Dr. Sebastian Rudolph’s Post

ZF Group, Mercedes-Benz AG and BMW Group are addressing and mitigating human rights risks within their supply chains in Mexico. 👇 🌎For ZF and the German automotive industry, Mexico is an important production location. In a globally unique pilot project for the industry as a whole, ZF, Mercedes Benz and BMW have now taken on expanded responsibility. It is about addressing and mitigating human rights risks prevalent within the automotive supply chain in Mexico. 🚀To ensure this and to complement existing grievance mechanisms, an independent grievance platform is launched today. In Spanish it is called Mecanismo de Reclamación de Derechos Humanos – MRDH. 🤝“This independent cross-company grievance mechanism was developed in cooperation between government institutions, trade unions, civil society, companies and human rights institutions - both from Germany and Mexico. The guiding principle is to offer rights holders better and fairer working conditions along the entire supply chain,” says Dr. Lea Corzilius. She is Chief Human Resources Officer/Labor Relations Director of ZF Group, Human Resources, Corporate Governance and Sustainability. 🚗Such an independent mechanism makes sense because many people (rights holders) in the long supply chain often do not know which automotive company the product of their work goes to. In the event of suspected or actual violation of human rights, the MRDH’s task is to investigate the company to clear the matter. 👉“This partnership-based cooperation is exemplary and a novelty not only for the automotive industry,” concludes Dr. Lea Corzilius. #Sustainability #ActingNow #ActingForAllPeople Learn more about this pilot project here: https://lnkd.in/eBzFfxmN

Volkswagen announces before German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's trip to China that it will invest 2.5 billion euros in its facility in Hefei, which is becoming a major production and innovation hub for the company. Our recent Tipping Point note (https://lnkd.in/dYtyynnY) highlights the emerging trend in which German firms are ramping up investments in China and cutting jobs at home. This dynamic is weakening the link between German corporate success in China and economic prosperity in Germany. We expect this to have an important impact on the China debate in Germany in the years ahead. https://lnkd.in/dJeza53D

🌍Help us spread the word! 💪 At Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, #diversity is our strength! That's why we stand united against right-wing extremism and in favour of a culture of freedom and inclusion. The German #Zusammenland campaign aims to draw attention to the richness of our differences and the power of coming together. As #VWCV, we are fully committed to this important campaign and are glad to be a part of it. Tolerance, respect and solidarity – these are the basic prerequisites for a society in which everyone can bring out the best in themselves, regardless of their background, ethnicity or beliefs. Let's leave hatred and rejection behind and work together to build a future worth living for everyone. 🏳🌈 Diversity must not only be accepted – we have to celebrate it! 🎉 Many thanks to the initiators of the campaign: ZEIT Verlagsgruppe, Handelsblatt, Sueddeutsche Zeitung Verlag Der Tagesspiegel, WirtschaftsWoche and Ströer SE & Co. KGaA More info on the campaign ⤵ https://lnkd.in/dSPurq_K #VWCV #Volkswagen #NeverAgain #NieWieder

