OEM& LIEFERANT Special-Edition „Autoregionen International“. Ausgabe 01/2026
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3 The automotive industry is at one of the most profound turning points in its history. What once began as evolutionary progress is now a fundamental transformation. The current transformation in the automotive industry represents nothing less than the complete deconstruction of the car and its comprehensive redesign across the entire value chain. This redesign of all functional elements aims to introduce new types of drive systems—in particular electric drives—and to fully network different design elements with external data carriers. Equipping vehicles with a multitude of new assistance systems as the final precursor to autonomous driving would be unthinkable without the comprehensive use of electronic data processing systems. Connectivity thus becomes a central functional component. The possibilities offered by AI in particular are essential prerequisites for the continuous development of autonomous systems—from self-controlled maintenance to individualized entertainment electronics. The establishment and continuous development of IT and AI expertise are essential for the international competitiveness of our automotive industry. This is accompanied by a new form of competition. Traditional car manufacturers are no longer just competing with each other but also with tech companies and new market entrants from China and the USA. At the same time, people‘s relationship with cars has also changed. In urban areas, ownership is becoming less important, while usage, sharing, and multimodal mobility concepts are gaining in significance. The car remains an important means of transport, but it is no longer necessarily the emotional center of individual mobility. Like all our titles, the supplement of the umbrella brand OEM&Lieferant, which focuses on “International Automotive Regions,” in the automotive and supplier industry, is published exclusively in digital form, with the option of obtaining additional information via links, interactions, and networking to web content and social media. We would like to thank all participating companies for their excellent and trusting cooperation. The next special edition of “Autoregionen International” is expected to be published in August 2026 as an integrated supplement in OEM & Lieferant. You are cordially invited to contribute with your articles, interviews, company presentations, and advertisements. Your editorial team Visit our trade press portal www.oemundlieferant.de And become a member of the LinkedIn specialist group LinkedIn-Gruppe OEM&Lieferant Dear readers, Editorial The automotive industry in transition
Industrial AI and data ecosystems: two sides of the same coin By Dr. Olaf Sauer, Fraunhofer Institute of Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation, Karlsruhe 8 Protection for exterior components made of light metals By Dr. Georg Wagner, NTC Nano Tech Coatings GmbH, Tholey (Saarland) 10 Reality Check for the Digital Vehicle Key How Plugfests and Backend System Safeguard the CCC By Manuel Teufel, trained software product manager and product manager responsible for doubleSlash Digital Key 16 Continuous Material Flow instead of Manual Transport: Adient has automated its plant in Torslanda, Sweden, with mobile robots By Alexander Strunz, Manager PR & Communications, SAFELOG 12 Future mobility in color: How new shades define automotive design Interview with Mark Gutjahr, global head of Automotive Color Design at BASF Coatings 14 Luxembourg sets sights on automated driving leadership By Lena Martenson, Senior Communication Officer, Content & Social and Jean-Michel Gaudron, Senior Communication Officer, Content & Press Relations 6 Bild: © Luxinnovation/Marion Dessard
5 Editorial 3 The automotive industry in transition Luxembourg sets sights on 6 automated driving leadership The strategy sets out Luxembourg’s ambition to become the first European country to roll out automated driving nationwide by 2028 By Lena Martenson, Senior Communication Officer, Content & Social and Jean-Michel Gaudron, Senior Communication Officer, Content & Press Relations Industrial AI and data ecosystems: 8 two sides of the same coin By Dr. Olaf Sauer, Fraunhofer Institute of Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation, Karlsruhe Protection for exterior components 10 made of light metals By Dr. Georg Wagner, NTC Nano Tech Coatings GmbH, Tholey (Saarland) Continuous Material Flow instead of Manual Transport: Adient has automated its plant in 12 Torslanda, Sweden, with mobile robots By Alexander Strunz, Manager PR & Communications, SAFELOG Future mobility in color: How new 14 shades define automotive design Interview with Mark Gutjahr, global head of Automotive Color Design at BASF Coatings Reality Check for the Digital Vehicle Key 16 How Plugfests and Backend System Safeguard the CCC Digital Key Standard By Manuel Teufel, trained software product manager and product manager responsible for doubleSlash Digital Key Ausbau der Ladeinfrastruktur – Chancen 18 für Unternehmen aus Rheinland-Pfalz? Veranstaltung der Fahrzeug-Initiative Rheinland-Pfalz unter der Leitung des Vorstandsvorsitzenden Marco Unverzagt Wenn das Telefon nicht mehr 20 klingelt, sondern löst Medina Hodžić, Referentin für digitale Kommunikation, SUSI&James GmbH, Mannheim Firmenpräsentationen/ Company Presentations SUSI&James GmbH 22 Walter Werner GmbH 23 Metallveredelung Experten/Experts 21 Impressum/Legal notice 13 Anzeigen Hedin Automotive GmbH U2 ARRK Engineering GmbH 9 OEM & Lieferant 11 VEK Verlag Elisabeth Klock 19 NTC Nano Tech Coatings GmbH 15 Luxinnovation U4 Inhalt/Content Ausbau der Ladeinfrastruktur – Chancen für Unternehmen aus Rheinland-Pfalz? Veranstaltung der Fahrzeug-Initiative RheinlandPfalz unter der Leitung des Vorstandsvorsitzenden Marco Unverzagt 18 Wenn das Telefon nicht mehr klingelt, sondern löst Medina Hodžić, Referentin für digitale Kommunikation, SUSI&James GmbH, Mannheim 20 Bild: © JustAnArtwork/Andrej Justus
