Following the worst slump in the commercial vehicle industry for 60 years in 2009, the first signs of a recovery are now becoming visible. And even if it will take some time to reach the level enjoyed before the crisis, the commercial vehicle industry is picking up speed again. Supply companies and vehicle manufacturers have managed to remain competitive on a largely converging global market – despite the crisis the automotive industry invested a record €20.9 billion in research and development in the year 2009 and therefore, despite the crisis, it is one of Germany’s most innovative industries. The supply industry, which is largely made up of small and medium-sized companies, contributes to this in no small measure.
 
The firm 'Commercial Vehicle Cluster – Nutzfahrzeug GmbH' and the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) held a symposium entitled 'Picking up speed with innovations' at the 63rd IAA Commercial Vehicles in September. The event showed just how important a sustainable culture of innovation is for the global competitiveness of companies in the automotive industry, because the firms are facing huge challenges particularly in areas of innovation such as alternative powertrain technologies, electric mobility and safety systems. To overcome these challenges, the companies are increasingly entering into co-operative projects and joint ventures.
 
The speakers at the symposium and their lecture topics were as follows:
 
- '63rd IAA Commercial vehicles: setting out on course for recovery of the international commercial vehicle markets':
Klaus Bräunig, Managing Director, German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA)
 
- 'Future-proof with innovations in the vehicle industry':
Minister of Economy, Transport, Agriculture and Viniculture of the German State of Rhineland-Palatinate
 
- Keynote Speech: 'Innovation and networking to guarantee competitiveness':
Prof. Marion A. Weissenberger-Eibl, Head of the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, Karlsruhe
 
A panel discussion followed. The participants were: Hendrik Hering; Prof. Marion A. Weissenberger-Eibl; Arndt G. Kirchhoff, Managing Director of Kirchhoff Automotive; Jörg Ohlsen, CEO of EDAG GmbH & Co. KGaA; and Dr Jörg Zürn, Vice President Truck Product Engineering at Daimler AG. The event was chaired by Dr Barbara Jörg, CEO of Commercial Vehicle Cluster.
 
The one-day symposium was held in the Convention Centre at the Hannover trade show grounds on 23 September 2010. It was rounded off by a get-together over a buffet of culinary specialities from Rhineland-Palatinate.