Can you briefly introduce your position and your company?
Valeo is a Technology Company and partner of all vehicles manufacturers and new mobility players and develops innovations to make mobility and transportation cleaner, safer and smarter. Our four areas of focus, Electrification, Driving Assistance systems, Interior Experience and Lighting everywhere are key for the mobility and transportation transition and thus strong growth drivers for the Valeo group. Valeo achieved sales of 22 billion euros in 2023 and is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.
My name is Thierry Simonin and I am Group Customer Vice President Commercial Vehicles at Valeo. In this role, I lead global sales and business development for all types of commercial vehicles for transporting people and goods.
What does the IAA TRANSPORTATION slogan “People and Goods On The Move” mean to you?
We like the slogan, it outlines the topic of mobility very broadly, which is how we see it also. Our technologies are aimed at the safety and comfort of the driver and passengers, as well as the electrification of all vehicle types to support Transportation sustainability.
What do you hope for from the IAA TRANSPORTATION 2024?
As usual, we fixed excellent customer appointments in advance and foresee intensive and exciting exchange at our booth located D78 Hall 19/20 about our innovations. Since the last IAA Transportation in 2022 our order intake in the commercial vehicle sector increased by 100%. The good discussions at the IAA Transportation 2022 also contributed to this.
What topic will you present at IAA TRANSPORTATION 2024?
We present 48V hybrid systems for delivery vans and other compact commercial vehicles, as well as High Voltage Inverter for all types of large commercial vehicles, including Heavy trucks. We are also showcasing thermal management solutions: technologies for heat regulation of the battery, air conditioning, heat pumps, as well as a smart heating system via the interior surfaces. We also present a wide range of interior controls like Displays, Steering Column Switches, Driver monitoring system, intelligent lighting solutions, as well as our leading ADAS to support coming regulation and also L4 automation deployment which makes a lot of sense in the Transportation industry.
In which area of the transport and logistics sector do you see the greatest potential and where the greatest need to catch up?
We see great potential in electrification in the commercial vehicle sector in the future. The CO2 emissions from new trucks in the EU are to be reduced by 90% by 2040 compared to 2019. At the same time, there is a need to catch up here, for example in the charging infrastructure. And as indicated earlier L4 Automation deployment is a strong lever for the Transportation Industry to face the lack of drivers on the market.
IAA TRANSPORTATION is the leading global platform for commercial vehicles, transport and logistics. It brings together innovators from all spectrums of mobility. Who do you want to connect with next September and why?
We look forward to good discussions with our customers, but also with new players and startups in the mobility and transportation industry who will inspire us with their creative ideas.
There is a big change in the transport and logistics sector towards sustainable solutions. What is your vision for the sector in 20 years?
We are firmly convinced that trucks will be predominantly electric in 20 years and Autonomous in many mission profiles. Technology companies such as Valeo are already providing the appropriate technologies to make this goal of sustainable and efficient transportation a reality.