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PULSE Market Intelligence · by Comutiq

See What's Moving.
Understand What Matters.
Decide What's Next.

PULSE is a monthly market intelligence report tracking vehicle production costs, battery economics, raw materials, energy and logistics across 12 geographies. Produced by Comutiq — a specialist consulting firm with 100+ combined years of senior industrial and automotive experience.

No commitment required. We will walk you through a live report.

PULSE Index · Sample
ICE Vehicle Index 5,770 USD
+27.4% YoY +1.9% wk
EV Vehicle Index 8,030 USD
+28.1% YoY +0.9% wk
NMC Battery (China) $74 /kWh
+32.2% YoY NMC622
LFP Battery (China) $54 /kWh
+12.2% YoY LFP China top-tier
Steel HRC (USD/T) 1,141
+28.21% YoY
Aluminium (USD/T) 3,497
+45.18% YoY
Natural Gas (USD/MWh) 24
+23.7% YoY US retail
Container Index (pts) 1,855
+33.2% YoY +24.6% mth
ICE Index +27.4% YoY EV Index +28.1% YoY NMC Battery +32.2% YoY LFP Battery +12.2% YoY Aluminium +50.0% YoY Copper +38.3% YoY Natural Gas +23.7% YoY Container Index +33.2% YoY Lithium +119.6% YoY Oil (WTI) +90.6% YoY ICE Index +27.4% YoY EV Index +28.1% YoY NMC Battery +32.2% YoY LFP Battery +12.2% YoY Aluminium +50.0% YoY Copper +38.3% YoY Natural Gas +23.7% YoY Container Index +33.2% YoY Lithium +119.6% YoY Oil (WTI) +90.6% YoY
Who We Serve

Built for the Teams
Who Need the Numbers,
Not Just the Headlines

Automotive is our core — but PULSE serves any organisation where production cost, raw material exposure or supply chain risk drives decisions.

🏭
OEMs and Tier 1–3 Suppliers
Track cost variance against budget, benchmark across geographies and receive early warning on raw material and energy shocks before they reach your P&L.
CEOs, CFOs, COOs · Manufacturing & operations leaders · R&D and engineering teams
📊
Financial Analysts and Investors
Model-ready indices for OEM cost structure analysis, EV transition cost curves and battery economics by chemistry and region. Quarterly P&L benchmarks across 20 or more global brands.
Private equity and M&A teams · Buy-side analysts · Portfolio monitoring
🔗
Supply Chain and Procurement Leaders
Weekly freight index tracking, geopolitical disruption signals and sourcing risk analysis — from the Hormuz Strait to the Red Sea — with Comutiq forward forecasts 4 quarters ahead.
CPOs and procurement directors · Logistics managers · Supplier risk teams
🎯
Strategy and Consulting Teams
Client-ready intelligence with white-label licensing, bespoke scenario modelling and regulatory impact analysis for mobility, industrial and energy clients.
Strategy directors · Management consultants · Sector analysts
🌱
Sustainability and ESG Teams
Carbon emissions data (Scope 1–3), energy consumption, raw material sourcing — including battery minerals — and supply chain environmental impact tracking for reporting and strategy.
Chief Sustainability Officers · ESG reporting teams · Non-financial disclosure leads
🏛️
Government and Policy Stakeholders
Industrial output by region, trade flows, energy usage, emissions trends and automotive sector competitiveness indicators — structured for policy briefings and public investment decisions.
Industrial policy teams · Trade and competitiveness units · Development finance institutions
The Product
PULSE.
Monthly Intelligence Report · Produced by Comutiq

Covering everything from a concise monthly summary to a fully personalised cost index built around your own product and supply chain. A structured report. Three subscription tiers. Briefing calls according to plan type.

