如今，隨著智能化技術(shù)在汽車行業(yè)的不斷深入，整個汽車行業(yè)正進行著前所未有的深刻改革。在未來，汽車將不僅僅是一種交通工具，或?qū)⒊蔀槿藗冊诩摇⑥k公室之外的重要“第三空間”,而這將給汽車本身帶來顛覆性的變化。
“新技術(shù)將給汽車設計帶來不小的影響。”日前，德國獨立汽車設計公司愛達克（EDAG）新任首席執(zhí)行官Cosimo De Carlo先生在接受蓋世汽車記者采訪時如是說。“就以自動駕駛技術(shù)來說，目前，我們在車內(nèi)需要一直掌控方向盤，但是未來我們可以在車內(nèi)工作、娛樂等等。相較于以前，消費者對于汽車內(nèi)飾的要求就會完全不同。基于在汽車研發(fā)、生產(chǎn)解決方案、汽車信息技術(shù)以及電子電器領(lǐng)域的競爭力，目前我們已經(jīng)能夠設計和研發(fā)未來汽車。”
獨立不依附 深耕汽車行業(yè)50年
內(nèi)飾設計僅是愛達克眾多業(yè)務中的一部分。作為全球最大的獨立設計服務公司之一，愛達克的主要業(yè)務有三大塊，即車輛工程、生產(chǎn)解決方案和電子電器。
具體來說，愛達克可設計車輛造型、整車概念車和研發(fā)以及生產(chǎn)工廠。此外，愛達克還能夠研發(fā)及整合重要電子電器功能，如電池、互聯(lián)服務和用戶體驗、自動駕駛以及移動出行服務。
愛達克公司成立于1969年，在汽車工程行業(yè)有著近50年的經(jīng)驗歷程。目前，愛達克在全球20個國家設有分支，員工超8,400人。作為全球汽車行業(yè)一大獨立設計服務公司，愛達克通過旗下60多處汽車中心向國內(nèi)及全球性汽車制造商和先進汽車零部件供應商提供服務。2017年，愛達克銷售額達7.17億歐元。
愛達克不依附于任何汽車制造商，其高質(zhì)量服務使其在市場上受到了高度認可，創(chuàng)新型解決方案和對汽車行業(yè)的熱情使其在行業(yè)里成為了不知不扣的領(lǐng)袖。De Carlo先生指出，與其它業(yè)務廣泛的競爭對手相比，愛達克關(guān)注于汽車領(lǐng)域，“我們想要成為未來汽車生態(tài)系統(tǒng)中的佼佼者。”
創(chuàng)新領(lǐng)袖引領(lǐng)公司戰(zhàn)略轉(zhuǎn)型
為了進行戰(zhàn)略轉(zhuǎn)型、更好地應對汽車行業(yè)帶來的變化，愛達克于2018年4月任命Cosimo De Carlo先生為集團首席執(zhí)行官。De Carlo先生于1998年加入戴姆勒，后來又在一家技術(shù)咨詢公司擔任汽車業(yè)務領(lǐng)導。愛達克董事會主席Thomas Eichelmann稱，作為汽車行業(yè)的專家，De Carlo先生是一名成功創(chuàng)新型領(lǐng)導，其專業(yè)經(jīng)驗和過去的成就使其成為領(lǐng)導愛達克轉(zhuǎn)型的不二人選。
在上任后，De Carlo先生將循序漸進地對愛達克進行戰(zhàn)略性調(diào)整，以保證愛達克在汽車行業(yè)大變革的背景下依然維持業(yè)務上的成就。De Carlo先生在接受采訪時表示，其工作重心主要集中在各個部分。首先，擴大電子電氣業(yè)務。其次，De Carlo先生還將加快公司的全球化進程。De Carlo先生強調(diào)到，得益于被行業(yè)公認的技術(shù)，愛達克將為其全球客戶創(chuàng)造越來越多的價值。因此，本土化將扮演著舉足輕重的作用，以滿足不同市場消費者的需求。
與在華車企結(jié)緣 望在華銷售額增一倍
在愛達克的全球化進程中，中國將會扮演著重要角色。中國汽車市場未來將發(fā)生巨大的變化，高端產(chǎn)品不僅在中國國內(nèi)出售，中國產(chǎn)品也將走出國門，走向全球。此外，在電動化領(lǐng)域，中國的戰(zhàn)略路線也比較清晰。“如果想要在電動出行領(lǐng)域有所作為，就必須與中國合作。”
De Carlo先生對于中國市場有著很高的期待，并且認為華業(yè)務很快就會有著較大的改善。在他看來，未來幾年中國汽車行業(yè)將以質(zhì)量為導向，建立高行業(yè)標準。
中國近幾年出現(xiàn)的造車新勢力十分看重愛達克在汽車和生產(chǎn)研發(fā)的高度競爭力，將愛達克視為理想的合作伙伴。就在2018年北京車展期間，愛達克從奇點汽車240家供應商中脫穎而出，獲得奇點汽車 “優(yōu)秀供應商”獎項。在奇點旗下智能電動SUV車型iS6的研發(fā)過程中，愛達克主要參與了車身、內(nèi)外飾和電子電氣系統(tǒng)的研發(fā)。De Carlo先生指出，“我們在整車研發(fā)以及在電動出行、自動駕駛以及數(shù)字化等領(lǐng)域的技術(shù)，將有助于奇點等初創(chuàng)企業(yè)進行量產(chǎn)，我們將一如既往地擴大、強化我們在中國等新興市場的份額。”
Via cooperation with local automakers, EDAG is committed to further developing the Chinese market
With the continuous application of intelligent technologies, the automotive industry has recently been undergoing dramatic changes. In the future, vehicles will not only function as means of transportation, but also be a “third space” apart from the home and office. This will have a disruptive effect on the vehicle development.