6 Luxembourg sets sights on automated driving leadership The strategy sets out Luxembourg’s ambition to become the first European country to roll out automated driving nationwide by 2028 By Lena Martenson, Senior Communication Officer, Content & Social and Jean-Michel Gaudron, Senior Communication Officer, Content & Press Relations Luxembourg’s new strategy for automated driving has a clear objective: fostering innovation and positioning the country as a true living lab for the mobility of the future. Unveiled by the government on 23 October 2025, it positions Luxembourg as a European hub for automated mobility, building on national key strengths such as: • An advanced digital ecosystem • An agile governance • A strong capacity for experimentation • A culture of cross-sector cooperation “This strategy is about making Luxembourg a trailblazer in automated driving,” commented Minister of the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism Lex Delles, noting that it includes measures to support innovation and validate technologies “from closed sites to their deployment in real-world conditions”. Five priority use cases in automated driving The strategy identifies five priority use cases for commercial deployment, each addressing specific mobility needs: Motorway chauffeur – enabling safer, smoother driving on major roads Robotaxis – providing on-demand driverless transport services Last-mile automated shuttles – integrated into public transport networks Valet parking and restricted-access sites – automating manoeuvres in controlled environments • Automated logistics – addressing freight transport challenges A draft law transposing Directive 2010/40/ EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2010 regarding the framework for deploying intelligent transport systems in road transport and for interfaces with other transport modes was submitted to the parliament by the Minister of Mobility and Public Works on 20 January 2026. If adopted, the first commercial applications are expected to be operational by 2027. Paving the way for the smart mobility of the future This initiative highlights the government’s commitment to responsibly integrating automated driving into Luxembourg’s Minister of Mobility and Public Works Yuriko Backes and Minister of the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism Lex Delles presenting the “Automatiséiert Fueren 2028” strategy Image: © MMTP
7 multimodal transport system. “The goal is to integrate this technology into transportation to pave the way for smart mobility that makes our roads safer, creates new jobs and is resolutely future-oriented,” said Minister of Mobility and Public Works Yuriko Backes. Smart cities and new mobility trends in Luxembourg Luxembourg recently hosted a smart cities event bringing Europe’s innovators together to discover the trends reshaping mobility. When discussing the rapid evolution of the mobility sector in the context of the Smart cities / EIT Urban Mobility - Landing in Luxembourg event, which took place on 27 January 2026, Erez Arye, Head of the Automobility Incubator at Technoport, offered a clear perspective on what is driving change. Working closely with startups, corporates and public officials, he sees the main trends emerging not as distant developments but as practical shifts already influencing Europe. AI and emerging technologies reshaping the mobility landscape One of the most visible forces reshaping mobility is AI. Mr Arye explained how AI has become central to efforts to reduce congestion, enhance safety and improve traffic management with tools ranging from smarter traffic lights to next generation navigation tools. At the same time, human-machine interfaces are becoming more intuitive. Drivers are increasingly able to speak to their vehicles and receive seamless assistance, whether for navigation or basic in car operations. Physical AI is also entering the urban landscape, most visibly through autonomous vehicles and robotics. While energy transition challenges continue to influence mobility, Mr Arye instead highlighted another accelerating rapidly area: drones. Once limited to specialised contexts, drones are now entering civilian use as technology advances. “I think in five years, smart cities will be safer, less congested and more sustainable. That is the goal.” Erez Arye, Technoport These ambitions are at the core of today’s smart city development. Smart cities in action: autonomous vehicles and digital twin technology Luxembourg is not only observing these trends, it is actively testing them. The autonomous shuttle operating in Esch-Belval is a notable example. Running on public streets, it places Luxembourg among Europe’s frontrunners in deploying autonomous mobility in real life environments rather than closed campuses. Another concrete initiative is BISTWIN, a digital twin of the town city of Bissen developed by the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST). This virtual model focuses on mobility planning and uses historical traffic data to simulate congestion, evaluate the need for new traffic lights and assess how new business sites might affect flow. The tool also allows researchers to uncover hidden causes of congestion. As Mr Arye explained, “sometimes massive traffic jams can be caused by a small traffic light in a nearby city that is not working in an optimal way”. Digital twins make it possible to identify, analyse and address such phenomena, supporting far more informed urban planning. Over time, BISTWIN will integrate additional data, from weather patterns to pedestrian flows, further enhancing its insight. The Automobility Incubator, situated within a larger automobility campus, plays an increasingly important role in shaping Luxembourg’s mobility landscape. According to Mr Arye, Europe needs a recognised hub for cutting edge mobility innovation. Luxembourg, small yet international, can play that role by moving quickly, adjusting to recent tech trends and attracting expertise from around the world. “Luxembourg has a golden opportunity. It is in the right place at the right time.” Erez Arye, Technoport This opportunity will be supported by partnership with EIT Urban Mobility, Europe’s largest innovation community for urban mobility. It even has an investment arm, something that will be of particular interest to young companies. Uniting the mobility ecosystem to accelerate urban innovation On 27 January 2026, the Luxembourg ecosystem officially welcomed this collaboration. The event organised by Technoport together with Luxinnovation and LIST marked the start of a three year partnership during which EIT Urban Mobility will support local innovation and create bridges between Luxembourgish companies and major European cities. As Mr Arye put it, “startups can talk to us and we will make sure to find the right collaboration partner all across the EU, together with EIT Urban Mobility”. For startups, the event offered: • direct access to EIT Urban Mobility’s European network • the chance to meet corporates, municipalities, researchers and potential customers in one place • matchmaking for pilots, proof of concepts and commercial partnerships • visibility towards an organisation with a dedicated investment arm • exposure to real needs from cities and industry, helping validate solutions faster Startups, investors and mobility leaders converged at the event to spark new collaborations and spotlight Luxembourg’s drive toward building cleaner, safer and more sustainable cities. https://luxinnovation.lu Erez Arye, Technoport Image: © Silicon Luxembourg
