HCP Joins Electric Vehicle Experts at the June Automotive Roundtable in Taicang

Taicang, Jiangsu, China,  June 2, 2015

Vanessa Moriel, HCP China Managing Director Asia, speaking during the June Automotive Roundtable panel in Taicang. From left to right:  Anil Yadav, Head of Asia Region, Business  Unit  Hybrid  Electric Vehicle Powertrain Division, Continental AG; Ms. Vanessa Moriel, Managing Director Asia, Human Capital Partners; Mr. Roel van de Pas, Managing Director, e-Traction China; and, Mr. Andreas Börner, Director R&D China, EK Design (Taicang) Co., Ltd.

Summary: HCP Managing Director Asia Vanessa Moriel was a panelist at the June Automotive Roundtable. Taking place for the first time ever in Taicang, Jiangsu Province, participants in this month’s round table discussed the future of electric vehicles in China. The event attracted more than 80 automotive industry professionals.

Article: HCP Managing Director Asia Vanessa Moriel and other automotive experts travelled to Taicang, Jiangsu Province, on June 2, 2015, to discuss the electric vehicle market in China. Taking place at Schindlers Tankstelle restaurant, the event was the June session of the monthly Automotive Roundtables, of which HCP China is a proud sponsor.

The evening began with a presentation by Ms. Lu Yan, Vice Mayor, Taicang City, who welcomed participants. This was followed by a presentation from Mr. Shen Jun, Managing Director, Accenture (China) Strategy, who spoke on the topic of An Urge Towards Green Drive – From Government Willpower to Consumer Benefits. Mr. Shen pointed out that demand for EV in China is forecasted to grow in the next 5 years. Key factors driving this growth include consumer acceptance, government subsidies, infrastructure readiness and sufficient supply. The government already played an important role in this equation by setting up the proper regulation and defining technology standards. Both central and local governments have introduced subsidies for the purchase of EVs. However, establishing a comprehensive approach to e-mobility will require commitment from and coordination with external stakeholders, going forward.

Mr. Juergen Bauer, Manager at Audi Tongji Joint Lab, Audi China Enterprise Management Co., then spoke about Audi’s EV development history in China. EV development has often failed the needs and demands of customers, which explains the limited success of EVs in China. He believes that OEMs should respond to the needs of customers during the design of EV vehicles. As such, Audi designers have identified desirability, safety, reliability, convenience, cost effectiveness and durability as the qualities that most appeal to different customer groups. Mr. Bauer also spoke about expectations for the EV market in China. He remains optimistic about the eventual success of the industry, but believes it needs more time before it can realize its full potential.

Mr.  Anil Yadav, Head of Asia Region, Business Unit Hybrid Electric Vehicle Powertrain Division, Continental AG was the fourth and final speaker. He presented on the topic of The Way to a High Volume Electrification – Electrification Tailored to Fit. Yadav pointed out that while the automotive industry in China has been very successful, in the process becoming the world’s largest market for cars; fuel consumption and greenhouse emissions have been growing in lockstep with car use. He added that the impact of EV adoption on greenhouse emissions is likely to be limited unless China shifts to clean power generation. The government has been making major efforts to push NEV development through stricter fuel consumption and emission standards, restrictions on the number of new conventional vehicles, and financial subsidies. In spite of government efforts, EV adoption has been below government targets. For Mr. Yadav, the development of hybrid vehicles is one of the keys to further electrification, as not every OEM and market segment requires full electrification.

Speeches were followed by a panel discussion titled Electric Vehicles – The Future for China? The panel was moderated by Mr. Andreas Börner, Director R&D China, EK Design (Taicang) Co., Ltd. It included the 3 final speakers along with Mr. Roel van de Pas, Managing Director, e-Traction China, and Ms. Vanessa Moriel, Managing Director Asia, Human Capital Partners. During the panel, Ms. Moriel shared her perspective on talent identification and recruitment for the EV market in China.

Speaking after the event, HCP’s Vanessa Moriel said: “Government mandates have been very effective in pushing the industry to conceive and develop new electric vehicles — bringing them to market. This has created a demand for experienced engineering and design talent in China. With its industry knowledge and international network of like-minded partners, Human Capital Partners has been at the forefront of the development of electric vehicles in China.”

This was the first time the Automotive Roundtable left Beijing to be held in Taicang. The June 2 event was widely seen as a great success! 80 industry representatives gathered to discuss the development of new energy vehicles and network with their peers.

