Technology, innovation and sustainability: a reinvented Automotive Industry

Following the publication of Gi Group Holding ’s new Global HR Insights report on the automotive sector, I wanted to reflect a bit on changes we are seeing in the industry. I recently had the opportunity to lead a workshop at the Women Automotive Network Summit in Germany and that discussion, primarily focused on getting more women involved in automotive sector roles, really opened my eyes to just how much of a transformation has taken place in vehicle design and manufacturing.

Cars and trucks are mobile computers

The biggest transformation relates to needed skills when it comes to hiring and onboarding the right talent for design and production roles. Of course, the basic nuts and bolts of machines are still there but the guidance systems, the dashboard or control panel as it’s now often called, is all computer-driven. It’s modern technology that guides the multiple systems that come together to steer vehicles and make them function. All the literal moving parts require teams of engineers who can make them work together to deliver a well-performing and safe machine that can be let loose on the roads. Due to the advanced amount of computing involved in vehicle design, you need a whole new set of workers to bring quality products to life. The traditional assembly line worker role has been taken over by robots who put the parts together, while the human element of the process now focuses on planning, machine monitoring and maintenance, process controls and so much more.

We need a new recruitment message

Because of all the transformative change mentioned above (and also based on my chats with industry peers at the Women Automotive Network Summit), it is clear to me that the industry needs to reframe its messaging when it comes to talent acquisition. Gi Group Holding’s research shows that candidates have a skewed view of what it means to work in the automotive sector. The first image that often comes to mind is a bunch of male factory workers doing lots of heavy-lifting and welding different parts together. However, today, the industry is just as much about tech development as anything else. Indeed, I already mentioned the computing and programming element, but you also need talent who can handle the analytics and prognostics parts of design and assembly. Just look at the EU, where there is a green revolution in engine design and production. The whole of Europe’s single market has committed to halting sales of vehicles with traditional combustion engines by 2035. This means that right now, talent is being hired that can manage electric vehicle design and development. Of course, this has been happening for some time at several companies. But now all major European producers are headed in this direction, and they need the tech and engineering talent to make EV and AV (autonomous vehicle) production a reality.

A shift to transferable skills

Interestingly enough, part of the current transition also involves more generalised skills that can be applied across multiple industries. The heavy focus on systems design and use of modern technologies means that candidates with the relevant training who wish to work in the industry no longer have to worry about sectoral limitations on career advancement. Important, modern auto production skills like cyber security, AI, machine learning, software development or even battery design can potentially be used in other parts of the economy as well. Programming and cyber security are equally as relevant to banking and fintech, while software development and process management can be applied to logistics. So, ultimately, we are seeing a reinvented automotive industry that offers both career opportunities and skills mobility. The main task for employers now is to share these positive messages about the benefits of industry transformation with the talent they potentially seek. This is no longer your parent’s automotive sector, it’s time to check out where tech education and soft skills or leadership skills training can take you further down the road in your future career.