8 Industrial AI and data ecosystems: two sides of the same coin By Dr. Olaf Sauer, Fraunhofer Institute of Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation, Karlsruhe Simply supplying or operating highly productive and reliable machines, systems, or components will no longer be sufficient as a distinguishing feature and basis for business success in the future. In addition to traditional hardware-related skills, factory operators and their equipment suppliers must quickly learn and master comprehensive skills to make effective use of new methods and tools such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), digital twins, and data ecosystems/data spaces. This will not be successful on its own: only in cooperation with like-minded partners across the entire value creation network, where everyone plays to their strengths, can AI models create added value for all involved partners. Data ecosystems and data spaces form the basis for the beneficial use of industrial AI, especially for small and medium-sized manufacturing companies. They standardize data from different sources, offer easy access to the data ecosystem via standardized connectors, and thus enable reusable AI applications. In the following paragraphs, further key aspects and advantages are listed. Data ecosystems facilitate easy data accessibility and quality, even across company borders, e.g., by providing access to machines process, quality, and/or maintenance data from various sources. Standardized formats and metadata defined by the data ecosystems facilitate the targeted use of runtime data. Open standards, which are already beginning to become widespread in the manufacturing industry, then facilitate the combination of data from different systems, e.g., ERP, MES, SCADA, or PLM systems. Companies are often reluctant to exchange data across company borders because they fear to reveal valuable knowledge that has been built up over many years. Data ecosystems offer maximum protection for precisely this purpose through defined governance and data security: defined roles, access and usage controls, trusted data sources, and automatable data contracts (data access agreements) facilitate and support data exchange within the network. This enables ecosystem partners, such as suppliers, customers and service providers, to integrate data from entire value chains and exploit all potential benefits that they would never be able to leverage on their own. This results in significant advantages when using artificial intelligence and machine learning: • Existing, prepared data sets can be used for multiple AI applications, e.g., predictive maintenance, process optimization, quality assurance, etc. • The AI models have higher model quality and are trustworthy because consistent data improve model accuracy, leading to stability and comprehensibility of AI applications. • Sharing data in trusted data ecosystems avoids costly isolated solutions and enables the gradual and therefore risk-reduced deployment of AI, from pilot projects to serial production. Open standards lead to less data preparation per project and thus to faster prototypes and their iterative optimization. • Partnership-based value creation arises because companies in a value chain use data cooperatively, e.g., jointly trained models with suppliers, thereby strengthening their competitiveness together. Ultimately, every participant in the data ecosystem benefits. Read more https://t1p.de/p52o4 Data spaces and data ecosystems https://t1p.de/3gw44 AI engineering, process optimization https://t1p.de/ct7lh Image: © Fraunhofer PODCAST German Julia Dusold and Anja Ringel from Industry Insight in conversation with Olaf Sauer. https://t1p.de/l6pnt Industry Insights is a podcast by “Produktion”.
60 Years Engineering Excellence For almost 60 years, ARRK Engineering has stood for innovative strength and technical excellence. With in-depth expertise and reliable competence, we support our customers worldwide and develop forwardlooking and competitive products – reliably, sustainably and to the highest standards. ARRK Engineering GmbH info@arrk-engineering.com www.engineering.arrk.com Worldwide project coordination More than 1,600 experts worldwide Interdisciplinary teams in 8 countries Thanks to excellent project management, our teams of experts carry out complex development tasks – for maximum customer satisfaction and sustainable success.
10 Protection for exterior components made of light metals By Dr. Georg Wagner, NTC Nano Tech Coatings GmbH, Tholey (Saarland) Exterior components made of light metals such as aluminum or magnesium have become an integral part of modern vehicle designs. At the same time, they are exposed to high levels of corrosion and environmental influences in real-world use. Effective surface protection is therefore crucial for durability, appearance, and complaint prevention. Roof moldings, decorative profiles, and design applications are increasingly being made from light metals today. These materials enable sophisticated designs and high-quality surfaces. At the same time, they place high demands on corrosion protection, especially in visible exterior areas. During operation, moisture, road salt, temperature changes, and mechanical stress continuously affect the components. Edges, gaps, and joints are particularly critical. This is where media can collect and accelerate corrosion processes. In addition to classic corrosion, surface fading also plays a central role. Under the influence of UV radiation, weathering, and cleaning chemicals, untreated or inadequately protected components lose their color intensity and gloss. Especially in the case of roof moldings, this quickly leads to a visually inconsistent appearance. Our sustainable protection concept is based on a thin-film baked coating on a sol-gel basis with layer thicknesses between 3 and 15 micrometers. During the baking process, the coating bonds with the light metal and figuratively clings to the substrate. This strong bond significantly reduces the risk of infiltration and increases resistance to corrosive media. Resistance of over 3000 hours has been achieved in salt spray tests. At the same time, the surface remains color-stable and retains its defined gloss level over a long period of time. Development, laboratory and series production are concentrated at our site in Germany. This integrated environment enables us to tailor coatings to specific customer requirements and efficiently transfer new projects into stable series processes. Analysis, testing, and industrial implementation are directly interlinked. Our solutions represent high-tech Made in Germany and are based on many years of experience in the automotive sector. This enables us to ensure consistent quality, reproducible processes, and reliable implementation in series production. We would be happy to advise you personally on your project. www.ntcgmbh.com Schutz für Exterieuranbau- teile aus Leichmetallen Exterieuranbauteile aus Leichtmetallen wie Aluminium oder Magnesium sind aus modernen Fahrzeugkonzepten nicht mehr wegzudenken. Gleichzeitig sind sie im realen Einsatz hohen Korrosions- und Umwelteinflüssen ausgesetzt. Ein leistungsfähiger Oberflächenschutz entscheidet daher über Haltbarkeit, Optik und Reklamationssicherheit. Dachleisten, Zierprofile oder Designapplikationen werden heute zunehmend aus Leichtmetallen gefertigt … Weiterlesen: https://t1p.de/jgvov Dr. Georg Wagner Bilder: © NTC
