One highlight followed another on the second day of the 2025 Stuttgart International Symposium.
In the morning, we welcomed Dr. Michael Steiner, Vice Chairman of the Executive Board at Porsche AG for a keynote speech. In his presentation entitled “Porsche's Triad of Powertrains and the Hybridization of the Iconic Porsche 911” he spoke about the profound technological and economic transformation that is currently happening. In doing so he showed the new t-hybrid powertrain of the 911 with all its components as an example of how Porsche is responding to the transition and to adapt to changing customers’ needs.
Next, the eagerly awaited panel discussion took place. The top-class participants
- Dr. Marcus Bollig, Managing Director of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA);
- Dr. Michael Steiner, Vice Chairman of the Executive Board at Porsche AG;
- Ragnar Burenius, New Product Line Leader at Horse Powertrain Ltd;
- Maria Grazia Davino, Regional Managing Director at BYD EUROPE and
- Dr. Christof Weber, Head of CoC Entire Vehicle Product Validation Mercedes-Benz Trucks at Daimler Truck
contributed with their different perspectives to a lively debate on the topic "How Can the German Automotive Industry Succeed in Global Competition?".
Moderated by André Kulzer, the panelists brought together diverse perspectives from Germany, Europe, and China – covering not just passenger vehicles but also the heavy-duty sector.
Despite current challenges, they shared an optimistic view: the future of the German automotive industry can be bright. One thing was clear – there is no one-size-fits-all solution for every market.
Success will depend on three key factors: collaboration, the ability to embrace competition, and above all, speed.
Thanks to the participants for this exciting discussion!
In the afternoon, outstanding student achievements were honored during the symposium. The Association Förderverein des Institutes für Fahrzeugtechnik Stuttgart (IFS) presented awards for the best Bachelor's and Master's thesis of the past year. The prizes, which are endowed with prize money donated by the association, went to Samuel Gneiting and Steffen Eppinger. The award ceremony took place on stage.
This was followed by a special moment away from the official program: FKFS symbolically bid farewell to Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans-Christian Reuss, a long-standing member of the Executive Board, as part of his last symposium before his imminent retirement. As a sign of recognition and thanks, he received a personal certificate of partecipation.
Finally, Dr. Torsten Eder, Vice President Electrified Drive Systems at Mercedes-Benz AG, took to the stage with his keynote speech “Redefining the Future of Drive Systems”. He spoke about the three main pillars Mercedes-Benz is focusing on in every vehicle: performance, efficiency and flexibility. This strong base enables Mercedes to develop and offer the best fit for every customer.
This concludes the 2025 Stuttgart International Symposium. We can look back on two fantastic event days in which 400 participants took part in a total of 80 specialist lectures and 20 pitch presentations and were able to make valuable contacts during the supporting program. Our thanks go to all contributors, supporters and visitors!