Mr.
Romano, how is business?
Business is
going well, and there is strong confidence across the organization. The launch
of Aumovio provides the speed and flexibility needed in a market undergoing
rapid transformation. The necessary innovative strength is in place, and
despite the current weakness in the automotive industry, business performance
has been adjusted and cashflow stabilised. Capital markets have also recognised
that growth at Aumovio exceeds that of vehicle production. With the €1.5
billion in cash provided by Continental at the outset, we have the best
foundation to succeed as Aumovio. Although we officially only launched on 18
September 2025 at the stock exchange, the company was already present at IAA
Mobility in Aumovio colours and branding. Everything fits – the direction, the
momentum, and the spirit.
Why do
you believe Aumovio is better positioned than Continental’s former electronics
division?
Aumovio is
now inherently more flexible. Continental’s Supervisory Board recognised that
the Tyres and ContiTech divisions operate in entirely different businesses with
different requirements. The market demands a different level of performance,
and such a conglomerate cannot meet all expectations equally well. The
electronics business, which Aumovio now represents, operates at a fundamentally
different speed. This also enables us to respond more effectively to the
transformation that has been shaping the market for several years. Customers
trust our expertise because we are not just a supplier, but a partner.
Together, we develop architecture and system solutions across all regions
worldwide.
At the AEK (Automobil-Elektronik Kongress) 2025, “China
Speed” was mentioned unusually often…
…and that
is where we also need to get to. Not everything has to move fast, but there are
many elements that do require speed - and China has mastered this exceptionally
well. A strong example of “China speed” is how quickly AI has been integrated
into vehicles there. Another is the pace at which autonomous driving is being
brought to market. This is the speed we need to embrace and carry forward,
though not everywhere, because speed does not mean being careless or taking
unnecessary risks.
At Aumovio,
our heritage stands for high quality—not only in safety systems—and we remain
fully committed to that standard. We are well aware of the challenge of
balancing speed and quality, and this is exactly where we focus on clear
structures and technological excellence.
This is
also an area where we want to learn a great deal from China. We will continue
to strengthen our development sites there in order to serve the Chinese market
even better locally. At the same time, what we learn in China must benefit our
global operations. When insights and experience
flow from Europe to China, that is already a form of knowledge transfer
- but what used to be a one-way street has now become truly bidirectional. It
is a process of give and take. This is where the real art lies, and I am
confident that with our innovative capabilities and our regional setup, we can
achieve the right balance.
Can you
give an example of where we Europeans can learn
from China?
A classic
example is artificial intelligence and its rollout. The discussion about how we
can introduce AI more quickly is also taking place at a European level. There
are numerous regulations that need to be reviewed collectively, and China may
simply be taking a more pragmatic approach in this area. China also has
processes in place for quality, cybersecurity, and functional safety management
- but these processes tend to be executed in a smarter and more efficient way.
This raises
the question of whether Europe is truly ready to tackle these challenges in a
similarly smart and fast manner. There are signs pointing towards “yes, we are
ready.” As Europeans, we bring a great deal of experience and structure through
our processes and requirements, built up over 70 years of automotive
development and embedded in our engineering practices. However, the sheer
number of these requirements has now reached a point where we realize we cannot
simply implement everything we have learned. This is precisely where a smarter
approach is needed.
Today,
customers communicate their expectations through specifications that we are
required to work through—but these specifications have grown to an enormous
scale. As a result, we now use AI to analyze requests that often contain around
50,000 individual requirements, allowing us to focus on the truly relevant
changes and move faster, especially when elements recur.
The industry is moving towards the SDV. What does that mean for Aumovio?
All systems
must be adapted – or redeveloped where necessary – to align with the
software-defined vehicle concept. The brake system is an excellent example:
from standard callipers with ESC technology to true brake-by-wire. As early as
2016, the MK C1 introduced a genuine brake-by-wire solution with only a
hydraulic fallback layer. Today, semi-dry brake systems are becoming more
common in volume models, connecting brakes to the pedal electrically rather
than hydraulically. Variants include fully hydraulic systems, semi-dry systems
with electromechanical rear brakes and hydraulic front brakes, and fully dry
systems with electromechanical callipers on both axles. All of these systems
already align well with SDV requirements. Looking ahead, brake, electric drive
and suspension have been integrated into a compact corner module with a pure
by-wire interface, demonstrating that significant technological progress is
still possible even in areas considered mature. The technology is
powertrain-independent – suitable for EVs, hybrids and combustion engines – and
because every vehicle needs a brake system, the solutions remain universally
relevant.
What is
happening in electronics for the SDV?