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12 via a user interface. The robots then pick up empty trolleys at the line and transfer them to defined handover positions in the warehouse. Finally, they bring full trolleys back to the lineside areas. The system is designed for a cycle time that allows transport every 50 seconds, ensuring a consistent, demand-driven supply to the production lines. When no orders are available, the robots automatically use charging stations to ensure their availability via „opportunity charging“. One special feature is the communication between the mobile robots and cobots used in backrest assembly. When a cobot reports its material requirements to the transport robot fleet, a mobile robot brings a full material trolley from the warehouse to the production line. There, it positions the trolley at the cobot‘s workstation and the seat backs are transferred by gravity using Karakuri technology to a material depot from which the cobot helps itself. The empty trolley is immediately returned to the warehouse. Layout optimization instead of pure automation A key to the project‘s success was the consistent redesign of the layout and traffic management, not only automation. Transfer and parking positions were relocated, directions of travel were adjusted, and stations were rotated to reduce maneuvering times. Additional bypass routes defuse intersections and prevent deadlocks. Critical traffic areas were analyzed early on and incorporated directly into the system design, which was validated by static calculations and simulations. Robust technology for everyday production Mobile robots handle trolleys carrying seat components weighing up to 500 Continuous Material Flow instead of Manual Transport: Adient has automated its plant in Torslanda, Sweden, with mobile robots By Alexander Strunz, Manager PR & Communications, SAFELOG Adient, one of the world‘s leading manufacturers of automotive seats with approximately 65,000 employees at around 200 production sites in 29 countries, has successfully automated intralogistics at its plant in Torslanda, Sweden. With this automation, Adient has permanently eliminated a major bottleneck in seat production. Together with SAFELOG, a mobile robot system was implemented that fully automates material transport between the warehouse and the production line and now ensures a stable, continuous flow of materials. Manual logistics as a limiting factor Before the project began, material carts and trolleys were moved using forklifts and industrial trucks. This approach was labor-intensive, costly, and highly susceptible to fluctuations. During peak loads, there were regular waiting times, interruptions, and a lack of synchronization between the warehouse and the production line. Under these conditions, ensuring a continuous flow of materials was impossible, which proved to be an increasingly critical factor given the growing variety of variants and cycle time requirements. Mobile robot fleet as the backbone of line supply Today‘s solution is based on mobile robots that completely take over the transport of trolleys. Transport orders are triggered Mobile Robots moving trolleys at Adient, Torslanda, Sweden. Images: © SAFELOG
13 kilograms. Automatic locks, defined positioning aids, and personal safety sensor systems ensure the robots can operate safely, even in confined production areas. Floor markings and warning signs further enhance the safety measures at the seat manufacturer‘s plant. With automation, Adient has taken a decisive step towards stable and transparent material flow. The previous manual supply system was functional but not sustainable. Today, the system works consistently, can be flexibly adapted to changing production requirements, and can be scaled up at any time. The use of mobile robots has optimized processes to such an extent that operations can be adapted smoothly and flexibly to varying production volumes. Scalable design in two expansion stages A total of 32 mobile robots are in use at the Torslanda plant. Twenty-four vehicles were implemented in the first expansion stage, and eight more robots were added in the second. The system is designed for three 7.5-hour shifts per day and takes into account defined handover times and loading windows. Thanks to its modular design, additional transport tasks or volume increases can be integrated without structural intervention. The Torslanda project demonstrates how mobile robotics can be incorporated into the strategic elements of modern automotive intralogistics. www.safelog.de www.safelog.de/branchen- automotive www.adient.com Opportunity charging: If there are no transport orders, the mobile robots charge their batteries. Verlag und Herausgeber: VEK Verlag Inhaberin: Elisabeth Klock Wilhelm-Schrohe-Str. 2, 55128 Mainz Telefon +49 157 50153533 info@klock-medienpartner.de www.klock-medienpartner.de Redaktion: Elisabeth Klock (v.i.S.d.P.), Chefredaktion Dr. Rudolf Müller †, Redaktionsleitung Birgit Aigner, freie Journalistin Lektorat: Dr. Rudolf Müller †, Clive Davis Anzeigenleitung und -verkauf: Elisabeth Klock Telefon +49 157 50153533 Titelseite: Christopher Koster Fotosatz und Onlineausgabe: Grafik-/Webdesign Bauer www.grafik-bauer.de Weitere Mitarbeiter dieser Ausgabe: Günther Gaimer Titelbild: Zur Gestaltung des Titelbildes benutzten wir Illustrationen und Fotos von: • Dmitry Kalinovsky/shutterstock.com • Summit Art Creations/shutterstock.com • Gorodenkoff/shutterstock.com • 3Dsss/shutterstock.com • Sylverarts Vectors/shutterstock.com • ConnectVector/shutterstock.com Ausgabe 1/2026 Copyright: Verlag Elisabeth Klock Das Werk wurde mit größtmöglicher Sorgfalt und nach bestem Wissen erstellt und erhebt keinen Anspruch auf Vollständigkeit. Für die Richtigkeit der Veröffentlichung kann trotz sorgfältiger Prüfung weder vom Verlag noch von der Redaktion eine Haftung übernommen werden. Namentlich gekennzeichnete Beiträge geben die Meinung des Autors bzw. des Unternehmens wieder. Der Verlag und die Redaktion machen sich diese Fremdbeiträge nicht zu Eigen. Die Unternehmen sind für das zur Verfügung gestellte und veröffentlichte Bild- und Grafikmaterial im Werk verantwortlich, insbesondere ob das Material frei von Rechten Dritter ist. Der Verlag hat die ausschließ- lichen Nutzungsrechte zur Verwertung der angenommenen und veröffentlichten Beiträge und Artikel. Nachdrucke, auch auszugsweise, sind nur mit vorheriger Zustimmung des Verlages möglich. Alle Texte, Bilder und Grafiken sowie deren Anordnung unterliegen dem Urheber- und Leistungsschutzrechts. Für direkte oder indirekte Verweise auf fremde Internetseiten („Links“), die außerhalb des Verantwortungsbereiches des Verlags liegen, übernimmt der Verlag keine Haftung. Für die Inhalte und Richtigkeit der bereitgestellten Informationen auf den fremden Internetseiten ist der jeweilige Anbieter verantwortlich. Der Verlag macht sich den Inhalt dieser fremden Internetseiten nicht zu Eigen. Impressum
