Tearing profits apart: how tier 1 automotive suppliers can mitigate shrinking margins
The latest report by Automotive from Ultima Media examines the profits and outlook for the top 20 automotive parts suppliers and explores the strategies and solutions they should consider to avoid significant disruption in the 2020s, including the key role they will play in automotive design and R&D
3 questions for Stefan Issing, IFS global industry director for automotive
Stefan Issing, global industry director for automotive at Swedish software company IFS, believes in modular solutions. He spoke to automotiveIT about cost pressures in the automotive sector and the future of ERP and RPA software.
In interview, Volkswagen brand software boss Christian Senger sees need for more digital capabilities
The Volkswagen brand is the first car manufacturer to have a board member in charge of software. In an interview, Christian Senger talks about the sea change within the company, software as a core competency and changes in supplier management.
Subscribing to a new idea of mobility at Canoo
James Cox, former head of product planning at Uber, talks about leading product technology at EV startup Canoo and why he thinks the company will succeed with its subscription-based vehicle offering.
At the center of change for Volkswagen Group
Martin Hofmann, chief information office of the Volkswagen Group (pictured, right), explains to automotiveIT International how the carmaker is transforming its IT system backbone and legacy infrastructure across purchasing, production, supply chain and engineering – and how Volkswagen is now able to attract top software talent.
Building Volkswagen’s Industrial Cloud
Volkswagen Group’s landmark project with Amazon Web Services will help to connect all its global factories, and eventually the supply chain as well. At the core of the project is a drive to establish a standard software stack that will transform the way production IT is developed and implemented across Volkswagen locations.
A program of change for Volkswagen Group IT
Over the past two years, Volkswagen’s central Group IT division, led by CIO Martin Hofmann, has been expanding staff numbers, investment and digital projects across the group’s business processes, and working more closely with brands like Audi, Porsche and Skoda. In the first of a multi-part article special on Group IT, automotiveIT International explains the evolving shape of the organization.
Augmenting intelligence: How BMW’s US IT center is putting AI into the hands of workers
The BMW IT Technology Innovation and Research Center in the US is both a research lab and closely aligned to the carmaker’s production in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Bennie Vorster, who leads special projects there, talks to automotiveIT International about industrializing new tech, and making sure AI assists workers.
Brecht and Brecht: Daimler’s CIO and the chairman of the group’s works council discuss digitalization
For the first time ever, Daimler CIO Jan Brecht and his namesake Michael Brecht, chairman of the company’s general works council and deputy supervisory board chairman, are sitting down together to speak with automotiveIT about the consequences of the digital transformation at the Stuttgart-based automaker. Whether the issue is employees’ “digital readiness,” complexity management or new platform-supported business models, Daimler is making its way through rough terrain.
An interview with Trumpf CIO Thilo Press: “We need to understand that IT is part of the business”
Digitalization is a core part of the corporate strategy at Trumpf and IT plays a big role in the plans. Thilo Press, CIO of the German maker of machine tools since 2015, recently talked to automotiveIT about the digitalization of products and processes, the potential of artificial intelligence and the need for IT to be a fully integrated part of the company’s business. Following are edited excerpts from the interview:
Seat CEO, in interview, discusses Spanish brand’s first EVs
Seat has a long history of making affordable and reliable cars. Now the Spanish brand, part of the Volkswagen Group, is getting ready to build electric cars. Seat CEO Luca de Meo recently spoke to Automotive Manufacturing Solutions, a sister publication of automotiveIT International. Following are excerpts from the interview
LexisNexis sees usage-based insurance growth for connected cars; signs new deal with Fiat Chrysler
With most new cars set to feature some form of connectivity, there is a big opportunity in usage-based insurance (UBI), which is likely to grow sharply in coming years. Paul Stacy, automotive development director for LexisNexis Risk Solutions, explains why following a new deal in which Fiat Chrysler vehicles will connect to the LexisNexis telematics platform in Europe.
At ZF, a broad focus on a wide range of automotive technologies
ZF Friedrichshafen’s new technologies are designed to support the further automation of the mobility experience on various fronts, but the large German automotive supplier doesn’t see full autonomous driving on public roads anytime soon. In the meantime, it works to improve conventional vehicles, while at the same time developing tomorrow’s mobility.
Porsche CIO: “Coming out with the perfect product idea isn’t always the main issue”
Porsche CIO Mattias Ulbrich, who headed IT at Volkswagen Group’s premium brand Audi until last year, wants to make digital transformation an emotional and passionate mission at the carmaker. He talks to automotiveIT about new business models, artificial intelligence and the need to invest in IT modernization.
Electrification to trigger massive changes in automotive supply chains
The advent of large-scale electric vehicle production could lead to a seismic shift in the way automotive supply chains operate. Relationships will change, new players will emerge and the auto industry’s procurement focus is likely to be radically altered.
Ford tackles last-mile delivery challenge with pedestrian couriers, algorithms
Ford’s European smart mobility boss, Sarah-Jayne Williams, explains how a last-mile delivery pilot project yielded several positive insights
Watch: Talking top IT priorities with Mercedes-Benz’s Sabine Scheunert
In this video, Mercedes-Benz Cars’ head of IT for sales and marketing has big plans for connected services, development speed and cloud-based mobility.
Mercedes-Benz wants to become your digital one and only
Sabine Scheunert and her digitalONE team for sales and marketing IT are expanding customer touchpoints through apps and digital features, including vehicle-connected services through Mercedes me and new mobility services – all of it supported by an open architecture, artificial intelligence and cloud capabilities.
Watch: BMW board member Pieter Nota on improving digital customer journeys
In this video, BMW’s board member for customer, brands and sales reveals big investment in connected technology to improve customer experiences and transform the carmaker’s business model.
Why all eyes are on Israel for AI
In the race to perfect autonomous driving, Israel has proven to be a hotspot of innovation in areas like machine learning and cyber security – driven, in part, by its military expertise and surveillance tools.