The SDV is
increasingly becoming reality. When an OEM launches a completely new platform,
the transition to SDV is naturally simpler. Yet in most cases, platforms still
contain elements of classic system architecture, resulting in vehicles that
combine traditional electronics with zonal controllers and high-power computing
systems. Aumovio is positioned to support all these architectures. This is a
major advantage, as the organisation masters both central computing concepts
and the traditional setup with more than 100 ECUs per vehicle.
What is
happening at Aumovio regarding software?
The core
architecture and essential building blocks for both software and electronics
are already established. The importance of software is fully recognised, and
resources have been aligned accordingly. Aumovio understands the vehicle and
can integrate software systems – ideally with matching hardware. With deep
interface knowledge and strong telematics solutions, the organisation provides
the necessary over-the-air capabilities, including OTA updates. Fully
centralised platforms will take years to become widespread, but participation
across the entire transition, is assured. The SDV provides the basis for
additional functionalities; once a vehicle can be controlled centrally,
subsystems and even autonomous driving functions can be integrated. Software-controlled
braking, propulsion and chassis systems are gradually entering production. The
SDV is the future of the automotive industry, and Aumovio is exceptionally well
positioned to deliver on it. With a focused portfolio and strong system
expertise, the company supports OEMs in critical functions such as operating
systems, integration performance, driver assistance and safety. Software
products from Aumovio are already deployed in billions of vehicles worldwide –
a strong foundation for the connected vehicle of the future.
What
developments do you see in infotainment and personalisation?
Vehicle personalisation is a major trend, with infotainment at its core. AI enables entirely new approaches
to touch-and-feel concepts: screens remain clean, change colour and present
different content. The key is a holistic design philosophy. A pillar-to-pillar
display across the entire vehicle width is impressive, but requires extensive
design and manufacturing expertise – an area in which Aumovio has long been
active in. Interior lighting will advance significantly, and external visual
communication will play an increasingly important role, particularly from Level
3 onwards. In China, people already use their vehicles as a second living room
during lunch breaks, enjoying films and the interior environment. This trend is
influencing global markets. The Ac2ated Sound concept, which uses vehicle
surfaces as resonators, is now entering production and offers a unique acoustic
experience.
The demand
for personalisation is driven by customer expectations for rapid updates and
frequent new features. This trend is irreversible. The human–vehicle interface
is changing dramatically. Images can now be projected onto side windows,
allowing the user experience to begin outside the car. Before a door is opened,
the vehicle can display relevant information such as the state of charge of an
EV. Personalised elements, such as sports club emblems, are entirely feasible.
By linking data on location, habits, preferences and sensor information,
meaningful personalised content can be presented. The era of three-year update
cycles is over; vehicles now receive frequent updates. The central principle
today is that a vehicle should improve after purchase, not depreciate. OTA makes this possible – and requires clear separation of hardware and software.
In the
SDV, hardware and software often come from different suppliers. How do you
ensure seamless interaction?
Customers
choose where to source sensors, electronics and software, and Aumovio supports
them in doing so. Suppling software is a major advantage in the hardware
business because understanding the systems allows for more effective electronic
design. Expertise spans both hardware and software – a major advantage over
pure software providers. There is deep understanding of ADAS requirements,
central computing needs, sensor integration and mechatronic components such as
the cockpit, centre stack and interior. Powertrain expertise from the Vitesco
heritage remains strong. Motion controller software components enable
centralised control of braking, propulsion and suspension for both combustion
vehicles and EVs.
How is
the cooperation with Aurora progressing on autonomous trucks?
Since May,
the first driverless trucks from Aurora have been operating on public roads in
Texas, demonstrating the maturity of the technology. Aumovio will supply the
complete sensor systems and the comprehensive fallback driving system,
including software, ensuring that the truck can always stop safely, even in
unusual situations. Series production with significant volumes is planned for
2027. Final fine-tuning, design verification and detailed production planning
are currently under way.
You
supply hardware as a service – what does that mean in concrete terms?
The aim is
to ensure that the technology in the driverless truck is always operational.
The necessary hardware is supplied, monitored and maintained; updates and
repairs are carried out as required. This model guarantees high uptime without
a driver. The more miles the truck drives autonomously, the more revenue is
generated. This “pay-per-mile” approach is highly relevant, future-focused and
enables value creation directly on the road.
You
spoke about transformation and speed. How do you intend to achieve this?
The required transformation speed relies heavily
on partnerships, particularly with start-ups. Customer requirements are well
understood, but full implementation of all technologies draws on external
expertise. Collaboration is essential across hardware, software and AI.
Innovation is not only a product but also a process. Active innovation scouting
is undertaken by our start-up organization co-pace. Depending on the situation,
this may lead to technical cooperation, investment or full acquisition. Innovation
in development processes and toolchains is also crucial, and significant
emphasis is placed here through strong partnerships.