14 How are new colors being developed? Every color begins with a clear briefing – sometimes from an automaker, sometimes from our own trend research. The design teams of the OEMs define the purpose of the color, whether for a specific model, a global platform, or a niche edition. Early prototypes are created in styling labs and increasingly through digital visualization tools such as our virtual vehicle models AUVOTs. From there, the color is refined layer by layer: pigments, effect materials, and layering determine depth, brilliance, and character. At the same time, in close collaboration with the color lab, we ensure that the tone can be produced consistently worldwide, meets process stability requirements and supports repairability and environmental standards. This interplay between design ambition and technological feasibility is central to BASF Coatings’ role as mediator between creative intent and industrial reality. Please let us know how new colors may look like in the future? Looking ahead, our global design team identifies several emerging directions. Following the ascent of green, warmer neutrals – especially contemporary brown shades – are gaining relevance. These tones are lighter, more vivid, and more emotional than the browns of past decades. Gray will also continue its rise, evolving with new effects and nuanced depth. Overall, the future palette will be more individual, more nature-inspired, and more diverse, driven by cultural shifts, sustainability, and new mobility concepts. At the same time, digital tools and advanced pigments will enable even more refined and technologically sophisticated shades. BASF Coatings www.basf-coatings.com BASF Color Report 2025 for Automotive OEM Coatings Future mobility in color: How new shades define automotive design Interview with Mark Gutjahr, global head of Automotive Color Design at BASF Coatings As global preferences shift and mobility transforms, automotive color becomes an even more strategic design tool. In an interview, Mark Gutjahr, global head of Automotive Color Design at BASF Coatings, explains how trends emerge, which color is currently rising and how new shades are created years before they hit the road. What is the importance of automotive color that makes you develop new shades every year? Mark Gutjahr: Color is far more than a decorative detail – for many OEMs it is a strategic design element. It shapes brand identity, emotional appeal and product differentiation. Consumers often make subconscious decisions based on the first visual impression and color plays a decisive role in this moment. As mobility transforms and design becomes a stronger differentiator, manufacturers rely increasingly on expressive colors to communicate innovation and character. We have recently announced an expanded collaboration with Xiaomi, supporting the automaker’s plan to co-develop 100 car paint colors over the next three years. For our annual Automotive Color Trends® collection, our design team analyzes longterm cultural and technological trends and translates them into futureproof color concepts. These shades must meet strict aesthetic, technical, and production demands, often years before they reach the road. Let’s stay in the presence: How does the global color distribution look like and do you see any cultural differences? The BASF Color Report for Automotive OEM Coatings analyzes the color preferences on both global and regional levels. Our latest Color Report shows a clear shift in global preferences. Green has become one of the most important chromatic colors in automotive industry, with relevance in all markets globally. It ranks among the top three in the chroma color scheme worldwide, while blue and especially red continue to decline. In the achromatic spectrum, gray gains further ground with a more diverse appearance, while white slightly decreases, and black remains stable, though often enhanced with metallic or pearl effects rather than pure solids. Regionally, differences are pronounced: Europe gravitates toward sophisticated grays and blues and increasingly embraces greens; Asia Pacific continues to favor whites and tech-inspired metallics; North America shows growing openness to chromatic tones, including blues, reds, and greens. These variations reflect cultural values, climate, market structure, and vehicle size. Images: © BASF Coatings Global overview of the automotive color distribution in 2025.
High-Tech Coatings for Demanding Industries Our coating systems provide functional surface solutions for applications wherever lightweight metals are used. Their stability and durability prove reliable in technically demanding environments. Especially in the automotive sector, coatings must meet high visual requirements in addition to corrosion protection and wear resistance. Our smart coatings are based on advanced sol-gel technology. A key feature is the chemical bonding of the coating to the metallic substrate. During the curing process, a strong bond is formed that increases resistance to mechanical and chemical influences and sustainably enhances component service life. Our systems can be applied to nearly all metallic materials and can be individually tailored in their properties. Development, laboratory and production are combined at our site in Germany. High-Tech Made in Germany stands for reproducible quality and application specific solutions. We look forward to advising you personally on your project. NTC Nano Tech Coatings GmbH · Marpinger Weg 2 · 66636 Tholey/Germany · Phone +49 6853 96111-00 info@ntcgmbh.com · ntcgmbh.com Image: © Saupe, AI-assisted image generation with DALL·E
16 The challenge: the market is complex. Both vehicles and mobile devices constantly introduce new models that can disrupt existing systems. This makes interoperability between vehicles, software, and mobile devices a crucial factor – and, simultaneously, the greatest technical challenge of the Digital Key. CCC Plugfest: Reality Check for the Digital Key Major OEMs, mobile device manufacturers, hardware producers, and software providers have recognized this and formed a globally unique industry consortium: the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC). They have agreed on a unified standard for the digital vehicle key – the CCC Digital Key. This ensures a high degree of interoperability: interfaces are standardized to such an extent that complexity is significantly reduced. No other tech ecosystem collaborates so closely to advance an entire industry. The CCC standard is tested and further developed at so-called Plugfests, which are regularly hosted by consortium members. Here, OEMs’ Digital Key implementations are put through rigorous testing; new features and evolving standards are trialed and refined. This makes CCC Plugfests the largest testing laboratories in the automotive industry. The Backend as the Invisible Backbone of the Digital Key The central challenge lies in connecting two complex and self-contained ecosystems – automotive and mobile communications. For the