Latest automotive interviews

Paris interview - French suppliers association FIEV CEO Jacques Mauge

19 Oct 2018 | Simon Warburton

French supplier association, FIEV (Fédération des Industries des Equipements pour Véhicules) had a major presence at the recent Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris and just-auto caught up with its CEO, Jacques Mauge, fresh from his meeting with French President, Emmanuel Macron to discuss industrial policy.

Automotive industry slow to embrace D&I-related changes – report

17 Oct 2018 | Matthew Beecham

A recently published report* sets out a fresh view of Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) in the automotive industry. To learn more, we spoke to Lynda Ennis, founder of specialist automotive search firm, Ennis & Co and co-author the report. Here, she explains the importance of this initiative and why starting a new conversation about D&I is long overdue.

Paris interview - CLEPA president Roberto Vavassori

9 Oct 2018 | Simon Warburton

Roberto Vavassori was elected CLEPA president, taking office in January, 2016 and is also a board member of brake supplier, Brembo and director for Business Development and Marketing. Just-Auto caught up with him at the recent Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris to gauge the reaction of the manufacturing sector to what are potentially draconian new emissions limits.?

Valeo looks to evaluate city pollution - CEO

8 Oct 2018 | Simon Warburton

Valeo says it is working with air quality monitor, Airparif to understand how pollution in cities is evolving and as it looks to provide technology to combat it.

Faurecia agile enough to cope with Brexit needs - CEO

5 Oct 2018 | Simon Warburton

Faurecia says it will adapt to what its customers want as the UK prepares to leave the European Union (EU) next year.

Harman, JD Power to reveal consumer habits in the connected car

1 Oct 2018 | Matthew Beecham

Today’s vehicles offer a myriad of features and services but understanding how and if these are being used by consumers isn’t often truly understood by OEMs. With ever-increasing connectivity, it is now possible to acquire data about the vehicle’s performance and how it is being used, but how to access this information and its relevance is in the early stages. A new project between Harman and J.D. Power claims it can change this and provide OEMs and Tier Ones with an insight that could make cars safer, more relevant or offer a better user experience. We spoke to Sandip Ranjhan, Senior Vice President, Harman Connected Services about the alliance and its expectations for the project.

‘Digital camshaft’ gives engines an efficiency boost

26 Sep 2018 | Matthew Beecham

A British company has developed a digital valvetrain drive system that, it claims, can give petrol engines a diesel-level of efficiency and fuel economy with much lower NOx emissions. The inventors believe that it is as big a leap forward as the introduction of electronically-controlled ignition and the change from carburettors to fuel injection. To learn more about this engine valve technology, we caught up with Mark Gostick, Chief Operating Officer of Camcon Automotive.

Delphi Technologies CTO talks powertrain and power electronics

16 Aug 2018 | Dave Leggett

When Delphi split earlier this year, the greater part of its operations were renamed Aptiv. However, the powertrain tech division retained the Delphi name. Dave Leggett recently caught up with Delphi Technologies CTO Mary Gustanski at the company's new London headquarters.

Williams revs up the EV market

13 Aug 2018 | Matthew Beecham

Williams Advanced Engineering is the technology and engineering services business of the Williams Group. It specialises in advanced lightweight materials, hybrid power systems and electronics, aerodynamics, vehicle dynamics, and holistic integration capabilities. We caught up with company executives to learn more about its latest projects, advances in hybrid battery systems, electric vehicles and lightweight solutions.

Adient's CTO on megatrends and cutting development time

10 Aug 2018 | Calum MacRae

At the CAR Management Briefing Seminars held in Traverse City, Michigan recently just-auto's Calum MacRae met with Dr Detlef Juerss, Vice President Engineering & Chief Technology Office, Adient to discuss the changing automotive environment, future seating requirements and how Silicon Valley is helping Adient reduce product development times.

Yanfeng on adapting to new industry challenges

9 Aug 2018 | Calum MacRae

At the CAR Management Briefing Seminars held in Traverse City, Michigan recently just-auto's Calum MacRae met with Yanfeng Automotive Interiors’ Executive Director Research, Technology & New Mobility Jeff Stout and Vice President and General Manager Nathan Bowen to discuss the changing automotive environment and Yanfeng's role in it. 

