Yanfeng Automotive Interiors (YFAI), is partnering Startup Autobahn in Stuttgart.

The platform assists start-ups from the mobility sector and brings them together with established companies and research facilities. Startup Autobahn is part of the Plug and Play global mobility ecosystem, which YFAI joined in 2018.

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“As our recently unveiled XiM20 interior concept demonstrates, future mobility opens up entirely new technology and design possibilities for vehicle interiors,” said YFAI CTO, Han Hendriks.

“Through our collaboration with Plug and Play in California, we have made significant progress with our innovation work. We believe we will also find strong partners through Startup Autobahn that help us further advance the evolution of automotive interiors with visionary technologies.”

As Europe’s largest platform for open innovation, Startup Autobahn puts the emphasis on an open exchange of disruptive ideas and technologies. Stuttgart research factory Arena2036 offers conditions for cooperation between companies and selected start-ups from all over the world.

“The start-up scene has innovative spirit which we can also use to the benefit of development work within our company,” added Han Hendriks. “At the same time, the partnership gives start-ups access to our many years of expertise in the automotive industry.”

Startup Autobahn is a platform powered by Plug and Play. It provides an interface between corporations and young tech companies. In May 2016, Daimler, Plug and Play Tech Centre, the University of Stuttgart and Arena2036 founded Startup Autobahn as an open innovation platform with global reach.

Since then, they have teamed with Anchor Partners Hewlett Packard Enterprise, DXC Technology, ZF Friedrichshafen, BASF, Porsche, Deutsche Post DHL Group, Webasto, Rolls-Royce Power Systems, Samvardhana Motherson, T-Systems and the Ecosystem Partners Murata, Hella, Benteler, The Linde Group, AGC Glass Europe, Wieland Ventures, Jardine Matheson Limited, Covéa, Cepsa, Bleistahl, BP, Hyundai, TÜV Rheinland and Yanfeng Automotive Interiors.

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