PULSE Essentials
A 5 to 10 page monthly summary covering the main index movements and key market factors, with concise expert commentary on what changed and why. Ideal for teams that need a structured monthly read without the full dataset.
PULSE Enterprise
We design and track a proprietary cost index built around your specific product, supply chain and geographic footprint. A full monthly report, updated each month and presented in a dedicated one-hour briefing.
Vehicle Cost Indices
  • ICE and EV total cost indices — raw materials, energy and logistics combined
  • Weekly and monthly change tracking against a base period
  • Broken down by: raw material, energy, precious metals, battery and logistics
Battery Cost Index
  • NMC and LFP cell cost per kWh — China, USA, South Korea and Germany
  • Full cost breakdown: cathode, anode, assembly, labour, energy, R&D
  • 60 kWh and 80 kWh pack benchmarks by country
Industrial Cost Indices
  • 12 manufacturing geographies: USA, Germany, South Korea, China, India, Mexico and more
  • Industrial Variable Cost Index with FX impact
  • Broken down by: raw material, labour, energy and logistics
Raw Materials, Energy and Logistics
  • 16 raw materials tracked weekly: steel, aluminium, lithium, copper and more
  • Energy by region — oil, gas, electricity and gasoline via regional wholesale and retail sources
  • Logistics: Drewry WCI, Baltic Dry Index and TE Containerised Freight Index
  • Comutiq forecasts four quarters ahead alongside market consensus
Geopolitics, OEM Financials and More
  • Monthly geopolitical risk index with regional event digest
  • OEM quarterly P&L benchmarks — 20+ global brands
  • Global EV and ICE demand by region — year-on-year
Sample Report Extract

What a PULSE Report
Looks Like

The structure and depth below are representative of a standard PULSE monthly report. Index values shown are indicative only. Subscribers receive current, complete data every month.

Index or Raw Material Value Wk % Mth % YoY %
ICE Vehicle Index (USD) X,XXX +X.X% +X.X% +XX.X%
EV Vehicle Index (USD) X,XXX +X.X% +X.X% +XX.X%
NMC Battery — China (USD/kWh) $XX −X.X% +X.X% +XX.X%
LFP Battery — China (USD/kWh) $XX +X.X% +X.X% +XX.X%
Aluminium (USD/T)X,XXX+X.X%+X.X%+XX.X%
Steel HRC (USD/T)X,XXX+X.X%+X.X%+XX.X%
Lithium (USD/T)XX,XXX−X.X%+X.X%+XXX.X%
Steel HRC (USD/T)XX,XXX+X.X%−X.X%+XX.X%
Natural Gas (USD/MWh)XX+XX.X%+XX.X%+XX.X%
Container Index (points)X,XXX+X.X%+XX.X%+XX.X%
🔒 Full data available to subscribers
See Plans and Access
Geopolitics and Raw Materials
Aluminium supply under structural pressure following disruptions to Gulf smelting capacity. Gulf producers account for approximately 23 per cent of Western primary output. Japanese procurement teams are actively re-sourcing towards alternative suppliers.
NMC622 Battery Cost Index
Total cell cost $/kWh by production geography · PULSE Sample · Aug 2025
China
$56 · base
Japan
$77 · +68%
USA
$94 · +105%
Germany
$104 · +127%
$0 $25 $50 $75 $104
Source: PULSE by Comutiq · Aug 2025 · Indicative sample data
Industrial Production Index (variable cost)
% Variance from Global Average · PULSE Sample · Apr 2026
USA
+31.0%
China
−18.0%
Japan
+9.0%
Germany
+44.0%
India
−18.0%
−50% −25% 0% +25% +50%
Source: PULSE by Comutiq · Indicative sample data
Energy and Logistics
The container freight index has accelerated sharply on a month-on-month basis driven by simultaneous disruptions to Red Sea and Hormuz Strait routing compounding freight insurance costs across all inbound routes for European and North American manufacturers representing a significant cost headwind.
🔒 Subscriber Content
EV Market and Global Demand
Regional EV demand shows significant divergence with specific markets recording material contractions while others deliver double-digit growth underscoring the importance of granular regional intelligence for investment production and procurement decisions across the global automotive landscape.
🔒 Subscriber Content
Indicative data only · Current figures available to subscribers
How It Is Built

Methodology and
Data Transparency

Buyers of data products need to understand how the numbers are made before they trust them. Here is how PULSE works.

