Electric mobility
On 10 October 2024, the state agency e-mobil BW, together with the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism, hosted the 26th Automotive Suppliers' Day BW in Esslingen am Neckar to discuss the transformation in the automotive industry with companies, associations and partners.
The automotive industry is undergoing a phase of change worldwide. Digitalisation, artificial intelligence, production automation and the realignment of global company locations are just some of the factors that are changing the competitive landscape. For this reason, the increasing importance of powertrain electrification, one of the most important growth areas on the European and international market, was emphasised at this year's Automotive Suppliers Day BW. The focus was particularly on the question of how small and medium-sized suppliers from Baden-Württemberg can utilise these dynamic market changes as opportunities for themselves.
‘The automotive supplier industry continues to face enormous challenges. The electrification of drive systems, digitalisation and, last but not least, increasing cost pressure due to existing global overcapacities are just some of the factors that are having a strong impact on competition. For this reason, our domestic supplier industry must focus even more on innovation and invest in important growth markets,’ emphasised Dr Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism, in her opening speech.
‘Artificial intelligence or HMI interfaces in the product and in production, Baden-Württemberg's automotive suppliers must focus on innovation in order to survive in the highly competitive international market. The Automotive Suppliers' Day is the ideal platform for exchanging expertise in this area,’ explained Franz Loogen, Managing Director of the state agency e-mobil BW, at the opening of the Automotive Suppliers Day BW 2024.
Experts from IG Metall Baden-Württemberg, Universität Stuttgart, ElringKlinger AG, Maschinenfabrik Gustav Eirich GmbH & Co KG, Schaeffler Automotive Buehl GmbH & Co. KG, Circulor GmbH, Inmotive Inc. and Fraunhofer IPA, discussed the potential opened up by the flexible and digitalised production of electric motors and batteries. New value chains, such as modern recycling processes, were identified as further opportunities. Another key topic was the role of artificial intelligence, which is fundamentally changing the interface between man and machine and offers new prospects for automotive production.
In her presentation, the Director of the Institute for Electrical Energy Conversion at the University of Stuttgart, Prof Dr Nejila Parspour, addressed the need to analyse the industry's future requirements: ‘The challenge of the future is to develop highly efficient powertrains that conserve resources and are sustainable.’ Nikolai D'Agostino from Circulor GmbH presented the effects, obligations and opportunities of the European Battery Regulation for the automotive industry's supply chain and Barbara Resch, District Director of IG Metall Baden-Württemberg, spoke about the need to set the course in good time so that Baden-Württemberg remains a leading provider of sustainable, innovative and competitive mobility solutions in the future.
Further impetus regarding digitalisation in battery cell production and the potential role of mechanical engineering in the region was addressed by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kai Peter Birke from Fraunhofer IPA: ‘Local mechanical engineering is the key component for future competitive GWh factories for battery cells. The key to success is intensive cooperation with institutions that have expertise in industrialisation and digitalisation along the entire battery value chain.’ Björn Betz from ElringKlingerAG also reported on the transformation and the associated challenges in his own company.
The Automotive Suppliers Day BW 2024 brings together numerous experts, companies and interested parties from the automotive industry and serves as a platform for intensive dialogue and innovative impetus. With over 500 registrations, the event once again underlined the need to continue the dialogue on the future of mobility. The Automotive Suppliers' Day BW takes place as part of the Strategy Dialogue Automotive Industry BW and is a joint event of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism and e-mobil BW GmbH. The next Supplier Day Automotive Industry BW will take place on 8 October 2025.
Further information can be found at: www.zulieferertag-bw.de