Digital Key’s benefits to be fully unlocked, seamless integration is essential. The backend plays a crucial role in establishing the CCC standard. As the invisible backbone of the Digital Reality Check for the Digital Vehicle Key How Plugfests and Backend System Safeguard the CCC Digital Key Standard By Manuel Teufel, trained software product manager and product manager responsible for doubleSlash Digital Key Unlocking and locking your car via smartphone or smartwatch, sharing keys with friends through your phone, setting maximum speed limits for new drivers – the digital vehicle key primarily means convenience for drivers. What they do not see: the significance of the Digital Key for the automotive industry and the future of mobility. The Key to the Future of Mobility Behind the Digital Key lies enormous potential – and a billion-dollar business opportunity. Car rental companies and car-sharing providers benefit from more efficient processes; for vehicle manufacturers, the Digital Key facilitates the development of new fleets, classes, and models while enabling new business models. The digital vehicle key is also relevant for autonomous driving, as it grants access to external personnel such as cleaning crews or maintenance staff, even when no one is behind the wheel. More and more OEMs are introducing the Digital Key as standard equipment. Whoever controls “the key” also controls user data and customer relationships. However, with the increasing adoption of digital vehicle access, pressure is mounting: the potential consequences of any malfunctions are enormous. The Digital Key is used across different vehicle types – from passenger cars and commercial vehicles to specialized machines. Images: © doubleSlash Net-Business GmbH
17 Key, it controls communication, ensures security, manages access rights, and tracks key movements. Without a backend, there is no interface; without an interface, there is no interaction between vehicle and device. The CCC has also recognized the importance of the backend – as evidenced by the November 2025 CCC Plugfest. This time, the event didn’t take place in Detroit or Silicon Valley, but in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance. The host is mid-sized software company doubleSlash , the first backend provider ever to host a CCC Plugfest. The Software Behind Tomorrow’s Vehicle Key doubleSlash is no unknown player in the ecosystem. For more than 25 years, the company has worked with OEM backends and processes and has already implemented the Digital Key for several automotive brands. The proprietary software solution doubleSlash Digital Key enables vehicle manufacturers to comply with the CCC standard without being locked into a specific hardware architecture. The software is based on an interface-only architecture and is hardware- and infrastructure-agnostic. This enables seamless and efficient integration into existing OEM infrastructures, architectures, and processes. For manufacturers, this means: less complexity, reduced time-tomarket - and thus competitive advantages when it comes to new models or mobility functions in their fleets. “A market-ready Digital Key requires more than a single technical component,” explains Manuel Teufel, Product Manager Digital Key at doubleSlash. “What really matters is the interaction between the vehicle, software, and the smartphone ecosystem – particularly with regard to security, integration, and user processes. The CCC standard provides the central framework for this.” Technically, the solution offers advantages through operation as SaaS or PaaS models: scalability, automated updates, and clearly defined support and maintenance processes are guaranteed from the start. Additionally, the software is hardware-independent and compatible with all CCC-compliant components, ensuring interoperability between vehicles, mobile devices, and backend systems. New business models can not only be developed but also sustainably scaled. The solution remains consistently compliant with common standards and security requirements. Since 2026, the doubleSlash Digital Key solution has been CCC-certified in the categories “Vehicle OEM” and “Vehicle OEM Server.” This certification, along with doubleSlash’s active contribution to the ongoing development of the standard, underscores the company’s commitment to developing future-proof, interoperable, and proven Digital Key solutions for tomorrow’s mobility. For OEMs, this provides additional planning security: the Digital Key can be deployed in a standards-compliant, scalable, and long-term manner across entire vehicle fleets – including new vehicle classes, models, or software releases. A Complex Ecosystem United by the CCC Standard When the global automotive elite met with tech giants at Lake Constance from November 10th to 14th, the focus was on interoperability, new features, and future hardware standards like Ultra-Wideband (UWB), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and Near Field Communication (NFC). While OEMs tested their setups on indoor and outdoor surfaces, device manufacturers rotated between vehicle cabins, testing Digital Key solutions in direct collaboration with smartphone manufacturers. The event placed the highest demands on security and confidentiality: even though all participants agree on the CCC standard, they remain competitors in the race for revenue, data, and customer relationships. As digital vehicle access becomes more widespread, interoperability is turning into a business-critical factor. Plugfests provide the necessary reality check to ensure that standards are not only defined, but remain functional over time. It is becoming increasingly clear that the success of the Digital Key is determined not solely in the vehicle or on the mobile device, but in the backend as the connecting layer between both worlds. Those who adopt standardized, tested, and certified solutions at an early stage lay the foundation for secure and scalable mobility concepts – today and in the future. www.doubleslash.de Modular Digital Key architecture: the backend connects vehicle, hardware and mobile devices, enabling standards-compliant interoperability across the entire value chain. doubleSlash Since 1999, doubleSlash has been developing software solutions under the guiding principle „We create digital value“ for medium-sized and internationally operating companies. With around 250 employees at three locations in Friedrichshafen, Munich, and Stuttgart, the company achieved annual revenue of €29 million in 2025. The focus lies in the business areas Connect, Make Smart, and Monetize: connecting devices and digital ecosystems, driving progress with data and AI innovations, automating and making better decisions, as well as enabling successful digital business models with monetizable products and services. As a software partner, doubleSlash thinks holistically from the data foundation to the business model in cross-cutting ecosystems – and develops intelligent, secure, and sustainable solutions.
