“Tell me the facts - and I will understand, tell me the personal stories - and I will NEVER forget” - behind the scenes at Renault Trucks Switzerland

“Tell me the facts - and I will understand, tell me the personal stories - and I will NEVER forget” - the somewhat different stories of electrification at Renault Trucks Switzerland: personal, genuine, inspiring!

If you have clicked on this link to my article, then there is a good chance that you belong to my network. 97% of my network belongs to the tech world, mostly from the automotive industry. Many of them follow my technical news and facts and I follow - let's say - my curious nose, which is always on the lookout for the latest innovations, coolest technologies and inspiring collaborations.

Does that sound like you?

If so, then you know that I love learning and writing about the latest tech topics. Our Elite Experts Conferences Podcast is also a Technology Podcast. But, however, if you listen more closely to the podcast or read my posts more carefully, you'll realise that it's much more about the people, about the great personalities behind these technologies, behind these 'important' job titles, behind the agile start-ups and powerful global players.

Have you recognised the common thread in my communication?

Do you know why I choose this approach?

Well, technologies can be super exciting, but people will always be even more exciting. This is anchored in our psychology and is of course often used in marketing. But let me tell you one thing: you can use a lot for strategic reasons, but if you're not truly interested in people out of good intentions, it will be visible. We are now doing this pragmatically and testing it.

The loyal members of my community know that I have a degree in chemistry, so I Iove practical experiments ?? Here we go: I'll introduce you to a few exciting personalities and give you a couple of facts and then we'll test together what sticks in your mind.

Firstly, I would like to introduce Tarcis Berberat as Vice President and Managing Director Renault Trucks Region AdriAlps. Tarcis was also the host at the live event last week, where two major customers - Hugelshofer Logistik AG and Sch?ni Transport AG - were ceremoniously handed over their first electro trucks. I had the honour of being there live and taking a look behind the scenes. Now Tarcis' personal connection to mobility started when he got his motorbike licence as a teenager. Growing up in a small village in Switzerland, a motorbike meant immense freedom. Now, riding a motorbike is no longer a ‘necessity’ for Tarcis, but a hobby. Professionally Tarcis leads his team as the leading company in truck sales in Switzerland. If you are particularly interested in the topic of electrification and specifically the transport sector from trucks to smaller buses to last mile delivery vehicles, then connect with Tarcis, follow him - there are regular posts on these topics and there will be even more exciting communication in the near future - stay tuned ??

Secondly, I would like to introduce you to Bruno Blin , Executive Vice President Volvo Group and President Renault Trucks . Admittedly, I met Bruno Blin for the first time at the event and yet I knew his background story and his connection to mobility and sustainability very well.

How is that possible?

Well, he is the face of the great Renault Trucks video series, which shows why Renault Trucks is committed to sustainable mobility in short, illustrative films. The sceptics among you would now say: "It's all just pure greenwashing". But after just a few sentences, it becomes clear that Bruno Blin really lives what he says on stage or in the video series about lived (!) sustainability ?????? How many board members of large companies do we know who consciously drive a small city car? How many VPs and EVPs do we know who make the Lyon - Zurich - Munich - Prague - Netherlands route in the form of a business trip by train (!) and even inspire their employees to do so? And my community knows exactly how enthusiastic I am about sustainable train journeys myself ??

I've already said it live when we met and I'll say it again: "Bruno Blin, you must have a great personality not to need a big car to artificially boost your ego." His colleague Christophe Deshayes , who is President responsible for Renault Trucks Commercial Europe and who joined the conversation, also confirmed that sustainable travelling has a special place within the company and is strongly promoted. Thank you, Bruno Blin and Christophe Deshayes, for challenging the status quo and leading the way as inspirational role models. It was a pleasure to have met you both in this context - we will certainly see each other at the next IAA Transportation in Hannover this year ??

Last but not least, I would like to introduce Nicolas Legler as a member of the management team and Head of National Transport at Sch?ni Transport AG . Sch?ni Transport AG is one of the two companies that received their electro trucks. At this point, a huge thank you to Nicolas, who spontaneously agreed to answer a few of my questions about the customer side of the electrification process and for being absolutely honest about the fact that Sch?ni Transport AG is only at the very beginning of the electrification process and that this process is not intrinsically motivated, but rather driven by the customers. Yes, there are major customers who clearly demand that their products are only transported using electric trucks. Nicolas also spoke transparently about the pressure to deliver constant performance and the fact that they still have to get to grips with both the charging infrastructure and the handling of electric trucks. All very understandable concerns.

But perhaps the most exciting thing was another detail that came up completely unexpectedly in the interview. After studying business administration and gaining some work experience, Nicolas studied theology (!) and preached for over 10 years as a priest at the largest free church in Zurich. Afterwards, however, he returned to the world of business and logistics. Now, anyone who knows my career path from a degree in chemistry to a doctorate in materials science to my work in technical marketing and coaching C-level management in the automotive industry on topics such as "Thought Leadership, Marketing and LinkedIn Communication" will not be surprised that I am enthusiastic about such unusual CVs.

I can't help but ask: "And what does your heart beat for?"

Nicolas answers: "For people. Because there's not that much difference between influencing people's lives through preaching or as a business mentor". He likes his work in the industry even better, as he sees his influence bearing fruit much more directly there when people develop their true potential. What an inspiring life path! Nicolas, I wish you all the very best for every project or goal that is still ahead of you ??????

So, do any of you, dear readers, still think you could remember any electrification data better than these real personal and inspiring stories? ?? Really? ?? For example that the share of drivelines HD trucks > 16 to GVW/BEV was 8.5% in 2023? Or that drivelines LCV > 3500 kg GVW/BEV was 12.9% in 2023? Or that 43% BEV and 10% FCEV are expected for 2030 in Switzerland? Or that 64% BEV and 16% FCEV are expected for 2035 in Switzerland?

Who said one cannot have fun at work? I do ??????

OK, admittedly, there will be a certain proportion of you who will still favour the numbers even today. That's OK too. But these numbers will be replaceable tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. But strong personalities are NOT replaceable and will NOT be forgotten or outdated.

THESE are the leaders who will still inspire us tomorrow!

And I will write about them again ??

Genuine, human, inspiring.

?????? What else could you learn from that article? The next time you tell a marketing story, tell me and your audience a PERSONAL story - you'll have both our attention ??

As always, see you soon,

Ludmilla

#DERRtobedifferent

PS: I'm writing this article while listening to Beethoven 6th Symphony conducted by Herbert von Karajan, so if I get too ‘poetic’ or too 'romantic' somewhere in my approach to see electrification process, you know the reason ?? I realise I'm mentioning this at the end of the article and not at the beginning, but hey, it would have completely destroyed the thread of my storytelling if I started with Beethoven and electrification ?????? You see my point? Have a great day everyone ??????

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