Wednesday 07 July 2021 9:13 am

Are auto companies preparing their workforce for a more digital future?

Volkswagen ID.3 Electric Car Production In Dresden — DRESDEN, GERMANY - JUNE 08: Workers assemble Volkswagen ID.3 electric cars at the "Gläserne Manufaktur" ("Glass Manufactory") production facility on June 08, 2021 in Dresden, Germany. The Dresden plant is currently churning out 35 ID.3 cars per day. The ID.3 and ID.4 cars are also produced at VW's Zwickau plat located in the same region. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

As climate change ambition ramps up across the world, emissions reduction targets in the autos sector will likely be forced to tighten further. Numerous countries – including Norway, France, the UK, Sweden, Ireland and the Netherlands – have already announced internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle phaseouts between 2025-2040.

Companies must pursue low and zero-carbon alternatives or risk hefty fines. Their ability to meet this challenge depends critically on their ability to innovate and execute.

At the same time, technological advancements continue to transform the industry. Production processes are increasingly automated, autonomous driving technology is growing in sophistication, and consumer expectations around the digital experience of vehicles continue to increase.

The implications of the green and digital transformation on the workforce are profound and will impact on everything from workforce structure to training and hiring practices.

Yet the challenge is complex. Shifting business models will require strong training programmes that enable original engine manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers to redeploy existing staff into new areas. Autos companies must also now compete with tech companies for IT talent, forcing them to rethink their brand and attempting to appeal to a new type of employee.

We spoke to nine global OEMs and suppliers to assess how they are equipping their workforce to thrive in the coming digital and electric age. Below we highlight five key insights gained from our conversations.

Companies taking a reactive approach to electrification risk finding themselves at a skills disadvantage in the future. A company’s training offering in electrification offers a good proxy for its level of commitment to the electrification agenda. Companies that believe electric vehicle (EV) uptake will be slow, driven by subsidies and emissions regulations, are more oriented toward hybrid vehicle production rather than developing dedicated production lines in EVs. Their training offer reflects this. This may place them at a skills disadvantage in the future as the industry decarbonises further.
As a heavily unionised industry, companies will need to make use of natural retirement to reduce the size of their workforce. It is estimated that electric vehicles require at least 20-30% less manpower to produce. EV production also requires a different skillset. This effect will be amplified by increasing levels of automation in production processes. At the same time, high levels of unionisation make it difficult for companies to reduce the size of their workforce. Companies can make use of natural retirement and early retirement schemes, but this can only address part of the challenge – all companies must recognise the need to create flexible workforces to be able to redeploy existing employees into new roles.
Developing effective training programmes requires sophisticated workforce planning that identifies gaps and potential in existing employees. Ensuring that the right people are given access to training programmes is crucial to success – as is ensuring that training and recruitment strategies address current and future business needs. Understanding the systems and processes that companies have in place to manage skills demand and identifying appropriate candidates are key pieces of the puzzle.
High-level statistics on training hours can be misleading. High-level training statistics cover everything from human resource (HR) to compliance training hours. While such training is no doubt important for the day-to-day functioning of a company, it does little to equip employees with the skills needed to thrive in changing environments. It is important to drill down into in-depth training programmes and try to get a sense of the scale of these programmes.
Companies face stiff competition from new sectors and need to be innovative in their approaches to recruitment, particularly in attracting young people and tech talent. Developing strong apprenticeships, internships and relationships with universities is important for attracting young people. Innovative strategies such as re-branding and revamping working styles are needed to appeal to tech talent. Ensuring overall employee satisfaction is also more important than ever in this highly competitive environment.

Assessing the sophistication of a company’s training and recruitment strategy is complex. High level statistics only paint part of the picture, and companies are reticent to divulge too much information given the competitive sensitivity of these topics.

While this makes it difficult to draw direct investment conclusions, insights gained from these conversations can help us to better understand companies’ preparedness for the transition. This is applicable to all industries that face transition risk.

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