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CLEPA Innovation Awards 2016 “Celebrating Automotive Excellence”

Date

18 Mar 2016

Sections

Innovation & Enterprise
Transport

Last night, more than 160 guests from the European automotive industry along with EU policymakers gathered in Brussels to celebrate the CLEPA Innovation Awards 2016.

Organised in cooperation with Deloitte, the Innovation Awards highlight the outstanding achievements made in the European automotive industry, celebrating automotive excellence for Green, Safety, Connectivity and for the first time Cooperation with OEMs.

Jury members had a particularly difficult task this year:

With 76 applications from 45 companies, the Innovation Awards reflect the highly competitive nature of the automotive industry. Annual investments of more than €18bn in research and development represent the key role European automotive suppliers play in driving growth and innovation globally.

The winners:

•        Green – Hidria - Optymus

•        Safety – Valeo - Remote clean4U

•        Connectivity – TomTom - HAD Map and RoadDNA

•        Cooperation – Dana & Audi - Partially Coated Multi-layer Steel Transmission Separator Plates

•        Cooperation – Inteva & General Motors – Complex - Complex geometry interior instrument panel designs

During the Innovation Awards, CLEPA President, Mr Roberto Vavassori underlined the importance of the European automotive industry as an innovation leader:

"European Automotive Suppliers strive to improve their services and products year after year for a greener, safer and more connected mobility. They are determined to retain their position as leaders of automotive innovation, developing pioneering technologies in the area of automated driving, connected vehicles and telematics”, said Mr Vavassori, CLEPA President.

With more than 50% of the applications being filed in the Green Technology category, European automotive suppliers also re-confirm their commitment to continuously driving innovation in the field of vehicle emissions reduction.

CLEPA members are firmly committed to stay in the lead by further investing in safety, environmental protection and sustainable mobility”, said Mr Paul Schockmel, CLEPA CEO.

The second and third prizes were awarded to:

·        Green

o   Valeo – EG generator with high efficiency

o   Robert Bosch – 350 bar gasoline direct injection

·        Safety

o   Continental – MK C1 future brake system

o   Britax – Automatic tensioning system

·        Connectivity

o   Continental – Road database technology

o   Continental – Holistic connectivity concept

·        Cooperation

o   Westfalia & Audi – Trailer Towing Assistant

o   IEE & BMW– Hands off detection

The Jury members were:

•        Risto Kulmala – Principal Advisor on ITS – Finnish Transport Agency

•        Michiel R. Van Ratingen – Secretary General – EuroNCAP

•        Gwen van Vugt – Director – Tass International

•        Hermann Meyer – CEO – ERTICO

•        Renato Librino – Managing Director – 4S Group

•        Ricardo F. Martinez –Botas – Professor – Imperial College London

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Note to Editors

CLEPA is the European Association of Automotive Suppliers. 114 of the world's most prominent suppliers for car parts, systems and modules and 23 National trade associations and European sector associations are members of CLEPA, representing more than 3 thousand companies, employing more than 5 million people and covering all products and services within the automotive supply chain. Based in Brussels, Belgium, CLEPA is recognised as the natural discussion partner by the European Institutions, United Nations and fellow associations (ACEA, JAMA, MEMA, etc.).

Facts about the European automotive industry

·       Some 12 million people are employed in the European automotive industry

·        European automotive suppliers directly employ 5 million people

·        European automotive suppliers invest €18bn in RDI per year. They are one of the biggest private investors into research and innovation

·       Per year, 16 million vehicles are manufactured in Europe, contributing to the stability and growth of the European economy

For more information, please contact:

Mrs Amalia Di Stefano, CLEPA Deputy CEO, Tel.: +32 2 743 91 35 www.clepa.eu