#ThoughtsofaCEO As CEO of PWO Group I am delighted to share insights from my recent visit to Auto China. I was thoroughly impressed by the sense of enthusiasm and optimism both within the exhibition halls and on the bustling streets of Beijing. The unveiling of numerous world premieres offered fascinating glimpses into the visionary endeavors of Chinese OEMs in shaping the future of #mobility. Once again, #China reaffirmed its pivotal role and influence in the global #automotive industry. It was a pleasure to explore diverse perspectives with Hildegard Müller (President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA)), Gary G. (CEO of PWO China) and David Xu (CEO of Bosch China). The sheer size of the Chinese market undeniably demands attention: With 25.8 million new registrations in 2023, it nearly rivaled the combined scale of the European and US markets. This underscores the indispensable nature of China within the automotive industry, a reality that cannot be overlooked by anyone who wants to be a global leader in our industry. As Chinese OEMs and their supply chains are vigorously challenging European OEMs with their innovative strength and speed, we should welcome this spirited competition and use the momentum coming from China to in some areas catch up again and in other areas strengthen our own competitive advantages. Of course, there are many challenges that require an open dialogue and a joint effort to deal with different perspectives. Embracing protectionism e.g. by implementing import duties is a counterproductive stance. Fostering a climate of robust competitiveness is of paramount importance for the sustainable vitality of the industry. However, such endeavors hinge upon a supportive policy framework. Time is of the essence. The German government and European politicians must finally make strengthening domestic industry their priority. It puzzles me that despite the increasingly urgent pleas from industry stakeholders, by now even in alignment with labor unions, the German government and the EU remain hesitant to heed these calls. #Germany requires the best framework conditions worldwide as an industrial location in order to seize the opportunity to lead the automotive industry into a future characterized by innovation, sustainability and growth. #PeoplePlanetProgress #automotiveindustry

From April 17 to 19, Kiekert CEO Jerome Debreu attended the annual congress of the AKJ Automotive Germany initiative on ‘Best Practices in der Supply Chain Automotive’ in Saarbrücken. Over 300 key personalities of the political, corporate and other major spheres of society followed the open, interesting and well-organized program of this unique event.    Mr Debreu took part in a panel discussion addressing the theme titled “Wirtschaftswunder: the hut is on fire !” ('Die Hütte brennt') and called for urgent changes in German and European industrial policies.    In this exchange with Prof. Dr. Klaus-J. Schmidt, Felix Kuhnert (PWC), Dr. Albrecht Köhler (Schaltbau Holding), Dirk Dreher (BMW) and Dr. Marcus Ewig (Rhenus Automotive), he reminded the audience that the automotive industry in Europe is suffering significantly, whereas in other parts of the world (United States and China), the industry was heavily supported and protected.    Only in Europe is it burdened with bureaucracy and political shortsightedness. Governments must establish reliable and stable long-term frameworks based on proven facts. Wishful thinking and generous ideals unfortunately play into the hands of competitors who act differently, do not apply the same market rules and discipline, and promote technologies that will at best represent a small proportion of the automotive market. Meanwhile, a long-standing European-wide economic pillar is being threatened and eroded. Bankruptcies of suppliers are increasing. So are transfers of activity and industrial locations out of Germany and Europe   Kiekert continues to prove that despite current adverse conditions that German manufacturing and engineering expertise is still a leading force in the automotive market and that duly selected operations in Germany can be profitable. Success has been and will be achieved through the development of innovation and intellectual property. Kiekert is thus committed to its headquarters in Heiligenhaus, where two production lines have been relocated. By 2030, a new headquarter site and an expanded production facility are to be built in Heiligenhaus. More on TV, take a look yourselves.

Germany's automotive industry suffers from politics Who would have thought a few years ago that the booming key sector of German industry, the automotive industry, could one day become the problem child of an entire nation. A look at the bare stock market data reveals the whole drama of over-regulation, union coercion and climate hype. The sector index is lagging behind the development of the overall market so clearly that one can guess what consequences this will have for the most important sector of the German economy. Reasonable representatives of German society would sound the alarm bells and fight with all their might against the vandal destruction caused by green socialist policies. It is socially irresponsible what is happening in Germany and it is being driven forward with brute force! #germany #automotiveindustry #recession #wef #climatescam

With the Pioniergeist and dedication of 30,000 MAHLE employees at 57 sites across Europe, MAHLE is shaping the future of mobility. A united Europe was once also just a brave idea born from Pioniergeist. Today, it has grown with the European Union into our daily reality, offering many opportunities. MAHLE for example thrives under the European Union’s framework, benefiting greatly from free trade and mobility. As EU elections approach, we stand up for policies that foster innovation and investment, crucial for our shift towards electrification and digitalization. MAHLE stands for ideology-free competition of technologies. This is the only way to make swift and effective progress on climate protection. We firmly believe that good ideas and technologies can only thrive, if people have the freedom to think freely, express their opinions freely and exchange ideas without limits. A strong, democratic, and open Europe is an essential prerequisite for this—it strengthens MAHLE and all citizens. Together we have a vote in shaping the vibrant future of Europe together. #MAHLE #Europe #Pioniergeist #Ideas #Freedom #Technology #Innovation #WeShapeFutureMobility

