capacity Matching 

You can leverage AI and machine learning to forecast demand accurately and match it with production and procurement in real-time – reducing waste and making sure you don't miss out on opportunities.

4. Supplier Collaboration and Risk Management 

Track supplier risk, lead times, and regional exposures. Use the platform to simulate the impact of reshoring, multi-sourcing, or geopolitical changes — absolutely key for building resilience.

5. Sustainability and Compliance Tracking 

Integrate ESG targets directly into planning models. Whether it’s carbon emissions, recycled content, or ethical sourcing, Anaplan makes it measurable, trackable, and actionable.  It’s about more than just reporting; it’s about action.

Start Strong, Stay Resilient 

Here at Profit&, we've had the privilege of helping manufacturers like you evolve from just "firefighting" to truly "future-shaping." With the right digital tools and our expert guidance, automotive leaders can plan smarter, respond faster, and build enduring resilience into every single tier of their supply chain.

A successful transformation isn’t just about the technology, though – it’s about how it’s applied. That’s why we approach every engagement as the start of a long-term partnership. Whether you’re trying to stabilise your supply chain, support your EV rollout, or ensure regulatory compliance, our team is ready to help you every step of the way, creating the planning environment that's right and fit for your purpose.

Ready to finally shift gears and leave those planning headaches in the dust? Let’s chat about how we can help you future-proof your supply chain with Anaplan. I’m excited to hear from you!