Auto Industry M&A Deals Double in Value

The number of automotive merger and acquisition deals rose 13% to 250 worldwide in the first half of 2014, and their value more than doubled, according to a midyear report by PwC's automotive practice.

The analysis puts the value of such deals at $27.5 billion, the highest in seven years. The size of the average deal jumped 66%.

North America accounted for one-third of automotive M&A in the first half of the year, according to PwC. It says volume in the region climbed 60%, and the combined value they represent jumped 135%.

Europe claimed 38% of M&A activity in terms of deal value compared with 12% in 2013. Asia accounted for about 25% of automotive deals in the first half of 2014, but only two of the 10 largest deals were made there.

PwC says financial buyers were involved in 26% of M&A deals during the period, the first increase in four years.