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SAP Surpasses Novo Nordisk To Become Europe’s Largest Company

SAP, the German software company, has officially overtaken Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk to become Europe’s largest company by market capitalization. SAP’s market value reached $340 billion, surpassing Novo Nordisk’s $293.06 billion.

Key Factors Behind SAP’s Rise

SAP has experienced significant stock growth, particularly driven by optimism around its cloud business and its investments in generative artificial intelligence (AI). Since the start of 2025, SAP’s shares have risen 7%, and the company has seen a total return of 160% since the end of 2022, substantially outpacing the broader European STOXX 600 index, which rose by only 28%. The company’s increasing focus on cloud technologies and AI solutions for business applications has positioned it as a leader in digital transformation.

In recent months, strong investor interest has further propelled SAP’s growth, spurred by its expanding cloud services portfolio, AI developments, and strategic partnerships with large international corporations. These factors, alongside improvements to SAP’s ERP systems, have helped the company secure its top position.

Challenges For Novo Nordisk

In contrast, Novo Nordisk, which held the title of Europe’s largest company as recently as September 2023, has seen its stock lag due to disappointing results from its experimental obesity drug, Cagrisema. This has led to a slight decline in its market value, despite its strong performance in the pharmaceutical industry.

What This Means For The Future

The rise of SAP highlights the growing dominance of the technology sector in Europe, with digital transformation and AI solutions becoming key areas of investor focus. While Novo Nordisk is likely to remain a major player in the pharmaceutical industry, SAP’s success suggests that the European technology sector could experience even more growth, particularly with the increasing importance of AI and automation in business.

Looking ahead, competition between tech giants such as SAP and ASML is expected to intensify, marking the beginning of a new era for Europe’s technology-driven economy.

Electric Vehicle Leaders Urge EU To Maintain 2035 Zero Emission Mandate

Industry Voices Emphasize the Importance of Commitment

Over 150 key figures from Europe’s electric car sector, including executives from Volvo Cars and Polestar, have signed a letter urging the European Union to adhere to its ambitious 2035 zero emission goal for cars and vans. These industry leaders warn that any deviation could hamper the progress of Europe’s burgeoning EV market, inadvertently strengthen global competitors, and weaken investor confidence.

Evolving Perspectives Within the Automotive Community

This call comes in the wake of a contrasting appeal issued at the end of August by heads of European automobile manufacturers’ and automotive suppliers’ associations. That letter, endorsed by the CEO of Mercedes-Benz, Ola Kaellenius, argued that a 100 percent emission reduction target may no longer be practical for cars by 2035.

Discussion With EU Leadership on The Horizon

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is scheduled to meet with automotive industry leaders on September 12 to deliberate the future of the sector. Facing stiff challenges such as the rise of Chinese competition and the implications of US tariffs, the stakes for the EU’s policy decisions have never been higher.

Potential Risks of Eroding Ambitious Targets

Industry leaders like Michael Lohscheller, CEO of Polestar, caution that any weakening of the targets could undermine climate objectives and compromise Europe’s competitive edge in the global market. Michiel Langzaal, chief executive of EU charging provider Fastned, further highlighted that investments in charging infrastructure and software development are predicated on the certainty of these targets.

Regulatory Compliance And The Mercedes-Benz Exception

A report from transport research and campaign group T&E indicates that nearly all European carmakers, with the exception of Mercedes-Benz, are positioned to meet CO₂ regulation requirements for the 2025-2027 period. To avoid potential penalties, Mercedes must now explore cooperation with partners such as Volvo Cars and Polestar.

Conclusion

The industry’s unified stance underscores the critical balance between environmental aspirations and maintaining competitive advantage. With high-level discussions imminent, the EU’s forthcoming decisions will be pivotal in shaping not only the future of the continent’s automotive sector but also its global positioning in the race towards sustainable mobility.

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