What is considered irrevocable in the automotive industry?
Thomas Leiber: The automotive industry is experiencing disruptive changes. 1st Electric mobility was pushed into irrevocable motion by a strong character like Elon Musk, “Diesel-scandal” in Germany and most of all the increased/ increasing climate change awareness, 2nd young generation wants to use cars more than own, is more attracted by software eco-systems and connectivity than performance and quality of cars. They love to control a car remotely via mobile app and they will (have the opportunity to do so) in this decade. Driven by software a new central domain control (brake+propulsion+steering) will emerge and change the Tier 1 suppliers’ landscape and business models. Most of all, autonomous driving will be the biggest game changer as key productivity driver of the economy. It will change the appearance of cities as they will be less crowded with parking areas. It will also drastically reduce transportation costs by maximizing daily operation times, making drivers obsolete. Entirely new business models will emerge.

What’s the most exciting thing about your job?
Thomas Leiber: Working in the core field of automotive future: autonomous driving and vehicle motion control merging brake, steering and electric propulsion. Interacting in a network of exceptional people and coaching big young brains to become better than me.

Which positive difference does your company make?
Thomas Leiber: We present well-thought-out concepts to help people with tailor-made solutions they did not even think of before, thereby shaping new standards. I thrive to combine (a) the wisdom of elderly experts (b) good leadership to fire energy/drive of young engineers and (c) exceptional young talents.

What does inspire you?
Thomas Leiber: Learning from people that are smart and interacting with key personalities from different cultures.

What is your legacy?
Thomas Leiber: Since my father invented ABS and brought it to series production I somehow inherited the genes of an inventor (I counted 392 registered patents by mid 2021), combining it with the skillset of a businessman and entrepreneur. Following Nikola Tesla as a visionary ideal, I thrive for new ideas that have an impact to affect the world at large. Learning in my career, that you are best, when you explore a new field with little prior experience and bias, I am an entrepreneur by heart, focusing on innovation and supporting individuals with big ideas.

Which benefits or added value can your customers expect from the cooperation?
Thomas Leiber: Real USPs in comparison to competitors, well-though through redundancies (3 times redundant in most safety critical cases) required for critical safety situations needed in particular for automated driving following aerospace fail-operational mindset. My father saved millions of lives inventing ABS. It might be easier with automated driving as there are no uncontrollable risks through humans driving, only humans crossing the road.