Earlier this week, Swedish automotive giant Volvo announced that it would only produce electric or hybrid models starting in 2019, NPR reported. Volvo President Hakan Samuelsson stated that the company expects to sell 1 million such automobiles by 2025 and attributed the internal embrace of new-generation technology to evolving consumer demand.
Indeed, car buyers worldwide are gravitating toward electric and hybrid models in an effort to cut fuel costs and conserve the environment. This mass movement has generated excitement in the automotive industry, as car companies tap research and development resources to design proprietary green engine and chassis assemblies. However, it has also created uncertainty. Enterprises in the space must now abandon long-held ideas and move into alien territory. How can they survive? By finding business leaders with the characteristics required to weather this unique change. Here are two of these key qualities:
Adaptable
Vehicles have always contained many moving parts. However, electric and hybrid models are considerably more advanced than their predecessors, leveraging advanced electronics and mechanical features to facilitate optimal comfort, driveability and efficiency. These unique design features have catalyzed change on the production floor, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Now, engineers must rejigger their skill sets and embrace innovation to keep pace – and so too should executives. Ever-changing technology drives the automotive industry and business leaders in the sector must be able to design and deploy business strategies that evolve with the product.
“Business leaders in the automotive sector must be able to design and deploy business strategies that evolve with the product.”
Collaborative
Electric and hybrid cars depend on core public infrastructure such as government-sponsored charging stations. For this very reason, car makers in the space must not only focus on building vehicles but also work with legislators and other stakeholders to create the infrastructure needed to support these new-age models, Slate reported. Unfortunately, this is not an easy task. In fact, some states are pulling back on incentives benefiting the adoption of electric cars, according to CNBC. With this state of affairs in play, automotive companies must recruit leaders who can effectively collaborate with peers in the public sector and others. While car manufacturers can churn out innovative products in-house, they must work with external parties to prompt real-world use.
Is your organization looking for an executive leader with these skills? Connect with YES Partners today. Our recruitment consultants can put you in contact with the adaptable, collaborative candidates who possess the skills and expertise to help your company move forward into an electric future.
To see some of the roles we have already successfully placed, click here.
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