The classification “auto supplier” is actually a cheeky understatement. For decades, companies such as Bosch, ZF Friedrichshafen and Continental have been guarantors of technological excellence from German car manufacturers. They invent, develop and produce braking, drive or software systems with which Volkswagen, BMW or Mercedes-Benz later succeed on the global market.
This symbiosis has made the industry one of the largest employers in Germany and a model sector globally. But the error messages have been increasing for a few weeks. ZF is closing plants, Bosch and Conti are cutting hundreds of jobs.
The technology breakthroughs in the industries – electric drives, autonomous driving, software upgrades – should actually be a great opportunity. Have the three top companies Bosch, ZF Friedrichshafen and Continental missed key trends? Is a once very healthy German industry in the phase of decay? And how do corporate leaders counteract this?
In this podcast, Michael Freitag, automotive expert at manager magazine and its deputy editor-in-chief, provides information about this in conversation with Sven Clausen.
In the podcast “The Topic”, the editor-in-chief of manager magazine provides information every week about the internal research status on a relevant current and at the same time promising topic in the economy. You can subscribe to the podcast via manager magazin as well as on Spotify, Apple, Deezer and Google.
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