SupplyChain Magazine June 2019 | Page 123

“ IN THE SOURCING SPACE , A LOT OF THINGS LIVE AND DIE BY WHETHER THE INTERNAL BUSINESS PARTNERS ALIGN WITH A STRATEGY ”

— Nina Bomberg , Global Lead Buyer , SEG Automotive
the world ,” says Bomberg , adding that the reduction in organizational complexity has allowed SEG ’ s team to cater its sourcing practices to the unique challenges of different markets . “ Now it ’ s possible to have a supplier that only works in Brazil but is exactly right for that market , whilst for the other six countries where we produce , we buy from someone else .”
More focused , adaptable sourcing is giving SEG the ability to hone in on its long term goals : to further increase its contribution to reducing CO2 emissions from passenger cars and commercial vehicles , while also becoming a leader in electrification solutions . “ The autono- my we have now means we set our own targets – and electrification is a key area of growth for us ,” emphasises Bomberg . “ We have the clear goal of being a technology leader in that field as well .” SEG ’ s new Chinese owners reflect the increasing maturity of the electric vehicle market in the Asia Pacific region . Bomberg asserts : “ China has established itself as the largest car market in the world and is driving the change towards electrification .” European demand for solutions that reduce CO2 emissions is rising rapidly too and SEG is anticipating a continued surge in a market where it is already the key player . “ 48V mild-hybridization in particular will be a key technology in Europe , which is set to even outpace EVs in terms of market penetration . Just as with starter motors and generators before , we are a technology leader for 48V , which transforms any conventional internal combustion engine into an efficient mild-hybrid with minimal effort .”
The company is looking to expand its portfolio and improve upon existing products at its new R & D centre under construction in Changsha , China , which is collaborating across continents with
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