What key questions and challenges is the automotive industry in North Rhine-Westphalia currently facing? What framework conditions does it need, and what role do networks play? What possible transformation paths exist?
These questions were the focus of a future-oriented conference held today with around 150 representatives from the state government, industry, and academia. Perspectives from various stakeholders on the current crisis revealed one thing clearly: especially now, joint action is required for a swift transformation.

A significantly reduced Climate and Transformation Fund by the federal government, following the ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court over a year ago, fewer resources to support future programs, high energy costs, increasing international competition – all of these challenges are also impacting the automotive industry in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The future conference focused on an open exchange about the requirements for transformation that must be driven by the companies themselves. The main focus of the conference, however, was on perspectives and current opportunities to respond to the transformation: working in networks, transferring knowledge through various projects, and above all, joint industry action in networks and alliances to become more visible and to express needs more clearly.

Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action, and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, stated:
“North Rhine-Westphalia is a key location for the automotive industry, offering collectively bargained, well-paid jobs and training positions. Our suppliers produce high-quality components that are in demand worldwide and contribute significantly to value creation here. We are firmly committed to ensuring that this remains the case despite current challenges. That’s why we rely on clear perspectives, targeted funding programs, and strong support for climate-neutral transformation. We are advancing electromobility, accelerating the expansion of renewable energy, and advocating for urgently needed competitive energy prices. I am pleased that the Automotive Future Conference of our cluster automotiveland.nrw is providing many important impulses for a sustainable and innovative industry.”

Stephan A. Vogelskamp, Managing Director of automotiveland.nrw and initiator of the conference, said:
“With our network, we will do everything we can to accompany and drive forward the transformation. Given the multiple crises we are facing, we must significantly increase the pace of transformation. The gathering of many stakeholders, as seen during the conference, demonstrated how crucial joint action is. We must do the right thing – and above all, we must do it quickly.”

It also became clear that many companies are willing to take on the transformation.
Monika Kocks, Chair of the Board at automotiveland.nrw, added:
“We suppliers can and must actively shape the transformation of the automotive industry, especially since our share of components in vehicles is 80%. Looking back wistfully at the past or timidly into the future – that’s not in the DNA of the SME sector.”