FROM TRADITIONAL TO WOW
DAY OF THE STRATEGISTS
Martin Murphy, Handelsblatt Editor-in-Chief
It sounds like a business crime thriller, but it’s actually a reality. Ever since 2015, the Volkswagen emissions scandal has been making waves internationally. During their research, Handelsblatt editor-in-chief Martin Murphy and his colleagues delved deep into the events surrounding the illegal defeat devices.
DAY OF THE STRATEGISTS
Wolf-Henning Scheider, CEO, ZF Friedrichshafen AG
The desire for individual mobility is growing. But in the world’s cities at least, the space that requires is
steadily dwindling. Based on his company’s current projects, Wolf-Henning Scheider outlined several creative
solutions for this dilemma. His ambitious vision: “To electrify all kinds of mobility, from bicycles to
40-tonne trucks.”
DAY OF THE STRATEGISTS
Alexander Mankowsky, Futurologist, Daimler AG
“Anyone can read the future,” claims Alexander Mankowsky. He does it full time, researching the trends of tomorrow and the day after on behalf of Daimler AG. So if the Group has its own in-house ‘clairvoyant’, how come German manufacturers’ EVs are coming to market years after Tesla or Renault? “Cultural trends are harder to foresee”, Mankowsky explained, “and they change faster than technological developments.”
by Ben Volkow, CEO and Founder, Otonomo
Sponsored Article
Car data is opening up new markets for driver services. Information like engine status, driving patterns and media preferences are shedding light on driver behavior and vehicle health. By implementing these insights into their products, service providers can develop and provide valuable experiences to drivers. In a short time, these services will transform the way we drive, and nice to have options will become necessities. Soon, drivers will maintain their loyalty to the OEMs that serve them with concierge options, safety, parking, infotainment and smart city advantages.
DAY OF THE STRATEGISTS
Sigmar Gabriel, Federal Foreign Minister (retired)
In his Auto Summit talk with Handelsblatt department chief Andrea Rexer, Sigmar Gabriel again demonstrated his penchant for straight talking. After Volkswagen’s strategy chief Michael Jost advocated meeting the two-degree target and reducing global CO2 emissions in his lecture, the former Federal Foreign Minister asked: „What‘s new?”
DAY OF THE STRATEGISTS
Karl Brauer, Deputy Director-General, WTO
With great concern, trade law expert Karl Brauer described how current developments are weakening international trade agreements and challenging proven procedures. Until now, he said, the auto industry in particular had benefitted from the stability and reliability these agreements provided. Now it was feeling the pain from the risks that occur when individual states opt out of successful, proven practices.
DAY OF THE STRATEGISTS
Michael Jost, Head of Group Strategy Product and Chief Strategy Officer Volkswagen Brand, Volkswagen AG
With twelve brands, over 100 production sites, almost 650,000 employees and revenues of more than 231billion euro in 2017, the Volkswagen Group is a leading global automotive manufacturer, and Europe’s largest auto producer. In his Auto Summit lecture, Michael Jost repeatedly referred to VW as a ‘tanker’. The Group’s head strategist is in charge of setting a new course for that ‘tanker’ – and he has a clear plan.
FIRESIDE CHAT
Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, Duisburg-Essen University
Sweelin Heuss, Managing Director, Greenpeace e.V.
Ralf Pfitzner, Head of Group Sustainability, Volkswagen AG
Hans-Jürgen Jakobs, Senior Editor/Handelsblatt author, Handelsblatt
With its formula of pointed statements in a cosy atmosphere, the Fireside Chat on the opening night of the Handelsblatt Auto Summit was both informative and entertaining. The exchange was opened by Greenpeace CEO Sweelin Heuss.
Ralf Brandstätter, Chief Operating Officer and Management Board Member Procurement, VW Cars
At the ZeitHaus Museum in the Volkswagen Autostadt, the Handelsblatt Auto Summit 2018 began on a wistful note. In his welcome address, management board member Ralf Brandstätter confessed: “These beautiful old cars evoke memories of a relatively carefree time in automotive construction.” Continue reading
the most groundbreaking automotive event in Germany, which takes place at the Autostadt in Wolfsburg this year. Meet 650 participants from over 20 nations and 60 top speakers, including the CEOs of Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW. Continue reading
