SUPPLIER EYE

The future on stage at Frankfurt

The bi-annual IAA Frankfurt is far more than just a motor show. It's a true industry show in which OEMs and suppliers share the big stage. Serious business discussions go on behind the bright lights-with a lot of walking and client meetings for yours truly. Those discussions at the 2017 event underscored significant developments within the supply base.

Total system integration, a trend we witnessed decades ago, is again gaining steam. The OEMs are shifting greater design and integration responsibility to suppliers, due to changes related to emissions legislation (read electrification) and vehicle autonomy. There is a growing interdependence of these technologies, but no single defined technology path or implementation timetable to integrate them, yet.