Automotive industry transition initiatives target workforce retraining

New initiatives are emerging to manage the structural transformation within the German automotive industry by transitioning skilled workers into new sectors. The EU-funded ‘Automotive Cluster Transition Bridge’ project, led by Robert Bosch GmbH and the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering and Systems Engineering (IAO), has received 2.7 million euros to support professional reorientation. The project aims to analyze existing competencies and develop qualification pathways to connect automotive specialists with new industries.

In a related development, defense technology company Hensoldt is collaborating with Bosch to mitigate the impact of the automotive sector's decline. Hensoldt plans to establish a development center in Leinfelden-Echterdingen near Stuttgart, creating approximately 300 positions focused on Software-Defined Defence. The company intends to rent space at a Bosch site to recruit qualified personnel from Bosch in fields such as system development, software engineering, and electrical engineering. This move seeks to retain valuable regional expertise as Bosch manages significant workforce reductions due to the ongoing industry crisis.