A featured contribution from Leadership Perspectives: a curated forum reserved for leaders nominated by our subscribers and vetted by the Construction Tech Review Advisory Board.
Aiways
Reshaping the Future of Mobility with Automotive Technology
Zeeshan Shaik is the Engineering Manager and heading the European Tech Center at Aiways, a Shanghai-based E-mobility provider with its European HQ in Munich. He's an experienced Automotive Engineer with a dual Masters degree in Automotive Engineering for Sustainable Mobility from ISAT Nevers and Polytech Orleans in France, and a bachelor's degree in Automotive Engineering from India.
What are some of the major trends that can play a key role in enhancing the standards of automotive technology?
With advancements in EV technology, we can expect more efficient batteries, quicker charging times, greater driving ranges, and smart solutions like V2X, all of which will contribute to elevating the standards of automotive industry. Moreover, employing renewable energy sources to power EVs can substantially diminish the carbon footprint of the automotive industry. Looking ahead, hydrogen fuel cells present a promising prospect as they offer the potential for long-distance driving and rapid refuelling times, keeping in mind there are some obstacles to the widespread adoption of fuel cell vehicles, with infrastructure being a notable challenge.
With autonomous vehicles becoming more mainstream, what is your opinion on the impact of technology upgrades on the travel management industry?
The travel management industry is poised to benefit greatly from autonomous vehicles. These vehicles promise to deliver more dependable and foreseeable travel times, enabling companies to better manage their resources and plan their travel itineraries. Additionally, the utilization of connected vehicles and advanced data analytics can offer real-time traffic insights, leading to more efficient route planning for all business clients. Although there have been notable advancements in autonomous driving technology, reaching level five autonomy will require significant progress in various technical areas and may take several years.
What are some of the prevalent challenges in the automotive space?
The automotive industry faces several challenges, which include environmental concerns, rapid technological advancements, disruptions in supply chains due to the COVID-19 pandemic, changing consumer preferences, continuing safety concerns such as distracted driving and cybersecurity threats, and privacy for the data transmitted by connected vehicles, even with the progress made towards improving vehicle safety. We, in Aiways, for example, do a lot of field research in all those topics and are able to react quickly on changes and customer needs.
Before your stint at Aiways, what are some of your experiences that empowered you to gain deep expertise in E-mobility and other technical aspects in the automotive technology space?
Having worked at BMW Group, Stellantis and Valeo in the past, I had the opportunity to work with world-class experts in the automotive industry and gain hands-on experience, especially in the field of e-mobility. This has helped me develop a deeper understanding of the technical aspects and real-world applications in the industry. Furthermore, my higher education in France focused on sustainable and future mobility, combined with my enthusiasm for conducting research on technical papers and news articles, has enabled me to keep the pace with the latest developments and industry-best practices. I’m happy that I have enough responsibility to change and work on projects here in Aiways.
What is your advice for other senior leaders and CXOs working in the automotive technology sector?
First of all, I’m not one to give advice to skilled colleagues, but I think that innovation, agility, and adaptation to changing trends are essential to succeed in the automotive technology sector. Focusing on customer experience is key. Embrace sustainability, which is the need of the hour and keep working towards the welfare of society. With more and more connected cars in the market, the industry is rapidly becoming more digital, so it's essential to embrace digital transformation to stay competitive. This includes adopting new technologies, such as AI and machine learning. Lastly, foster a culture of collaboration and invest in talent and new ideas to stay competitive.