18 Ausbau der Ladeinfrastruktur – Chancen für Unternehmen aus Rheinland-Pfalz? Veranstaltung der Fahrzeug-Initiative Rheinland-Pfalz unter der Leitung des Vorstandsvorsitzenden Marco Unverzagt „Wir wollen vor dem Hintergrund der prekären Situation in der Automobil- und Zulieferindustrie die Kommunikation unserer Mitgliedsunternehmen untereinander verbessern, neue Netzwerke schaffen und bestehende intensivieren, um dadurch voneinander zu lernen und ggf. neue Potenziale für zukunftsweisende Geschäfte zu entwickeln“, hatte Marco Unverzagt im Dezember 2025 zur Strategie und Perspektive der Fahrzeug-Initiative Rheinland-Pfalz ausgeführt. Und mit der Veranstaltung zur Ladeinfrastruktur hatte man den Nagel auf den Kopf getroffen. Schon der Ort war hervorragend gewählt: Die Weinbaudomäne Oppenheim, vom Deutschen Weininstitut (DWI) als Höhepunkt der Weinkultur ausgezeichnet, bot einen perfekten Rahmen, um sich mit diesem anspruchsvollen Thema auseinanderzusetzen. Marco Unverzagt gelang es, mit kenntnisreicher Moderation eine insgesamt positive Atmosphäre zu schaffen, die das interessierte Publikum immer wieder zu eigenen, aus ihrer Praxis stammenden Beiträgen anregte. Und um das Ergebnis vorwegzunehmen: Die Anzahl zugelassener E-Fahrzeuge ist nur ein unzureichender Faktor, um den Durchdringungsgrad der E-Mobilität zu messen. Die Transformation zur E-Mobilität ist vielmehr ein komplexer Systemwechsel, in dem der Ladeinfrastruktur – neben der Netzstruktur und -leistung – eine für das Wachstum entscheidende Aufgabe zukommt. Einen Blick aus der Vogelperspektive auf die bundesweite Ladeinfrastruktur verschaffte Conrad Hammer von der Nationalen Leitstelle Ladeinfrastruktur. Überraschend für die Zuhörer war die Tatsache, dass das Land Rheinland-Pfalz trotz numerischer Unterlegenheit bezogen auf die mittlere Ladepunktleistung unter den drei ersten Bundesländern rangiert. Auch die Bedeutung der Unterschiede zwischen städtischen Schwerpunkten und ländlichen Regionen war bisher von den Teilnehmern in ihrer Dimension für den Ausbau der E-Mobilität zunächst nicht in der dargestellten Ausprägung erkannt worden. Auch wenn im Oktober 2025 ca. zwei Millionen E-Fahrzeuge in Deutschland zugelassen waren, bedeute dies für den „Ladeinfrastruktur-Marathon“ lediglich Bilder: © Fahrzeug-Initiative Rheinland-Pfalz
19 eine Distanz von drei Kilometern – das heißt, wir haben erst etwas mehr als sieben Prozent geschafft. Dies sei kein Grund zum Klagen, sondern insbesondere auch eine Geschäftschance für kleine und mittlere Unternehmen. Dies kam speziell im zweiten Impulsvortrag von Florian Werner von der NOW GmbH zum Ausdruck, der seine Ausführungen technischen Aspekten der Ladeinfrastruktur, spezifischen Anwendungsfällen und potenziellen Geschäftsanwendungen vornehmlich für KMU widmete. Ein Beispiel aus der Praxis lieferten Valentina Nigg und Sophia Vögler von dem Start-up-Unternehmen amp:way – zwei junge, engagierte Ingenieurinnen, die eine Software entwickelten, die das Laden nach Zeitpunkt, Preis und Netzleistung optimiert – sogenanntes Smart Charging. Den Abschluss der Veranstaltung gestalteten Benjamin Palzer und Marlon Bisson von Merbag Mainz GmbH, indem sie den Teilnehmern einen Einblick in die Zukunft der E-Mobilität bei MercedesBenz gestatteten. Und sie lieferten gute Argumente gegen die sich in den Medien verbreitende Meinung, wonach deutsche Premiummodelle im E-Segment gegenüber chinesischen oder amerikanischen Fahrzeugen nicht wettbewerbsfähig seien. Die aktuellen Zulassungszahlen der letzten Monate würden dies eindeutig bestätigen. Der Fahrzeug-Initiative Rheinland-Pfalz gelang mit dieser Veranstaltung ein Event auf höchstem Niveau, das in vollem Umfang den im Vorjahr von Marco Unverzagt formulierten strategischen Zielen entspricht. Die Automobil- und Zulieferindustrie verfügt in Rheinland-Pfalz über 50 Betriebe und beschäftigt ca. 22.500 Arbeitnehmer. Gerade in Zeiten der Krise sind sie gut beraten, an solchen Formaten teilzunehmen und gemeinsam neue Geschäftsmodelle zu entwickeln. War die Einladung zu dieser hochprofessionellen Veranstaltung zum Ausbau der Ladeinfrastruktur und den Chancen für Unternehmen aus Rheinland-Pfalz noch mit einem Fragezeichen versehen, konnte man nach Abschluss der Veranstaltung das Fragezeichen getrost streichen und sich den Chancen für unsere heimische Automobil- und Zulieferindustrie widmen. Dr. Rudolf Müller, freier Journalist https://fi-rlp.de/ Digital. Vernetzt. Informativ. Als inhabergeführter Fachverlag und Full-Service- Agentur mit Sitz in Mainz am Rhein veröffentlichen wir seit nunmehr fast 30 Jahren Special-Interest-Magazine für die Automobil- und Zulieferindustrie, der Anlagen- und Maschinenbau sowie Schwerpunktthemen aus der Industrie, wie beispielasweise Informationstechnologie, Transformation und Künstliche Intelligenz. Unser Leistungsspektrum: y Entwicklung, Konzeption und grafische Umsetzung von digitalen Special-Interest-, Kunden- und