🇪🇺✉️ Luca de Meo issues its “Letter to Europe”, a few months next June’s European Elections 📣 A call for a better Europe, and the continuity of the rallying call Luca de Meo is making for a few months now. ✊🏻 In the 20-page document released on Renault Group website and translated in a dozen of European languages, Renault’s CEO asks for a better coordination, cooperation, support, planning and ambition in the EU, ahead of the multiple-edged transformation impacting the automotive industry, from EVs to software. 🇪🇺 Emphasizing on the weight of the automotive industry in the Union, Luca de Meo is again highlighting the European success of Airbus as an example to follow, before sharing its recommandations and 10 projects for Europe to catch-up, from SDV standardization to hydrogen and a European-wide critical raw material supply organization, and alongside a call for a kei-cars push in cities. 👨🏻💼 A push led in parallel to the one exercised through its mandate at the helm of the ACEA, and certainly a desire to trigger support for its peers-CEO in the European industry. 🫨 A fear also from European CEOs to see the rise of populism wipe away their efforts towards sustainable mobility, and widen the gap with their overseas competitors: German business leaders including VW CEO and Daimler Truck CEO took a stand earlier this year against the far-right rise in their country. 🤔 Will it finally trigger discussions amongst the political ranks? → Link to the document: https://lnkd.in/eqxwjExd. 🗞️ This extract was part of monday's Mobility Brief, subscribe now so you don't miss a thing!

Respecting human rights is fundamental for Mercedes-Benz AG. That’s why I am beyond proud that a big step in the right direction was made. On Tuesday, we celebrated the #inauguration of the “Mecanismo de Reclamación de Derechos Humanos”, or short MRDH in Mexico.   This cross-company grievance mechanism is unique because it’s accessible to all workers – from the raw material mines to the production sites. It’s an important milestone in our long lasting work on protecting #HumanRights and establishing respective due diligence processes.   It also marks the beginning of an innovative way of cross-company-collaboration: colleagues from Mercedes and other companies like BMW Group or ZF Group were involved in the development process as well as representatives of associations, trade unions, civil society organisations, national human rights institutes, and other initiatives.   The MRDH shows what is possible when companies join forces and civil society organisations are taken on board from the very beginning. I am convinced that the pioneering spirit of this project will inspire our work and maybe will move more companies to join. Cross-Company Grievance Mechanism of the German Automotive Industry Launched in Mexico - CSR (csr-in-deutschland.de)

Insights from our esteemed patrons 💭 Today, we are proud to feature Stephan Weil, Minister-President of Lower Saxony. As a leading figure in one of Europe's most crucial automotive regions, Minister-President Weil plays a pivotal role in shaping the industry's future. "Niedersachsen is the number one automotive region in Europe. The International Suppliers Fair (IZB) offers local companies an exceptional platform to present themselves to industry professionals once again this year. The automotive industry is undergoing the biggest transformation in its history. With this year's leading theme 'Empowering Partnerships: Competitiveness, Sustainability, Acceleration,' the IZB is addressing key aspects that are essential for the future of the automotive and supplier industries. Only through close cooperation can we maintain competitiveness and ensure the success of the automotive locations in Germany and Lower Saxony." states Stephan Weil. Join us from October 22 to 24, 2024, in Wolfsburg, where the international supplier industry will gather to shape the future of mobility🚗. Take a look at our recent posts 🔙 to see what our other patrons have to say. ______ #izb #izb2024 #wolfsburgdigital #wolfsburg #niedersachsen #automotiveindustry #stephanweil