Die Zukunft der Mobilität mit Helmut List, CEO der AVL List | Botschafter mit Herz 💚

Yes, I believe so. We have a strong team at AVL that is truly competent and has really recognized the challenges of our time. We have a lot ahead of us, but we've accomplished a great deal in the past. During the pandemic, we sustained our technology development well and pushed innovation forward, so that we are now in a strong position.

In normal times, about a third of the time I spent was on airplanes. During the pandemic, that decreased drastically — customers didn't really want it either. We managed some visits, but not to America or Asia. Now, thank God, things have developed very well again, and we have some flights scheduled once more.

Of course, one is pleased about that, no question. But I'm very aware that it's really an award for the team. I think what's important for good employees is having good objectives — setting ambitious goals, but also knowing what technological and scientific prerequisites exist to actually achieve them. When you know it's scientifically and technologically possible, you have the confidence and certainty that you can accomplish it in that field.

That is 11 to 12 percent, and we maintained that even during difficult times, as I said. We must of course tackle all the challenges, select the important ones. But one thing has happened: we got into the new technologies very early.

Most people — I can say most feel very comfortable here. You can really tell. Some come to us and then go back to Germany, for example. There are many cases where the family still lives in Graz today, even though the person has gone back to work elsewhere.

I think what's important for top talent — especially in our technology area, but also in entrepreneurship, project management, and sales — is the feeling that Graz is a good place for education, with its universities. Also, we now have a network in Styria of many companies that has expanded greatly. Thank God, that's very good for Styria. And of course the close cooperations with the universities, where many joint activities between industry and academia are carried out. We've always strongly pushed that, and I think it's important — it brings the whole region to life. We're also culturally very interesting, and top talent is also interested in a good cultural scene. That's quite essential.

There are quite a number of things. I would say the Styrian wine country is very beautiful, of course — that's wonderful, one of my favorite places. And on the other hand, the old town is quite a special jewel. We also have a very varied landscape where you can go hiking and spend time outdoors. I also believe Graz has excellent gastronomy — very, very good restaurants, and people enjoy going there. That's part of life. Graz has a certain openness and is now accustomed to having employees from all over the world. We have over 50 nationalities among our employees, and other companies have even more. We're also becoming more international here, and that's a good thing.

When the brand is good and especially when we were involved ourselves. I believe that's very important because in our field, we must treat and promote innovation in a very holistic way. And art, culture, and also technically creative work — they're connected. It also has to do with the fact that in engineering and creative product development, we must always see the user — the person who drives a car or operates a system or software — we must always consider how they interact with a system or a particular new type of vehicle. This user perspective is quite essential and has been very important to me from the beginning. It brings an important component of creativity, and I always find that connected with subjective perception. Art is something closely tied to subjective feeling, and we try to promote that as well — also with this hall that my wife's foundation strongly runs and leads, where we can support events that bridge art and technology and science.

The family is my whole life. But I'm also especially pleased when my wife comes along, which is the case from time to time, and it's nice. The people know our employees quite well in the various countries, and it's always nice when she's there too.

I believe the technology base for the drivetrain must naturally really meet the requirement that we can process CO2-free fuels of all kinds here. That is quite essential. Of course, the drivetrain is only one part — the vehicle as a whole, with autonomous driving, which will certainly come. When exactly, no one can say. But assisted driving with the vehicle has already come a long way, and autonomous driving will also come. That gives many possibilities to rethink mobility — in the sense that the vehicle is a daily companion that stands ready, and when you need it, it's there immediately. And with autonomous driving, older people who can no longer drive can be picked up and taken wherever they want. That is certainly quite conceivable.

Well, I think people here are quite open to the future, have their own opinions, and also have a good sense of humor. Only with good humor can you question things and really find new solutions. They seem sociable and willing to take on challenges. I think it's a good mix, a good spirit here in Graz.