01
Data Sources — Public, Licensed and Proprietary
Commodity and energy prices come from LME, NYMEX, EIA and regional regulators. Container indices use Drewry WCI and Baltic Exchange; battery benchmarks are cross-checked against Comutiq's own cost-build model.
02
Update Cadence
Commodity and energy prices update weekly. Battery indices update monthly; the full PULSE report is compiled and distributed on the 7th of each month.
03
What Is Proprietary vs Referenced
PULSE draws on observable market data, public statistics, exchange-reported prices, freight benchmark references, and selected third-party market references where available and permitted. Proprietary outputs include the vehicle cost index, battery cell cost build-up model, Country Industrial Cost Benchmark and all Comutiq forward forecasts.
04
How Indices Are Normalised
All indices are expressed in USD with a foreign exchange adjustment layer so local currency moves are isolated from raw material effects. A fixed baseline period is used for change tracking alongside year-on-year comparisons.
05
How Forecasts Are Produced
Comutiq forecasts are scenario-based, not algorithmic. They reflect our analysts' view of supply-demand fundamentals, geopolitical risk, policy changes and structural demand shifts — reviewed and updated monthly. Where market consensus forecasts exist (for example, commodity futures curves), we present both the market view and the Comutiq view separately so subscribers can assess divergence.
50+
Pages Updated Monthly
12
Manufacturing Geographies
16
Raw Materials Tracked
20+
Proprietary Indices
Why Teams Trust PULSE Data
Traceability and Auditability
Every data point can be traced back to its source and methodology, making it defensible to clients, auditors and boards.
Consistency
A standardised methodology is applied across every monthly update to ensure full comparability over time.
Tailored Insights
In addition to standard reports, customised analysis and data outputs are available on request for specific geographies, chemistries or supply chain profiles.
Data Sourcing Approach

PULSE is built from publicly available market data, exchange-reported prices, government statistics and selected commercial benchmark references. Proprietary index construction, weighting methodology and forward forecasts are developed exclusively by Comutiq analysts.

What Subscribers Say

Trusted by Teams Across
Automotive, Finance and Industry

The PULSE report gives our procurement team a structured monthly anchor point — the kind of indexed view that used to take us a week to compile internally. We now arrive at cost reviews with a shared reference our whole organisation trusts.
Head of Procurement Strategy
Tier 1 Automotive Supplier, Germany · PULSE Professional
As an equity analyst covering the EV supply chain, having a single source that tracks battery economics and raw material costs in one place — with methodology I can cite — is genuinely useful. I reference PULSE in client notes every month.
Senior Equity Analyst
European Asset Manager · PULSE Essentials
We engaged Comutiq to design a custom index aligned to our specific vehicle programme and supplier base. The Enterprise tier gave us something we had never had before — a single monthly number our CFO, supply chain director and programme managers all read from the same page.
VP Programme Management & CFO
European OEM, Light Commercial Vehicle Division · PULSE Enterprise
PULSE gives our ESG team a reliable, traceable data layer for Scope 3 reporting. The raw material sourcing data and energy consumption indices map directly onto our disclosure framework — and the methodology documentation means we can defend every number to our auditors.
Head of ESG and Sustainability Reporting
Global Tier 1 Supplier · PULSE Professional
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

