Automated driving
The Automotive Suppliers' Day Baden-Württemberg is celebrating its 25th anniversary and is once again inviting companies, start-ups, research institutions and associations to Esslingen. The result is clear: Digitalisation is crucial for the international competitiveness of Baden-Württemberg's suppliers.
The Automotive Suppliers' Day Baden-Württemberg took place for the 25th time today (16 November 2023). The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism organised the event together with the state agency e-mobil BW and invited companies, start-ups, research institutions and associations to network in Esslingen. In its anniversary year, the event focused on various key topics of digitalisation, such as the connected car, highly automated driving, software and the handling of user and vehicle data.
"Digitalisation offers automotive suppliers in Baden-Württemberg enormous economic opportunities. If new digital business models can be successfully implemented, this will be a decisive competitive advantage for our location in the international competition. The Suppliers' Day is an excellent platform for discussing current developments, addressing challenges and promoting dialogue. This year's anniversary and the high number of registrations reflect the great demand from suppliers for current topics and developments relating to the transformation of the automotive industry in Baden-Württemberg," said Dr Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut MdL, Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism.
Experts from BMW AG, Mercedes-Benz Group AG, WAFIOS AG, EDI GmbH, Volvo Cars, the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) provided insights into their digital case studies at the Automotive Suppliers' Day Baden-Württemberg 2023, ranging from regulations in data-based economies to digital twins and cybersecurity. "For the digital transformation, the automotive industry needs software expertise at all levels, right up to top management," emphasised Prof. Ina Schaefer from KIT. Dr Claus Hoffmann, Managing Director of ZD.BB GmbH, also emphasised the importance of having the courage to experiment in the digital transformation.
In addition to presentations and panel discussions, a matching fair was set up in the Esslingen Event Forum. This offered companies, research institutions and start-ups the opportunity to exchange ideas with each other and with supplier companies. Over 50 member companies and international partners from the cluster initiatives Electric Mobility South-West and Fuel Cell BW took part in the matching fair.
"The pressure of international competition is increasingly weighing on German and Baden-Württemberg suppliers. For this reason, increased co-operation at international and European level is essential to strengthen the competitive situation. This year, our partners from Sweden, the Netherlands and Israel are once again showing how innovative they are in implementing software in vehicles," said Franz Loogen, Managing Director of the State Agency e-mobil BW.
With around 500 registrations, the Automotive Suppliers' Day Baden-Württemberg 2023 set a new record on its 25th anniversary. The annual event is organised jointly by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism and the state agency e-mobil BW GmbH as part of the Strategic Dialogue for the Automotive Sector in Baden-Württemberg.