“New technologies will have a big impact on vehicle design,” Cosimo De Carlo, CEO of EDAG Group, said in an interview. “Take autonomous driving for example. Today we are still busy in driving the vehicle. Tomorrow we will work or enjoy the vehicle space, the same way like we do it today at home or at work. This will imply different requirements compared to the past. Based on our strong competences in vehicle development and in production solutions, in combination with our skills in car IT and electrics/electronics, we are already today able to design and to develop the vehicle of the future”.
As an independent company, EDAG has been in the automotive industry for nearly 50 years.
Interior design is just a small part of EDAG’s business. As one of the biggest independent engineering service companies in the automotive sector, EDAG is organised in three segments, namely vehicle engineering, production solutions and electrics/electronics.
More specifically, EDAG can do the styling, the concept and the development of a complete car and production plant. It can also develop and integrate the most important electric and electronic features, like battery, connectivity services and UX, autonomous driving or mobility services.
Founded in 1969, EDAG has nearly 50 years experience in vehicle and production engineering. Currently, the company has branches in almost 20 countries and has over 8,400 employees. As an independent engineering service provider to the global automotive industry, the company serves leading domestic and international vehicle OEMs and sophisticated automotive suppliers through a global network of about 60 sites in all major automotive centres of the world. Last year, the company achieved revenues of 717 million Euros.
EDAG is not affiliated to any other OEM and is highly recognized on the market for the quality of its services. Its innovative solutions and its passion make it an undisputed leader in the automotive industry. The CEO pointed out that, unlike many other engineering companies whose business covers many industries, EDAG is specialized in the automotive sector: “We want to be the best in the automotive ecosystem of the future”.
A well-recognized innovative leader will steer the company’s transformation.
To lead the strategic reorientation and better embrace the changes in the automotive industry, EDAG named Cosimo De Carlo as its Group CEO in April 2018. Mr. De Carlo started his career with Daimler in 1998 and became later on the automotive leader of a big worldwide technology consulting firm. “As an expert in the automotive industry, Mr. De Carlo is a successful innovation leader, and his expertise and track record make him the ideal person for EDAG’s transformation”, Thomas Eichelmann, EDAG´s chairman of the board, said in a statement.
As the company’s CEO, Mr. De Carlo will systematically implement strategic adjustments to maintain the company’s performance throughout the changes in the automotive industry.
Mr. De Carlo said that his focus will be on various aspects. First of all, to expand the electrics/electronics business.
The second priority for the new CEO is the internationalization of the company. Mr. De Carlo emphasized that EDAG can generate more and more value for its global customers thanks to its undisputed know-how. In this regard localization plays a crucial role to better respond to the specific requirements and to the local customers needs.
Thanks to partnerships with Chinese OEMs and with global OEMs in China, EDAG expects sales in China to increase significantly.
China will play a significant role in EDAG’s internationalization. The Chinese market will change dramatically in the future. Chinese premium cars will be sold not only in China, but also in the international market. Furthermore, China has a clear route for the development of e-mobility. “If you want to work in e-mobility, you have to work with China.”
Mr. De Carlo has very high expectations for the Chinese market. From his point of view, the Chinese automotive industry will drastically increase its level and quality standards in the upcoming years.
Also Chinese auto start-ups, which have sprung up in the past several years, see in EDAG an ideal partner thanks to its huge competences in vehicle and production development. Recently at the Auto China 2018, EDAG was awarded as “Excellent Partner” by Singulato Motors out of a total of over 240 suppliers. The EDAG team was involved in the development of the start-up’s intelligent electric SUV iS6, working especially on the vehicle body, interior/exterior and electric/electronic systems. "Our expertise in complete vehicle development coupled with our know-how in the fields of e-mobility, autonomous driving and digitalization make us an ideal partner to help start-ups like Singulato on their way to series production. We will be focussing on expanding and strengthening our presence in the emerging international markets as we have done here in China," Mr. De Carlo said.
