Development of automotive industry trends and demand for critical raw materials worldwide

Abstract

Innovative technological solutions appear in the economy as a response to expected social, economic, technological and environmental changes. Modern ideas can become a driving force for new investments and the spread of innovative ideas. One of the greatest challenges of modern times is environmental protection, which drives change and development in many sectors of the economy. The response to environmental protection by reducing exhaust fumes is the development of electric car production. With the growing demand for electric vehicles, the demand for key critical minerals has increased dramatically. However, their production is associated with an adverse impact on the environment. Furthermore, the production of critical minerals is limited to a few countries, with China being the leader. The article examines the problems of sustainable development, considering the often contradictory effects of environmental protection activities. It also addresses the issue of the stability of supply chains of critical minerals necessary for the implementation of modern technological solutions. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Richert, M., Łebkowski, P. 2025. Development of automotive industry trends and demand for critical raw materials worldwide. Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, 12(4), 325-360.