The automobile industry is transforming. According to the statistics of the German Automobile Industry Association (VDA), in the next three years, only German car manufacturers and auto suppliers will invest 40 billion euros in the electric vehicle field. In the future, mobility will further develop in the direction of electrification, automation, digitization and interconnection.
With the theme of "Enable Future Travel", Brose debuted at the IAA 2019 in Frankfurt, demonstrating innovative ideas and many powerful systems to make this vision a reality. At this exhibition, Brose's future mobility solutions include automatically opened doors, flexible interior systems, and thermal management systems for electric vehicles.
Unveiled at IAA 2019 to create a new travel experience
Brose's new system solutions focus on safe and comfortable vehicle entry methods and flexible and intelligent interior systems. Kurt Sauernheimer, CEO of the Brose Group, said: "We can provide a complete system of doors and interiors as a single supplier. At present, only auto parts suppliers that can do this are Ze. "
Through the intelligent interconnection of the door and interior functions, Brose is reinterpreting the way vehicles enter and travel, making every journey of the driver and passenger an unforgettable experience. Even if the driver is still far away, the car can recognize the driver and project a "welcome" message on the ground. The owner can pass the signal to enter the car through gestures, and the handleless door automatically opens; the radar sensor can detect obstacles during the door opening process and prevent collisions. When the steering wheel is hidden in the dashboard, the intelligently adjusted seat brings more tailored comfort to passengers in the car. Passengers in the rear seat only need to tap the back door twice gently, and the door opens automatically.
Under the premise of ensuring safety, the second row of seats that can be automatically adjusted allows passengers to more easily enter the rear of the vehicle. At the same time, sensors in the car can identify where passengers, pets and children are sitting, avoiding the risk of injury and accidents during adjustment. In addition, with just one-button control, passengers can independently decide how to enjoy the journey. The functions in the car will flexibly match the travel mode selected by the driver: electronically controlled seats, screens and storage areas will be automatically Adjust the position to bring more flexibility to the interior space. In working mode, the vehicle seat can be converted into an office chair, and the driver's seat can be extended to display the storage area and the desk with built-in charging station.
The rest mode can create a relaxed and relaxed environment for passengers. Drivers can adjust the seat back, leg support and adjustable armrests according to their preferences. A seat massage that follows the rhythm of the music brings a relaxing ride, and the airflow of the air conditioning system can be automatically adjusted for a more comfortable experience. In addition, the raised seat belt buckle also brings greater comfort, and passengers can choose to easily fasten their seat belts on the seat themselves, or they can choose the automatic seat belt delivery function. The joint venture established by Brose and Aiwende this year also demonstrated for the first time in IAA its professional strength in passenger car seats, such as ergonomically designed seat adjusters, a firm commitment to achieving lightweight design, and the Chair covers made of recycled plastic and renewable materials. By working together with partners, Brose brings consumers a healthy and comfortable travel experience and further promotes environmental sustainability.
At the IAA 2019 site, Brose also demonstrated an interconnected innovative door and seat function through a highly futuristic concept car to provide a practical solution for future scenarios. The concept car's windows can show the battery charge status or headlines on the most visited websites. Doors that do not require a door handle have both side-opening and side-sliding automatic opening and closing functions, and each door can operate independently. The rear seat can not only become a comfortable bench for three people, but also can be converted into two single seats through the adjustment of the seat frame and backrest, providing more spacious and comfortable space. The display screen protruding from the center armrest and cockpit can realize up to four independent audio and video zones. The concept car coordinated more than 80 motors through APP to control all functions, which once again proved the outstanding professional ability of Brose in electronic technology.
Opportunities outweigh risks, launch "Brose Future Development" project
Affected by the overall weakness of the automotive market, the start of fiscal year 2019 was less than expected by Brose. In response, Zhaohaimo explained: "Compared with the first half of 2018, our performance was affected, and our turnover decreased by 5%. To this end, we have adopted cost reduction and efficiency measures to cope with the current situation. Nonetheless , We will continue to invest in new product development and mass production. "
Looking forward to 2020, Brose predicts that the automotive industry will continue to be depressed. Nonetheless, Zhaohaimo said: "Compared to 2019, we are still expected to achieve an increase of about 5% in 2020. This is due to our increasing market share and new products that are constantly being introduced to the market." These include two important growth drivers, one of which is electric air-conditioning compressors for high-end German automakers, and the other is the third-row electric seat system.
Faced with the rapid transformation of the automotive industry, Brose believes that business opportunities far outweigh the risks. The company will invest about 1.5 billion euros in the next three years for new product research and development, technical equipment upgrades and maintenance, and global site expansion. It is understood that Brose will invest about 200 million euros in Germany this year. "We are also increasingly focusing on expanding partnerships, bringing together the expertise and technical expertise of different companies, and helping to share the costs and risks of new project development," Zhaohaimo said.
In response to the dramatic changes in the automotive industry, Brose launched the "Brose Future Development" project, which plans to complete the adjustment of the company's structure by 2023. This will change the number of employees across the company, with some departments streamlining staff, while others will create new jobs to meet future development needs. "We want to streamline our work processes and make cost reductions and efficiency gains fast. We are hiring engineers and software experts to drive further development and expansion of our product portfolio," said Zhao Haimo.
In addition, Zhaohaimo also disclosed: "We have decided to open a new factory in Serbia. This will increase our competitiveness and make up for the lack of skilled workers in Germany. We will hire about 1,000 employees locally as early as 2024 Partially deployed from the German factory and partly from other business units. After the Serbian factory is put into production, we will first produce motors for cooling fan assemblies. This product is currently facing huge price pressure because similar products in the market are almost entirely produced in Eastern Europe "If everything goes well, the new Brose plant is expected to start production in two years.
"Through the 'Brose Future Development' project, we will continue to promote the growth of our core business while enhancing the company's innovation capabilities to meet future challenges." Zhaohaimo said.
For the automotive industry, the future is full of many uncertainties, and the challenges and challenges to companies are increasing. However, although the overall industry situation is not good, for those who are prepared, opportunities outweigh risks. Brose is so, and many outstanding companies are actively preparing for new takeoffs!
By combining expertise in mechanical, electrical, electronics and sensors, Brose is further optimizing its products and systems to make this new mobility concept a reality. Welcome to the B01 booth D01 / D02 in Hall 4.0 to get a closer look at the latest concepts and many powerful functions.
If you are interested in Brose's innovations, you are welcome to pay attention to the simultaneous launch of future travel topics. For more information, visit www.brose.com/future-mobility/.
About Brose
Brose is the fourth largest family company in the global auto parts industry. The group develops and manufactures mechatronic system solutions for doors, seats, motors and drive systems and electronics, including steering, braking, transmission and engine cooling systems. Brose has 63 locations in 23 countries and territories, with approximately 26,000 employees and a turnover of 6.3 billion euros. Every second new car in the world is equipped with at least one Brose product.