Content by The Buzz Business Mobility
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Women drive change in global car industry
While new inventions such as robotics and artificial intelligence grab all the headlines , a social revolution that is giving women increased economic power is also transforming many global industries . Carmakers are responding proactively to these trends , promoting women to senior positions and putting them at the heart of their marketing efforts , as well as increasing investments in technological innovations .
“ Women make 80 % of the purchase decisions for cars , so we need to be closer to them , to understand what they need and what they are looking for ,” asserts Mayra González , president and managing director of Nissan Mexico . González is the first female executive at Nissan ever to be appointed president of a country and the youngest person to assume the position . “ We are now more conscious about the importance of women in the auto industry , not only as a customer but also inside the industry ,” she reveals .
There is a clear business rationale behind encouraging diversity in the Alliance . It ’ s not just about checking boxes .” Mayra González , President and Managing Director , Nissan Mexico
Carlos Ghosn , the chairman and CEO of the Renault- Nissan Alliance , has made it a strategic priority for both member companies to increase the diversity of their workforce . “ Having such a strong tone from the top has helped us build our Women @ Renault network , which is increasing the self-confidence of our women , developing their skills and giving them access to senior roles ,” says Clotilde Delbos , Executive VP and CFO at Groupe Renault . “ We believe that diversity and inclusion is a competitive advantage ,” González adds .
At Renault , innovation is not limited to electric vehicles ( EVs ), connected cars and autonomous driving but extends across the
Left : Mayra González , President and Managing Director , Nissan Mexico . Right : Clotilde Delbos , Executive VP and CFO , Renault ; Chair of the Board , RCI Banque
corporation . As chair of the board of RCI Banque , the company ’ s car finance unit , Delbos is tasked with developing innovative financial services that strengthen the loyalty of Renault customers . “ There are not many industries that are going to be disrupted as much as the automotive and banking sectors ,” Delbos declares . “ I have the luxury of looking at both of them , developing digital financial services and also mobility services such as car sharing .”
Delbos and González have assumed leadership positions at a time of major market growth for both brands , as Ghosn ’ s strategy delivers on its targets . Renault has reported market share gains across Europe with popular new product designs . At the same time , it has achieved rapid growth in emerging markets like India , thanks to innovative and affordable vehicles designed for the local environment such as the KWID .
In Mexico , Nissan has been the market leader for seven consecutive years and enjoys a share of 25 %. González , who in her previous role as vice
president of sales and marketing spearheaded this growth , is aiming for a record level of sales in this fiscal year : 400,000 cars , up from 355,000 sold in 2015 .
Nissan is also ramping up its production in Mexico , where it has been present for more than 50 years . In 2017 , with the start of operations at a new $ 1 billion plant in a joint venture with Daimler , Nissan will produce over 1 million cars in the country . “ Our manufacturing footprint , our products , our finance company and our dealership network give us the formula for success ,” González says .
For both partners in the Renault- Nissan Alliance , electric vehicles are some of the fastest-selling products in their range . The Nissan Leaf is the world ’ s most popular EV , with
For Karl-Thomas Neumann ,
CEO of the Opel Group , there is no room for doubt : autonomous driving and electric vehicles are more than just buzzwords or passing fads . They represent a future that is arriving faster than many in the industry realize .
“ I am sure that the autonomous vehicle will come — and it will come even faster than some people think ,” he says . “ We are not all that far away from autonomous driving in everyday life . According to even the most conservative forecasts , in 15 years the penetration of autonomous vehicles will be at 15 % to 20 %. more than 230,000 units sold since its launch in 2010 . Meanwhile , Renault reached the milestone of its 100,000th EV sale in 2016 ; the company has a strong line-up of EVs , including the Renault Zoe , the top-selling electric car in Europe . Between them , the Alliance partners have now sold more than 375,000 electric vehicles .
We have decided that we need to increase R & D expenses in order to prepare for future disruption .” Clotilde Delbos , Executive VP and CFO , Renault
“ We are investing in the future and increasing our spending on R & D ,” Renault ’ s Delbos says . “ There are a lot of challenges facing the industry , such as the arrival of autonomous driving , connectivity and mobility as a service . Our job is to be prepared for that future .”
Say goodbye to the steering wheel
“ In 2030 , we could see cars that don ’ t even have steering wheels anymore . The automotive industry is in the midst of the biggest transformation in its history .” In 2016 , Opel ’ s parent company , General
Motors , established a separate business unit for autonomous vehicle development and acquired Cruise Automation , a software company that specializes in self-driving vehicle technology . Opel also launched the Ampera-e electric car , which with a range of over 400 kilometers promises to eradicate range anxiety once and for all .