The call for change in the automotive industry is getting louder every year. After numerous exhaust scandals, the large German corporations are under pressure to meet these demands. The Bad Guy image can only be escaped with a 180° turn. So will the automotive industry soon be a green showpiece?
The pressure is rising
Whether Daimler, Audi or VW, all major automobile manufacturers are affected by the consequences of the exhaust scandals of recent years, and their suppliers are also being pushed into an increasingly bad position. It is relatively irrelevant whether a company has actually been convicted of fraud in any way. The damage, and above all the loss of confidence, was suffered not by a few companies, but by the entire industry.
The corporations declared as CO2 sinners are increasingly under general suspicion and special observation by the public in times of Fridays 4 Future.
Trend reversal in the industry
One thing quickly became clear to the top management of the industry giants: those who do not now bow to the demands of the public will end up as losers. And there is so much to gain.
Investments in green transportation alternatives have been drastically increased by almost all manufacturers. Above all, progress in e-mobility is being communicated to the outside world, and the former culprits are being forced to get rid of themselves on the executive floors.
Behind this will to renew the industry, however, there is also economic calculation. The willingness of the population to switch to electrically powered vehicles is increasing every year.
The range counts
The reason why the population is rethinking their willingness to switch to electric cars is above all the technical progress resulting from the investments made by the companies.
A few years ago, a battery charge was not even enough for the journey from Bremen to Hamburg, but new projects presented by the manufacturers now partly trump the distance to be covered by a conventional tank filling. Tesla’s new super sports car is to appear on the market in 2020, for example. The roadster is to be able to drive up to 1,000 kilometres with one battery charge and at the same time achieve a top speed of 400 km/h. The new super sports car is to be launched on the market in 2020, for example.
Under such conditions, it is only logical and yet laudable to continue concentrating on the development of e-mobility. After all, the best-developed car is most likely also an enormous market advantage in the end.
Upheaval in the executive floors
The restructuring of the management levels is a significant part of and an essential component of the upheaval in the automotive groups. In the vast majority of leading companies in the industry, for example, the former CEOs have been replaced by management personalities who are significantly more inclined towards climate protection.
At VW, Audi and BMW, the former chairmen resigned and made room for a huge step into the future. A very good example of this movement on the management level is the new head of Daimler, Ola Källenius. The Swede is known for his aspired, climate-friendly course and does not hesitate to make some radical changes in the corporate structure.
Born 1981 in Strasbourg, is a freelance journalist for various online media throughout Europe, focusing on finance, real estate and politics. He gathered his professional expertise as a consultant for global players and medium-sized companies. Fournier studied economics and german in Paris and Dresden. He currently lives in Saarland and has been a member of the Euro Leaders team since the beginning of 2019.