Garage owners' day: the car as a symbol of freedom 🎥
WHERE TO MEET At the 18th "Swiss Garage Day", the Swiss Automobile Industry Association (AGVS) demonstrated to a record number of participants that our country is one of the drivers of innovation in the automotive industry.
Over the past few years, the "Swiss Garage Day" has developed into a major and particularly popular industry gathering for the Swiss car trade. Once again, the AGVS welcomed representatives of the garage and supplier industry to the Kursaal Bern - with a record attendance of more than 900 participants. No wonder - interesting presentations on the situation of the automotive industry in Switzerland were held. The fact that Federal Councillor and former Auto Schweiz President Albert Rösti was also among the speakers further enhanced the event.
Freeway and energy supply
The head of the Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) also emphasized the importance of the car as a driver of prosperity in the Kursaal. One of his key concerns was the vote next November, when the population will vote on the expansion of several important sections of highway. On the other hand, the energy supply situation must be secured, whereby openness to technology must be guaranteed.
Innovations from Switzerland
AGVS Central President Thomas Hurter: "Change is progress, and progress comes from innovation. Innovation is therefore the key to success. In Switzerland, one in eight jobs is directly or indirectly dependent on the car. The car therefore remains central as a symbol of freedom and as an economic driver. In 2022, private motorized road traffic accounted for 75 percent of passenger kilometers."
Anja Schulze, Professor of Innovation Management at the University of Zurich, pointed out that Switzerland is also one of the most important innovators internationally. Remarkable: the 574 companies, manufacturers and suppliers in the Swiss automotive industry with 34,000 employees achieve a turnover of 12.3 billion Swiss francs.
There is a lack of trust
Chinese car manufacturers, who are now also bringing their products to the European markets, have also become an issue. Helena Wisbert, Director at the Center for Automotive Research, cited a survey conducted in several European countries. She noted that there is currently still a lack of trust in Chinese brands in Switzerland. Only around a fifth are considering buying a car from China. The popularity of Chinese manufacturers is somewhat higher in the rest of Europe.
Training in automotive professions
Training in the automotive professions in Switzerland is doing well. This is demonstrated by the numerous top positions achieved by automotive mechatronics technicians in international comparisons. Olivier Maeder, AGVS Head of Education, therefore invited a number of young professionals who have been successful in international competitions to talk about their experiences on the stage of the Kursaal (gallery left).
