Watch: Are all OEMs start-up manufacturers now?

Updated September 8 with on-demand video

Launching new vehicle production is among the most complex, capital intensive and risky ventures for any company. And yet, the automotive industry is full of new and emerging players who are bringing new electric vehicles, software-defined cars and even revitalised classics into serial production. But the path to success is not a straightforward one and getting manufacturing right is one of the most significant curves in the road that most companies will face.

But there are certainly automotive startups who are succeeding, and paving the way for innovation in production, manufacturing engineering and agile processes.

At the same time, the pivot to electrification and the fast-paced change of technology is turning almost all carmakers and suppliers into start-ups. From the development of new platforms, and revamping factories to managing completely new processes for battery and powertrain, traditional OEMs are also having to start fresh and turn to new ideas, invest in new systems and forge new supplier partnerships.

This AMS Automotive Evolution Livestream explores the challenges, innovations and opportunities for start-up vehicle manufacturers, as well as the start-up approaches for more established carmakers and suppliers. It features Kjell Walöen, the co-founder and chief manufacturing and logistics officer from EV startup Volta Trucks, along with automotive steel solutions director Jesse Paegle from steel producer ArcelorMittal. (Download speaker slides here)

The panel will discuss the key considerations for OEMs and suppliers to competitively produce brand new vehicles at a relatively low scale, especially EVs. For example, how do they make strategic decisions on where to invest capital, whether to develop greenfield or brownfield plants or to produce through contract manufacturers? Is electrification opening the door to a level playing field? What vehicle platforms, body structures and materials are most effective, and how should OEMs partner with suppliers and providers in areas like engineering, automation, digital systems and factory layout?

The challenges and opportunities in start-up vehicle production provide vital lessons to established players, and indeed vice versa. This livestream looks at how OEMs and suppliers will consider how automotive manufacturing is reinventing itself, from steel and material decisions, platforms, processes, locations and partnerships.

The livestream features topics such as:

• Greenfield vs brownfield plant considerations
• Make or buy? Contract manufacturing vs in-house
• Materials and platform decisions (skateboard vs unibody, shared or independent)
• Automation and systems considerations
• What start-ups learn from established OEMs
• How established OEMs are becoming more like start-ups

Speakers

Kjell Walöen
Co-Founder and Chief Manufacturing and Logistics Officer
Volta Trucks

Jesse Paegle
Automotive Steel Solution Director
ArcelorMittal

Host

Christopher Ludwig
Editor-in-Chief
Automotive Manufacturing Solutions, Ultima Media

Christopher Ludwig is responsible for content and editorial strategy across Ultima Media’s global automotive media platforms, including Automotive Manufacturing Solutions, Automotive Logistics, Car Design News and its business intelligence unit, Automotive from Ultima Media. He’s covered the automotive industry, manufacturing and supply chain for 15 years and has nearly 20 years’ experience in the media and publishing business. He has an MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Sponsor

Smarter steels for people and planet: Ensuring steel continues to be the world’s most used and versatile material is what drives us every day. With approximately 168,000 employees, we are more than just a company, we are a community. We are driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for excellence, never accepting that the limits of our material have been reached. We will continue to push boundaries, whether developing technologies to reduce the carbon footprint of steel, transforming the built environment with our new construction solutions, 3D printing automotive parts using steel powders or, through the adoption of artificial intelligence and advanced automation across our operations. This is what it takes to be the steel company of the future. Since ArcelorMittal company was founded, we have aimed to align all our activity against three values: sustainability, quality and leadership. Each of these values stands on a foundation of health and safety.

https://corporate.arcelormittal.com/

Download speaker slides here