3 Questions for Carmen
What does a typical working day look like for your team?
Because we have a wide range of tasks, there is no such thing as a typical working day. Some days, I sit in front of my computer a lot and spend most of my time in conference calls coordinating processes and interfaces. Other days, we run a lot of tests directly in the car, both at our test site in Germany and in hotter regions such as southern Italy, Death Valley in North America, and South Africa. There are also extensive winter trials in Sweden and Finland to create the best possible product for customers.
How has the transformation changed your work in recent years?
The nature of development is changing dramatically. In recent years, we have evolved from a component orientation to a function orientation to systems engineering. In the process, we focus on the needs of our customers. Today, we think in terms of vehicle systems and integrate both hardware and software. To make this possible, we network in a matrix organization and work together across all functional areas. I am currently working on the new, all-electric Premium Platform Electric (PPE).
With the front radar, you are developing an essential component for highly automated driving. What will be the biggest challenge in the future in that regard?
The technology in this area is already very advanced and is constantly evolving. As an automotive manufacturer, we are faced with the challenge of making people aware of new technologies and building trust in automated driving. In this context, transparency about the opportunities and limitations of technology is an important issue.
Discover Car-IT
Read about what we do at Car-IT and how we do it. Our work encompasses a wide range of elements regarding the product experience.
