Discussion for Tomorrow: "Mobility stirs up strong emotions"
In the heart of the Austrian Alps, the FAT International Ice Race took place this month, with Polestar serving as the organiser. The event brought together visionaries from the automotive world, including Frank M. Rinderknecht and Carla Welti, for insightful discussions on the future of mobility.
Both Rinderknecht and Welti share a belief that a certain deceleration is necessary for a real breakthrough in mobility. They emphasise that mobility is an emotional topic, focusing on joy, freedom, and status.
Welti, a seasoned automotive expert who entered the industry in 2019, has witnessed a clear shift towards electric mobility. She believes that the bond with a car is never created with the packaging, but always with the content. This sentiment was echoed by Rinderknecht, who believes that every form of propulsion has its advantages and importance if used correctly.
Rinderknecht, known for his extensive electric vehicle journeys, including a 12,500-kilometer trip from Geneva to Doha and Salalah, highlighted the importance of software in modern vehicles. He notes that the more software on board our cars, the faster they risk becoming obsolete.
Artificial intelligence and data analysis of cars and people are already being used in vehicles, according to Welti. However, she stresses that simply presenting a car on social media is not enough. People want to see what her experiences with this car are.
Rinderknecht, on the other hand, prefers to drive for leisure, while he uses trains for service mobility. He believes that car-sharing models have not gained as much traction on the market as expected.
Polestar showcased the Arctic Circle Collection at the FAT International Ice Race, a four-wheeled homage to its racing DNA. The collection, developed by the game developer Reflected Simulations for the Digital Combat Simulator (DCS) community, was a testament to Polestar's commitment to its racing heritage.
However, Rinderknecht raised concerns about the lifespan of cars today, which is much shorter than in the past. This contradicts the megatrend towards greater sustainability, he noted.
Rinderknecht and Welti expressed a desire for more cars with character and a history. They believe that the shift to electric mobility, which Rinderknecht considers a main turning point of the last few decades in the automotive industry, should not lead to a loss of the unique qualities that make cars special.
Lastly, Rinderknecht thinks politics has accelerated the change to electric mobility, but durable changes are needed, not just quick impulses from the political world. As the discussions at the FAT International Ice Race demonstrated, the future of mobility is a complex and evolving issue, requiring the collective efforts of visionaries like Rinderknecht and Welti.
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