Chief Executive Officer (CEO) / Chairman of the Management Board, Schmitz Cargobull AG
ZERO Quick Talk mit Andreas Schmitz @ Transport Logistic 2025
The ZERO Quick Talk with Andreas Schmitz, CEO of Schmitz Cargobull at Transport Logistic 2025 in Munich.
About Andreas Schmitz
At the IAA Transportation Media Summit 2026, Andreas Schmitz discussed Schmitz Cargobull's global growth strategy and its expanding focus on the Indian market. He stated that the company is "beginning to become more and more of a global player" and outlined new products for the upcoming IAA Transportation show, including a Tapper Secure Trailer, ADR EX trailers, trailers for governmental and dual use, and a new cooling unit. Schmitz also emphasized the company's growing ecosystem of strategic partnerships, noting that partners will have a place at the company's trade fair booth. Regarding India, Schmitz described it as "a tremendous market" that is growing, while noting that the road network and food transportation practices are "still different" from other regions. He said that food security and proper cooling of food will "become more and more important to India," and that the company aims to grow in that area. Schmitz highlighted the importance of being a "reliable partner" and "innovative" as key factors for the company's approach to the Indian market.
Transcript (12 segments)
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Interviewer0:11
Dear Schmitz, welcome to Transportlogistik. Impressive stand, impressive trucks that can be opened and closed. We'll start with the first question. Why is the topic of sustainability important for Schmitz Cargobull as a manufacturer of trailers?
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Andreas Schmitz0:27
Yes, I believe the topic of sustainability is important for all of us. CO2 reduction is a topic we must address, and as a manufacturer of trailers, we naturally try to do our part. First, one must recognize that a trailer does not emit CO2 per se, and that is also the difficulty. One trailer is used on long hauls, is on the road a lot; another trailer is only used on short hauls, is used very little. Accordingly, I believe it is good and important to offer various solutions that are exactly right for the use case the customer needs. And we have various solutions. Behind us, for example, we see EPTO, a refrigeration unit that runs electrically in combination with an electric truck. Something that is ideal when I'm in distribution traffic.
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Interviewer1:25
The topic of solutions would have been my next question — what you offer as a transport company to reduce CO2 emissions. What we see here is very modern, and I believe you are one of the first to practice this. Are there further solutions you offer?
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Andreas Schmitz1:42
Yes, absolutely. As I said, we have various solutions for various use cases. For example, our Berger Ecotrail, particularly lightweight, for Alpine transport. You can carry a bit more payload. In beverage transport as well, more payload. These are all individual solutions that fit the various use cases. And that is exactly the topic. Legislation always tries to prescribe that there is one right solution, and one must recognize that. Especially with our semi-trailers, which transport such different goods and are used so differently, there is not one solution. That is why we also struggle with this Vector program, because it simply doesn't fit. Our customer knows best what he needs and what is right for him, and we offer that in conversation with our field sales staff, and then we can find the optimal solution. That is why we also strongly advocate for reasonable CO2 taxation that is the same for everyone, so that the customer has the opportunity to make the right decision, and not the legislator in Berlin believing he knows what Hans or Meier can and should drive in various use areas. He cannot know that. He cannot regulate that either.
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Interviewer3:00
Let's look at digitalization. How can digitalization contribute to sustainability?
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Andreas Schmitz3:08
There too, one can imagine — I think the simplest example is the tire pressure monitoring system. If I have the tire pressure under control, always the right pressure, then I save fuel. A very simple way digitalization can help. I can achieve better loading if I know which routes I drive, where I also sometimes drive less loaded, although I would actually trust our freight forwarders to do that even without digitalization today. But we at least make it easier, and accordingly digitalization is also an important point.
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Interviewer3:38
Let's look specifically at your company. How are you positioning yourself sustainably in production?
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Andreas Schmitz3:46
Yes, there too we naturally look at ourselves and ask what can we do. We want to significantly reduce. We want to achieve a 70% reduction by 2045 in our own production, and we are already well on our way. For example, our new factory in Spain — solar panels on the roof. When the sun shines accordingly, we can really produce almost completely without additional grid electricity. And we are now going through the factories successively. Littown is next, where we try to reduce our footprint accordingly with solar panels, with savings, whether it's savings in air consumption and so on.
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Interviewer4:31
Finally, perhaps a small appeal to the new federal government. What support programs do you expect from the new federal government?
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Andreas Schmitz4:39
Preferably none at all. I would prefer that we internalize the external costs that CO2 causes. That means reasonable taxation, and then they should leave it to the market and let us as manufacturers offer the right solutions to the customer, who, as I said, has completely different use cases. That is why I strongly advocate: please deregulate, ensure reasonable CO2 taxation, and then we will take care of the rest and reduce it accordingly.
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Interviewer5:10
Dear Mr. Schmitz, thank you very much for your time, and again an impressive stand. Good luck at Transportlogistik.
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Andreas Schmitz5:16
Thank you.