“Higher costs require more flexibility in procurement”

Otmar Rauchensteiner, Senior Vice President and Head of Technical Engineering Interior at Dräxlmaier, has been involved in the development of modern interior systems for more than three decades. At this year's Automotive Interior Lighting Conference, the mechanical engineering graduate is one of the keynote speakers, and ahead of the event, we asked him three questions.

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Ronja Schmiedchen

ADT: Mr Rauchensteiner, we are in the midst of a dynamic and disruptive decade for the automotive industry. In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges that the interior lighting sector will face in the next five years?

Rauchensteiner: In the coming five years, several key developments in automotive interior lighting will significantly intensify. On the one hand, connected lighting systems will increasingly become an integral part of HMI. On the other hand, the trend towards software-defined vehicles is entering the lighting architecture - future software updates will control not only functions and assistance systems but also interior lighting. In addition, AI-supported personalisation will play an increasingly important role: users will expect individually tailored lighting scenarios that automatically adapt to mood, time of day, or driving situation.

You have been with Dräxlmaier since 1992 and have shaped interior systems for leading OEMs. How has this long-term perspective influenced your approach?

For more than three decades, Dräxlmaier has shaped vehicle concepts for leading OEMs with interior systems - a long-term perspective that has significantly influenced the approach to innovation and technical leadership. Innovations today are increasingly targeted and focused on specific target vehicles of the future. Clear framework conditions apply: innovation budgets are strictly defined, milestones are set, and teams are responsible for reaching the future market promptly and with tangible added value.

Global trade conflicts and protectionist measures, such as the current US tariffs, are putting pressure on supply chains and innovation cycles. How do these external factors affect your field of work?

Global trade conflicts and tariffs directly impact supply chains - particularly for electronic components and optical materials. The resulting higher costs must be met with more flexibility in procurement. Regionalisation, dual sourcing strategies, and close collaboration with suppliers are becoming increasingly important. This presents a great opportunity for the future by developing more resilient and adaptable systems.

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