The Product
PULSE is a monthly market intelligence report produced by Comutiq. It tracks vehicle production costs, battery economics, raw materials, energy and logistics across 12 geographies — providing a structured, indexed view of the cost factors that drive automotive and industrial supply chains.
PULSE is a structured data and index product, not a news feed. Every figure in the report is part of a consistent index series with a defined methodology, making it comparable over time. Subscribers use it for budget planning, cost benchmarking and financial modelling — not just reading.
A standard PULSE Professional report runs 25–30 pages and includes index tables, bar charts, movement commentary, geopolitical risk digest and raw material data pages. You can request a sample report using the form on this page.
Commodity and energy prices are updated weekly. The full report is compiled and distributed on the 7th of each month. Battery indices and OEM financials are updated monthly and quarterly respectively.
Standard reports cover 12 manufacturing geographies and 16 raw materials. The PULSE Enterprise tier allows you to commission a bespoke index weighted to your specific bill of materials and production footprint.
Methodology
PULSE is built from publicly available market data, exchange-reported prices, government statistics and selected commercial benchmark references. Proprietary outputs — including the vehicle cost indices and battery cost build-up model — are developed by Comutiq analysts.
No. Comutiq forecasts are scenario-based and reflect analyst judgement on supply-demand fundamentals, geopolitical risk and policy shifts. Where market consensus forecasts exist (e.g. commodity futures curves), both the market view and the Comutiq view are presented separately.
Yes. Every index in PULSE has a documented methodology and is designed to be traceable and defensible — suitable for internal board presentations, client deliverables and regulatory disclosures.
Plans and Pricing
PULSE Essentials delivers a 5–10 page automated monthly summary. PULSE Professional delivers the full 25–30 page report with all indices plus a 30-minute monthly briefing call. PULSE Enterprise is a bespoke service where Comutiq builds and tracks a proprietary index tailored to your product, supply chain and geographies, plus a 1-hour monthly briefing call.
No. All prices shown on the Plans page are excluding VAT. VAT is applied according to your billing country. EU companies with a valid VAT number may be eligible for reverse charge.
All subscriptions are processed by email order. After submitting the form, Comutiq sends a proforma invoice within one business day. Payment is made by bank transfer or card via a secure invoice link. Your subscription is activated upon receipt of confirmed payment.
Yes. You may cancel your subscription before your annual renewal date. Cancellations take effect at the end of the current subscription period. Please contact info@comutiq.com to initiate a cancellation.
A standard subscription covers delivery to a single named recipient. Team licences for broader distribution are available on request — please mention this when submitting your order or contact us directly.
Purchase Process
Click "Get PULSE Essentials" on the Plans page and complete the short form. Comutiq will send you a proforma invoice within one business day. Your subscription is activated upon receipt of payment.
Click "Get PULSE Professional", complete the subscription form and submit your order. Comutiq will send a proforma invoice within one business day. Your subscription and monthly briefing call schedule are confirmed upon receipt of payment.
Once your subscription is active, you will receive the latest month's report immediately upon activation.
Please book a 30-minute briefing call using the button at the top of this page, or email us directly at info@comutiq.com. We typically respond within one business day.
Plans

PULSE — Three Tiers,
One Methodology

All tiers are built on the same underlying methodology. The difference is depth of coverage, level of personalisation and the call time included.

Essential
PULSE Essentials
Monthly summary report
€790
per month · excl. VAT · billed quarterly
A 5 to 10 page monthly summary covering the main index movements and key market factors, with concise expert commentary on what changed and why. Ideal for teams that need a structured monthly read without the full dataset.
What is included
  • 5 to 10 page PDF report delivered automatically on the 7th of each month
  • ICE and EV vehicle index — headline movements with week-on-week, month-on-month and year-on-year changes
  • NMC and LFP battery index — key movements and direction
  • Top six raw material price changes with brief factor commentary
  • Energy and logistics index summary
  • One page executive commentary — what changed and why
Most Popular
PULSE Professional
Full report + monthly call
€3,190
per month · excl. VAT · billed quarterly
A 25 to 30 page monthly report — full index coverage across raw materials, battery chemistries, energy, logistics, OEM financials and geopolitical risk. Includes a 30-minute monthly briefing call to walk through key movements.
What is included
  • 25 to 30 page PDF monthly report
  • ICE and EV vehicle cost indices — all components broken down
  • Battery cost index — NMC and LFP across four countries
  • 16 raw materials with weekly pricing and Comutiq forecasts
  • Energy and logistics detail — all regions
  • Industrial Variable Cost Index — 12 geographies
  • OEM quarterly P&L benchmarks — 20 or more brands
  • Geopolitical risk index with country economic dashboard
📞 30-minute monthly briefing call — walkthrough of key movements and market outlook with a Comutiq analyst
Bespoke
PULSE Enterprise
Your index, tracked monthly
Custom
tailored to your organisation
We design and track a proprietary cost index built around your specific product, supply chain and geographic footprint. A full monthly report, updated each month and presented in a dedicated one-hour briefing.
What is included
  • Bespoke index designed for your product or programme
  • Custom raw material basket weighted to your bill of materials
  • Manufacturing geography tailored to your production footprint
  • Monthly tracking against your cost baseline with variance alerts
  • Full PULSE Professional report included
  • Scenario modelling — tariffs, conflict scenarios, EV transition
  • White-label reporting available for your client base
📞 One-hour monthly briefing call — dedicated session covering your personalised index, strategic implications and scenario updates
Discuss PULSE Enterprise

See PULSE in Action

Book a 30-minute live walkthrough of the latest PULSE report. We will show you the full dataset, explain the methodology and propose the right plan for your team.