ZF VP on tomorrow’s electronic braking systems

8 Aug 2018 | Matthew Beecham

The apparently simple issue of braking continues to be a major issue for chassis system designers. Drivers are, of course, concerned that in an emergency their semi- and ultimately fully-automated vehicle should stop as quickly as possible. Continuing just-auto/QUBE’s series of interviews with tier one component suppliers, we spoke to Manfred Meyer, Senior Vice President global braking systems for ZF Active and Passive Safety Technology Division, to learn about tomorrow’s electronic braking systems.

Deloitte on the risks facing suppliers in the CASE world

7 Aug 2018 | Calum MacRae

At the CAR Management Briefing Seminars held in Traverse City, Michigan recently just-auto's Calum MacRae met with Neal Ganguli Deloitte's US automotive practice leader to discuss how suppliers can maximise their portfolios and the effect that CASE will have on overall industry volumes. 

Valeo VP on future mobility solutions

6 Aug 2018 | Matthew Beecham

Partial driver autonomy already exists in the form of automated parking systems and advanced driver assistance features. For its part, Valeo is pushing back the technical boundaries of automation to address increasingly complex urban driving situations. Continuing just-auto/QUBE’s series of interviews with tier one component suppliers, we spoke to Guillaume Devauchelle, Group Vice President Innovation & Scientific Development, Valeo about its driver assistance and mobility solutions.

Interview - ex-Renault CEO Louis Schweitzer

31 Jul 2018 | Simon Warburton

Among a long list of French industrialists treading a familiar path through Paris' elite business universities, is Louis Schweitzer, whose storied and glittering career takes in a breathtaking canter through the rarefied air of the country's very top jobs. Simon Warburton spoke to him on the fringes of the recent Forum on the European Automotive Industry (FEAL) in Lille.

Could this ‘breakthrough’ in energy storage disrupt the EV market?

30 Jul 2018 | Matthew Beecham

A French startup, spun off from the nuclear industry, is using nanotechnology to make the next generation of battery. NAWA Technologies’ Ultra Fast Carbon Battery is a carbon-based ultracapacitor that is claimed to be five times more powerful than existing ultracapacitors. Based near Marseille, the company is also developing 'structural batteries’, using the same nanotechnology to turn ordinary items into objects that can hold charge e.g. a smartphone case or a window frame. To learn more about how this green and clean tech could rapidly charge an EV, we spoke to Ulrik Grape, CEO of NAWA Technologies and Pascal Boulanger, COO and Founder of NAWA Technologies. 

Webasto on development of sunroofs and convertible roof systems

19 Jul 2018 | Matthew Beecham

Webasto’s core competencies include development, production and sales of sunroofs, panoramic roofs, convertible roofs and parking heaters. With electric heating systems, charging solutions and battery systems, the supplier is also addressing the growth market of electromobility. Continuing just-auto/QUBE’s series of interviews with tier one suppliers, we spoke to Dr. Holger Engelmann, Chairman of the Management Board, Webasto SE about the company’s roof systems business.

Magna Exteriors makes an impact with front-end modules

18 Jul 2018 | Matthew Beecham

What is a front-end module? It depends on who makes it and for whom. Front-end modules (FEMs) typically encompass the bumper, headlights, radiator and various others parts. The benefits to the automaker from sourcing complete FEMs are clear: they can help cut the number of operations on the assembly line, reduce vehicle weight, cut tooling costs and improve working capital. Continuing just-auto/QUBE’s series of interviews with component suppliers, we caught up with Rob Selle, Global Product Line Director, FEM, Fascia & Trim, Magna Exteriors, a front-runner serving the FEMs market.

Valeo on tomorrow’s climate control systems

16 Jul 2018 | Matthew Beecham

Cabin comfort is a given for motorists nowadays. The trend for multizone air-conditioning systems enables automakers to offer more comfort features. Continuing just-auto/QUBE’s series of interviews with tier one component suppliers, we spoke to executives of Valeo’s Thermal Systems division to learn more about such trends, regulatory drivers and its recent climate control system innovations.

The science of sound - How Harman is striking a chord in the small car segment

11 Jul 2018 | Matthew Beecham

Designing and developing a car audio system for a certain model is a complex process. Hitting the right note in the small car segment is particularly challenging for acoustic engineers with lots of things to consider. Changing the seat material alone can alter the acoustics in an otherwise identical cabin. Audio specialist Harman has worked closely with Ford to develop a premium sound upgrade for the new Fiesta. To learn more, we spoke to Greg Sikora, Harman ‘Golden Ear’ and Senior Manager, Head of Acoustic Systems Engineering Europe, Car Audio, and Stefan Varga, Harman ‘Golden Ear’ and Senior System Engineer Acoustic, Car Audio at Harman International.