Technology Strategy Planning and Innovation Management at Rheinmetall Automotive to Face Future Mobility Challenges

Abstract

In the coming decades, the radical transformation of mobility needs—mainly driven by the world’s demographic changes, environmental influences, resource availability and regulation standards—call for fresh ideas in the mobility sector, leading to modified or completely new vehicle architectures and mobility solutions. In order to be prepared for these changing market conditions, global tier-one suppliers to the automotive industry like Rheinmetall Automotive AG have to operate within a selection of promising and economically interesting technology fields with the target to occupy these areas in a timely manner. This paper presents Rheinmetall Automotive’s overall management approach to defining a technology strategy and to implementing it in the existing organizational environment. The Technological Direction Development Process (TDDP) is embedded in the entire innovation process of Rheinmetall Automotive and facilitates the modern paradigm of Open Innovation. Examples from the practice will show Rheinmetall Automotive’s activities concerning technology strategy and innovation management to shape the future of mobility.