“Cost efficiency is a key priority in our development strategy”

Kupka, who has been with GG Group for over six years, is currently Head of Cable Development. After roles in Vienna and a recent expatriate assignment in Mexico, he now oversees the company’s global wire development activities. 

We are in the midst of a dynamic and disruptive decade for the automotive industry. From your perspective, what are the biggest challenges the wire harness sector will face over the next five years?

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The wire harness sector is facing a convergence of challenges that are reshaping how we approach cable development. Electrification and the rise of software-defined vehicles are driving a fundamental shift in architecture. Harnesses must now support high-voltage systems, complex data networks, and zonal computing platforms, all while maintaining reliability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency. To address this, we’re strengthening our network across the industry to be involved in new architectures at an early stage and are investing in new technologies that allow us to simulate cable performance before physical prototypes are built. Material volatility is another major concern. The rising cost of copper and the push for sustainability are accelerating the transition towards alternative conductors like aluminum and the use of recycled polymers. At GG Group, we’re already used to working with aluminum and are actively exploring new materials in close cooperation with our partners to ensure that our solutions meet both environmental and performance benchmarks. Global production and localization also play a critical role. Our cable designs must be adaptable across regions – from Europe to Mexico and China – each with its own regulatory landscape, logistical constraints, and customer expectations. This requires a high degree of modularity and cross-site collaboration, which we’ve embedded into our development processes.

As Head of Cable Development at GG Group, you’re at the forefront of shaping next-generation cable technologies. What strategic focus areas are currently driving your development work – and how do you align your portfolio with the evolving requirements of OEMs and tier suppliers?

Automotive Wire Harness North America

20-21 October 2025 | The Henry Hotel, Dearborn, Michigan

Our development strategy is anchored around main principles: performance, cost, and sustainability. On the performance front, we’re advancing high-speed data cables such as our GG 2Speed and GG CoSpeed brands, which are engineered to support the bandwidth and signal integrity required by autonomous driving systems, infotainment platforms, and advanced driver assistance systems. There are cables optimized for low mode conversion, high-speed data transmission, long data links, or mechanically challenging applications – even in the most demanding environments. Cost efficiency is a key priority in our development strategy and directly influences how we shape our product portfolio. Whether we’re developing coaxial cables for camera systems or long-link Ethernet solutions for industrial vehicles, we ensure our offerings meet the needs of both premium and volume platforms. By optimizing material use, applying modular design principles, and streamlining production processes, we deliver cable systems that are not only technically robust but also economically viable – supporting a wide range of vehicle programs without compromising on quality or compliance. Sustainability is no longer a secondary consideration – it’s a central pillar of our innovation strategy. We’re integrating recycled materials, reducing cable mass, and exploring new polymers to align with OEM carbon reduction targets. Our goal is to deliver products that are not only technically robust but also environmentally responsible. We maintain close alignment with OEMs and tier suppliers through early RFQ involvement, joint concept development, and participation in standardization bodies. This ensures our solutions are not only technically sound but also commercially viable and future-proof.

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Benjamin Müller

Which technologies do you believe will have the biggest impact on the architecture of future vehicle platforms – and what are the main hurdles to widespread implementation?

Each of these technologies addresses specific challenges in modern vehicle design – whether it’s ensuring reliable high-speed data transmission for ADAS and infotainment systems, maintaining signal integrity under extreme thermal conditions, or enabling flexible integration into evolving electronic architectures. The broader challenge lies not in the availability of these technologies, but in ensuring their robustness and reliability across the entire vehicle lifecycle. This includes validating performance under real-world conditions, early matching with connector systems, focus on further processability, and meeting increasingly stringent international standards. Particularly in demanding applications such as high-speed data transmission, innovative cable designs and high-quality materials are essential to meet the growing expectations around safety, performance, and environmental compatibility. As a cable manufacturer, our strength lies in developing tailored solutions for these complex applications in close collaboration with our customers – solutions that go beyond basic functionality to deliver long-term value and performance across diverse vehicle platforms.