Automotive industry in transition

Interim manager needed

The German automotive industry with more than one million employees is in a major upheaval. The major trends are currently the diesel scandal, which has led for months to a significant decline in orders for diesel vehicles. This scandal occupies a large space in the coverage and conceals the actual big change from the vehicle manufacturer (OEM) to the mobility service provider. The main trends can be divided into three areas.

First, e-mobility. Experts estimate that by 2050 there will be about one billion electric vehicles worldwide. Then there should be about two billion vehicles registered. Currently about 100,000 electric vehicles are registered, of which 50% are in China and only 25% in Europe. China is pushing this area at great speed. The expansion of electromobility has regulatory reasons with the aim of pollution reduction.

The second trend is autonomous driving. Software companies are also pushing into the automotive market here. This range is not only determined by the OEM. The electronics industry sees a great opportunity for a new field of activity.

The third trend is shared mobility. Younger generations no longer need to own their own car. This is also about cost savings. Owning a car means a significant capital commitment. Cars are often left unused. A new offer from the OEM is the auto-subscription model. The subscriber buys the right to use a vehicle that meets certain criteria without having to commit to a specific vehicle for a specific time, such as leasing. The user can change the vehicle regularly and does not have to worry about anything except to charge for gas or electricity.

This change is taking place and is not a future scenario. Even today, this has serious consequences not only for the OEM, but also for the suppliers for powertrain, for the platform or the chassis. These changes are also affecting machine and plant builders who supply assembly equipment and tools to produce passenger cars.

The automotive industry, mechanical and plant engineering, and the electrical / electronics sector are the supreme disciplines for the interim managers. 50% of the interim management projects are taking place in these areas. Interim management experts, project managers and interim executives already support OEMs and suppliers today. They make an important contribution to preserving jobs that are threatened by this transition.