Mitarbeiter- magazinen mit vernetzten Inhalten und Interaktionen, wie beispielweise PodCast und/oder Links zu Videos y Erstellung und mediengerechte Aufbereitung von technischen Fachartikeln (Ghostwriting) und Pressemitteilungen y Erstellung eines Presseverteilers, Organisation von Pressekonferenzen und -kampagnen sowie kleineren Veranstaltungen y Mediaplanung/Anzeigenveröffentlichungen Auszug unserer Produkte/Publikationen aus dem Fachverlag Produkte – Märkte – Umwelt – Energie – IT – Industrie 4.0 – E-Mobilität OEM& LIEFERANT Netzwerk Automotive - Innovationen. Konzepte. Lösungen. Ausgabe 02/2024 Broschüren_cover_20240906_gray_oem_DE.indd 1 09.09.2024 13:57:51 Products – Markets – Environment – Energy – IT – E-Mobility – Drive Technology – Future Energy autoregion international Greater Region Mobility Innovation. Issue 02/2024 Saarland OEM& LIEFERANT Schlüsseltechnologie Nachhaltige und Smarte Produktion. Ausgabe 01/2025 Broschüren_cover_20250324_oem_saarland_DE.indd 1 23.03.2025 13:17:42 Unternehmen & trends Digitalausgabe 02/2024 Industrie 4.0 – Digitalisierung – Automatisierung – IT Solutions Digital. Vernetzt. Informativ. https://t1p.de/1lzk4 https://t1p.de/tv8ob https://t1p.de/xwoah https://t1p.de/5x5as
20 Wenn das Telefon nicht mehr klingelt, sondern löst Medina Hodžić, Referentin für digitale Kommunikation, SUSI&James GmbH, Mannheim Mehrere hundert Anrufe pro Tag, saisonale Spitzen, ungeduldige Kundinnen und Kunden – für viele Autohäuser ist das während der Reifenwechselsaison Realität. Jeder Anruf ist wichtig, jeder Kontakt entscheidet über Servicequalität und Kundenbindung. Gleichzeitig stoßen Teams in Stoßzeiten zwangsläufig an ihre Grenzen. Genau hier setzen die digitalen Mitarbeitenden von SUSI&James an. Mit dem SmartOffice hat das Mannheimer Unternehmen eine KI-basierte Telefonielösung entwickelt, in der sogenannte AI Agents eingehende Anrufe eigenständig bearbeiten. Anders als klassische Telefonmenüs oder reine Weiterleitungssysteme klären diese digitalen Mitarbeitenden Anliegen vollständig selbst. Sie nehmen Anrufe entgegen, erkennen das Anliegen, erfassen relevante Informationen und führen Prozesse bis zum Abschluss durch – etwa die Vereinbarung eines Werkstatttermins inklusive direkter Kalendereintragung. „Erreichbarkeit ist schon lange kein Nice-to-have mehr, sondern ein Wettbewerbsfaktor“, sagt Marcel Martini, CEO von SUSI&James. „Wenn ein Kunde niemanden erreicht, ruft er beim nächsten Anbieter an. Unser Ziel ist es, dass kein Anruf verloren geht.“ Im Autohaus bedeutet das konkret: Während der Hochphase zum Reifenwechsel übernimmt das SmartOffice hunderte Terminvereinbarungen täglich. Der digitale Mitarbeitende fragt systematisch alle erforderlichen Informationen ab, gleicht freie Zeitfenster ab, bucht den Termin im System und bestätigt ihn unmittelbar. Warteschleifen entfallen, Rückrufe werden überflüssig, Mitarbeitende werden spürbar entlastet. Technologisch basiert das SmartOffice auf einem bewährten Ansatz: Gesprochene Sprache wird zunächst in Text umgewandelt (Speech-to-Text), anschließend verarbeitet das System diesen Inhalt kontextsensitiv und gibt die Antwort wieder als Sprache aus (Text-to-Speech). So entstehen strukturierte, belastbare Dialoge, die sich flexibel in bestehende Prozesse integrieren lassen. Aktuell geht SUSI&James jedoch einen technologischen Schritt weiter. Eine neue Systemgeneration arbeitet direkt von Sprache zu Sprache – also Speech-toSpeech – ohne den Zwischenschritt über Text als primäre Verarbeitungsebene. Dadurch reduziert sich die Latenz spürbar, und der Gesprächsfluss wird noch natürlicher. Wenn ein Anrufer beispielsweise bereits im ersten Satz seinen Namen nennt, einen Termin zum Wechsel seiner Winterreifen benötigt und außerdem wissen möchte, wie die Öffnungszeiten am Dienstag sind, erkennt das System alle enthaltenen Informationen unmittelbar. Name, Hauptanliegen und Zusatzfrage werden gleichzeitig erfasst und im weiteren Verlauf berücksichtigt. Das Gespräch kann zwischen Themen wechseln, Zwischenfragen beantworten und anschließend zielgerichtet zum ursprünglichen Anliegen zurückführen. „Wir haben uns gefragt, warum ein digitales System eigentlich starrer sein sollte als ein Mensch“, erklärt Julian Gerhard, CTO von SUSI&James und maßgeblich verantwortlich für die technologische Weiterentwicklung. „Gespräche verlaufen nicht in starren Mustern. Sie sind dynamisch, kontextbezogen und manchmal sprunghaft. Genau diese Natürlichkeit bilden wir technologisch ab.“ Gleichzeitig bleibt die Struktur im Hintergrund klar definiert: Das System weiß, welche Anliegen es bearbeiten darf und welche Informationen dafür erforderlich sind – etwa welche Daten zwingend benötigt werden, um einen Termin verbindlich einzubuchen. Weiterlesen https://t1p.de/2v6x7 Marcel Martini, CEO von Susi & James GmbH Julian Gerhard, CTO von Susi & James GmbH Bilder: © SUSI&James GmbH
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