Strategies for successful automotive transformation
28. Jun 2026 | iwis mobility systems
At the 47th Vienna Motor Symposium, iwis presented its transformation from an established specialist in timing drive systems to a supplier of customer-specific electrical systems. In a specialist presentation titled “Industrial Transformation in the Automotive Sector: Strategies and Success Factors Using the Example of iwis mobility systems”, Dr. Kai Arens, together with co-authors Johannes Winklhofer, Frank Wiemer and Reinhard Robitschko, outlined how iwis mobility systems is actively shaping its future in a rapidly changing automotive industry.
The presentation highlighted that successful industrial transformation is not the result of a single strategic decision, but an incremental learning process. Key milestones on this journey include the acquisition of a stake in THIEN eDrives in 2011, the development of new competencies in electrical contacts, the renaming to iwis mobility systems in 2022, and the acquisition of the first series project for electrical systems in 2023. The next major milestone will follow in 2026 with the planned start of e-motor production.
A central focus of the presentation was the question of how transformation can succeed under real-life conditions marked by uncertainty, pressure on existing business areas and new technological requirements. The speakers identified five key success factors: ambidexterity, active change management, strong partnerships, operational credibility and a clear niche focus on customer-specific electrical systems.
For iwis, transformation means combining established strengths with new capabilities. Expertise in automotive quality, industrialization, process control and international production is being transferred into the development and production of new e-motor systems. With the planned start of e-motor production in June 2026, this strategic repositioning will become visible on the shopfloor through the integration of new processes such as winding, joining, welding, sealing, adhesive handling and advanced testing.
The presentation at the Vienna Motor Symposium offered iwis a valuable platform to share its transformation journey with an international expert audience and to demonstrate how established automotive suppliers can successfully contribute to the mobility of the future. The full presentation can be watched on YouTube via the link provide