Editors Notes:

Human Capital Partners is a retained executive search and talent management consultancy, which specialises in the global automotive sector. We provide CEO and top management placements & succession expertise across multinational automotive suppliers.  Our expertise is our in-depth understanding of conventional and unconventional automotive companies with sector expertise including OEM’s, importers, auto financing, auto leasing, auto dealers, private equity firms and tier 1 suppliers.

PR Contact: Vanessa Moriel, Managing Director Asia  (Tel: +852 2840 0406)

Mr. Andreas Börner, Director R&D China, EK Design (Taicang) Co., Ltd., and Mr. Roel van de Pas, Managing Director, e-Traction China speaking before the beginning of the Automotive Roundtable in Taicang.

Mr. Andreas Börner, Director R&D China, EK Design (Taicang) Co., Ltd., and Mr. Roel van de Pas, Managing Director, e-Traction China speaking before the beginning of the Automotive Roundtable in Taicang.

Vanessa Moriel, HCP China Managing Director Asia, speaking during the June Automotive Roundtable panel in Taicang. From left to right: Anil Yadav, Head of Asia Region, Business Unit Hybrid Electric Vehicle Powertrain Division, Continental AG; Ms. Vanessa Moriel, Managing Director Asia, Human Capital Partners; Mr. Roel van de Pas, Managing Director, e-Traction China; and, Mr. Andreas Börner, Director R&D China, EK Design (Taicang) Co., Ltd.

Vanessa Moriel, HCP China Managing Director Asia, speaking during the June Automotive Roundtable panel in Taicang. From left to right: Anil Yadav, Head of Asia Region, Business Unit Hybrid Electric Vehicle Powertrain Division, Continental AG; Ms. Vanessa Moriel, Managing Director Asia, Human Capital Partners; Mr. Roel van de Pas, Managing Director, e-Traction China; and, Mr. Andreas Börner, Director R&D China, EK Design (Taicang) Co., Ltd.

Every edition of the Automotive Roundtable attracts 70 to 120 participants.

Every edition of the Automotive Roundtable attracts 70 to 120 participants.

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The event took place at the Schindlers Tankstelle restaurant, which serves authentic German food in Taicang, a county level city under the jurisdiction of Suzhou.

The event took place at the Schindlers Tankstelle restaurant, which serves authentic German food in Taicang, a county level city under the jurisdiction of Suzhou.

Dinner guests are mostly middle and top level managers in the automotive industry.

Dinner guests are mostly middle and top level managers in the automotive industry.

On the left side: Mr. Andreas Börner, Director R&D China, EK Design (Taicang) Co., Ltd. Mr. Juergen Bauer, Manager at Audi Tongji Joint Lab, Audi China Enterprise Management Co.; and, Mr. Roel van de Pas, Managing Director, e-Traction China. Opposite on the right side: Mr. Shen Jun, Managing Director, Accenture (China).

On the left side: Mr. Andreas Börner, Director R&D China, EK Design (Taicang) Co., Ltd. Mr. Juergen Bauer, Manager at Audi Tongji Joint Lab, Audi China Enterprise Management Co.; and, Mr. Roel van de Pas, Managing Director, e-Traction China. Opposite on the right side: Mr. Shen Jun, Managing Director, Accenture (China).

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Vanessa Moriel speaking with the organizer, Ms. Kathrin Brueggemeier, after the conference.

Vanessa Moriel speaking with the organizer, Ms. Kathrin Brueggemeier, after the conference.

Audience members had the opportunity to ask questions during the event.

Audience members had the opportunity to ask questions during the event.

Anil Yadav, Head of Asia Region, Business Unit Hybrid Electric Vehicle Powertrain Division, Continental AG speaking during the panel discussion.

Anil Yadav, Head of Asia Region, Business Unit Hybrid Electric Vehicle Powertrain Division, Continental AG speaking during the panel discussion.

Mr. Shen Jun, Managing Director, Accenture (China) Strategy sharing his point of view with the rest of the panel.

Mr. Shen Jun, Managing Director, Accenture (China) Strategy sharing his point of view with the rest of the panel.

Mr. Roel van de Pas, Managing Director, e-Traction China speaking during the panel. Mr. van de Pas spoke about development of NEV commercial vehicles in China.

Mr. Roel van de Pas, Managing Director, e-Traction China speaking during the panel. Mr. van de Pas spoke about development of NEV commercial vehicles in China.