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1st European Automotive and Mobility Services Conference

4–5 March 2020, Munich

 

Rapporteur 

Alexis Poinsard
Fidal, Paris
alexis.poinsard@fidal.com

 

Session Co-Chairs

Cornelia Topf  Gleiss Lutz Frankfurt

Alexis Poinsard  Fidal Paris

 

Speakers

Cosmas Asam  Vice-President M&A, Cooperations, BMW Group, Munich

Jean Obst  Head of Mobility Solution, Robert Bosch, Stuttgart

Jonas Wagner  Berylls Strategy Advisors, Munich

 

The first session of the Conference provided an overview of the current state of the industry and future prospects from the perspective of traditional manufacturers and suppliers.

In order to have a more interactive session, the speakers were asked to comment on challenges in the automotive industry identified in the presentation made by Berylls.

 

The current situation defined as an ‘automobility battlefield’ with fierce competition among car manufacturers

For BMW, ‘battlefield’ was the appropriate term, whereas Robert Bosch was uncertain that it was the right analysis while considering that the industry currently faces an transformation which requires more collaboration and partnerships.

 

The challenges ahead – an accelerating industry transformation

The industry is facing a fundamental transformation in terms of new ownership, shared mobility, technology revolution, new competition and volatile regulations.

For Robert Bosch, mobility service providers will always need car manufacturers and updated regulations will also be necessary.

For BMW, OEM’s (original equipment manufacturers) business model will also depend on what gives greater value to customers without excluding the possibility for GAFA (Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon) to become OEMs.

Robert Bosch therefore considers the need for finding a joint business model.

 

The way forward – action fields for OEMs

The speakers’ discussion resulted in consensus on the following five pillars identified by Berylls:

1. One target

Shared belief across the top management of an integrated transformation programme (mind and heart)

2. Customer obsession

Integrated mobility offering and simplified/meaningful multichannel dialogue

3. Technology openness

Long-term openness for propulsion-mix and flexible operating system

4. Renew the core

Sustainable core competencies and long-term partnerships along the value chain

5. Lifetime focus

Value-driven performance management and sustainability as business and investment paradigm

Conclusion

There was no major disagreement between the speakers on Berylls’s presentation and a consensus was reached on industry transformation with a strong focus on consolidation, collaboration and technical challenges.