Auto Industry Megatrends: How They Impact on Transmission and Drive Technology
3rd International CTI Symposium ‘Automotive Transmissions, HEV and EV Drives’ 17 – 19 September, Suzhou (China)
- Electrification is progressing
- More safety and driving comfort thanks to new transmission concepts
- Which transmission and drive technologies suit which user scenarios and markets?
Düsseldorf/Suzhou, July 2014 – China is the world’s largest auto market, and will grow another ten percent this year. That spells numerous opportunities for carmakers and suppliers, but also means they need to plan carefully how they use resources. One of the Chinese government’s strategic goals is to develop more environment-friendly mobility concepts and grow electric mobility in the country. At the beginning of July, the cabinet of Minister President Li Keqiang therefore exempted more environment-friendly cars from VAT. The tax break applies to electric cars with batteries and fuel cells, as well as to hybrid vehicles, and will stay in force until the end of 2017. Vehicle drives and transmissions influence energy consumption considerably, and are thus a key focus topic in car development.
“The 3rd CTI Symposium in China picks up on these developments“, explains Sylvia Zenzinger, Managing Director CTI Transmission Symposia Europe, USA and China. “How can new drive concepts and drive train topologies reduce fuel and energy consumption? What are the advantages of 48V systems? What cost savings and quality improvements can production and manufacturing technologies deliver?“ At the CTI Symposium, September 17–19 in Suzhou, experts from around the world will discuss these and other topics in over 45 panels.
“Why do I attend the CTI Symposium? Because it’s an ideal platform for state-of-the-art car technologies. I can discuss specific aspects of transmission and drive technology with experts, and you get the bigger picture too“, says Calvin Lee, Product Director New Energy Vehicles at FAW R&D Center. “It’s like a big community where you can add global experts to your career network, and get helpful expertise.“
Megatrends in the Auto Industry
Several megatrends influence the auto industry, including globalisation, individualisation, efficiency, automated driving, connectivity and safety. Of these, connectivity and efficiency have a particular impact on in-vehicle energy consumption; the others are important for the transmission concept, and the operating strategy of the entire drive chain.
“That makes drive technology development one of the most exciting – and challenging – fields in auto construction in the coming years,“ explains Prof. Dr. Ferit Küçükay, Director Technical University Braunschweig and chair of the annual Symposium for Transmissions and Drive Technology China. “All the more reason to discuss these topics with foresight in relation to the dynamic, fast-growing Chinese market – and to factor the findings into our ongoing development of manual and automatic transmissions such as MT, AMT, AT and CVT.“
Prof. Dr. Ferit Küçükay will be joined by expert speakers from around the globe. Keynote speakers include Dr. Calvin Lee (FAW R&D Center, China), Bernd Eckl (GETRAG Corporate Group, Germany), Dr. Rolf Gall (ZF China, Investment Co., Ltd.) and Seiji Honda (JATCO Ltd, Japan). There will also be six parallel sessions, with specialist lectures by 40 experts.
On the Introductory Day (September 17), newcomers can get acquainted with the basic theory and practical aspects of conventional and electric drives, and transmissions. Key topics include the task, build and function of transmissions; different basic transmission types, and their benefits and limitations. On September 18 and 19, the symposium will be complemented by Transmission Expo, a specialist trade fair with space for up to 50 transmission manufacturers and suppliers. Transmission Expo presents product and technology innovations to a specialist audience, making it the ideal platform for in-depth expert dialogue.
Exchange Experiences in a Relaxed Setting
For the first time, this year’s symposium will take place in Suzhou in the province of Jiangsu. As one of China’s richest provinces, Jiangsu is home to a particularly high number of Chinese and international companies from the auto industry, making it the ideal location. On the evening of September 18, the organisers invite all participants to a special Bavarian Night in a relaxed, cosy atmosphere that is ideal for chatting and networking.
CTI Symposium – Firmly Established in Europe and the USA
The CTI Symposium China is a sister event to the CTI Transmission Symposium Berlin, which attracts over 1,000 participants and around 100 exhibitors to the German capital every year from all over the world. This makes the German symposium “Automotive Transmissions, HEV and EV Drives“ one of the world’s foremost events for transmission and drive experts in the auto industry. CTI has also held transmission symposia in the USA for the past eight years. Building on this wealth of experience, and in response to increasing globalisation in the transmission industry, the organisers held the first CTI Symposium in China in 2012. The event is already a must-attend date for transmission and drive technology experts, and attracts more participants every year. The CTI Symposium places great emphasis on providing expert content in lectures that have real hands-on value for the audience.
Roman Irlinger
Senior Marketing Manager
Car Training Institute (CTI), a business unit of EUROFORUM Deutschland SE
Phone: +49 2 11 8874 36 84
Fax: +49 2 11 8874 46 84
roman.irlinger@car-training-institute.com