Chip shortages, expensive energy, geopolitical tensions and competition from Asia - the East German automotive industry has rarely been under as much pressure as it is today. Nevertheless, it sees opportunities in change. At the annual congress of the Automotive Cluster East Germany (ACOD) in Leipzig on Tuesday, around 200 guests from politics, business and science discussed the future of the industry.
ACOD CEO Petra Peterhänsel made the situation clear: "Geopolitical tensions and volatile supply chains, but also increasing competitive pressure, primarily from Asia, and ongoing technological change pose major challenges for our industry." Although unpredictability is a constant companion of the automotive industry, the pressure has intensified massively. "The decisive factor is how you deal with it. There is no time to stand still."
For Peterhänsel, it is clear that the industry is not at the beginning of a new era, but rather in the middle of one. She sees the future primarily in cooperation and flexibility: "Collaboration, interdisciplinary networking and a new dynamic are the keys to surviving in this environment." Change should not be left to chance - "and certainly not to new competitors."
