At the “Summer of Purpose” in Munich, Andreas Renschler spoke about the key lessons the commercial vehicle manufacturer with the Scania, MAN, and Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus brands had taken from the coronavirus crisis to date. “The experience from the coronavirus pandemic will strengthen our resilience as a society because we’ve become more flexible and even more focused. The same goes for the TRATON GROUP,” said Andreas Renschler, CEO of TRATON and member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, at the event, the idea for which came from the Bangladeshi Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. “The lockdown has clearly demonstrated the speed with which we can adapt when we need to,” added Renschler.
The Summer of Purpose was held at the Messe München trade fair center from June 26 to 28 and was attended by around 50 international representatives from science, art and culture, politics, business, sport, and society either in person or virtually. It centered on the question of what lessons could be drawn from the coronavirus crisis.
It had been shown that good results can also be achieved with virtual meetings and working from a home office. “It’s my conviction that this experience will lastingly change the way we work,” said Renschler in his keynote speech. The TRATON GROUP is already analyzing how the new insights can be combined with pre-coronavirus practices so as to identify the suitable way of working for the future.
The second key lesson from this time was the importance of focus. “The crisis is making us realize where society’s vital organs are: in the healthcare and water supply sectors – and also very considerably in transportation. Transportation is the heartbeat of a connected society and an essential factor in all economies,” stated TRATON’s CEO.
Although the economic slump in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic was also forcing companies to focus and set priorities, TRATON would not abandon its plans for alternative drives. “We at TRATON are fully committed to the climate targets set in the Paris Agreement. That’s why we’ll invest one billion euros in alternative drives up to 2025. Despite the crisis. Because the coronavirus evolution can and must become a green revolution,” emphasized Renschler.
Matthias Gründler is new CEO of TRATON SE
TRATON SE is reorganizing its Board of Management team. With effect of July 15, 2020, Andreas Renschler will be handing over the chair of the Board of Management to Matthias Gründler, who was CFO of the commercial vehicle manufacturer with the brands MAN, Scania and Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus until May 2018. Dr. Andreas Tostmann, currently a member of the Board of Management for the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand with responsibility for Production and Logistics, will furthermore be taking over from Joachim Drees, who will be leaving the TRATON Board of Management by best mutual consent likewise with effect as of July 15, 2020. Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Carsten Intra, currently the Board of Management member responsible for HR, will take over as Chief Executive Officer of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. This was announced by the company following a meeting of the Supervisory Board in Munich.