KEY

This year is exceptionally important for us. Although we decided not to make a big fuss about it (partly to avoid jinxing it), we are actually celebrating a significant milestone. KEY is turning 15! 🎉 A lot has changed since our beginnings—we started with a different name and corporate colors, but throughout all this time, the one and only Thomas Hansla has consistently been our leader 🤴. Thomas believed that he could create a brand that would not only survive but also flourish in the tough automotive market. Although there is still much work ahead, we have already achieved a lot! KEY has outlived its parent company, we've built our own name and brand, and even engineered the best car in the world... 🚗 This all deserves a proper celebration! So, an idea was born. An idea that is ti-iiiny bit crazy. But it just might work! But that's a story for another day. Specifically for tomorrow! It's going to get interesting here over the next few days. #happybirthdayKEY #celebration #surprise #JoinKEY #EngineeringGods

Boeing's decision to lay off its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) department has sparked significant attention, especially in light of the broader trend of companies reassessing or pulling back from DEI efforts. Boeing's move is part of a growing number of companies, particularly in sectors like technology and engineering, scaling back their DEI programs. Several factors contribute to this shift. Economic pressures, including layoffs across the tech industry, have forced companies to reassess their priorities. DEI teams are often seen as non-essential in times of budget cuts. For instance, a study by Hired revealed that 20% of tech companies have reduced their DEI teams in the last year, and many more are considering future cuts due to the tightening economy. Additionally, there is mounting political and public debate surrounding DEI, with some conservative voices arguing that such programs foster inequality rather than addressing systemic issues. 🤔👉 The consequences of cutting DEI initiatives can be far-reaching. For companies like Microsoft and Google, which have also scaled back their DEI teams, there is concern that this could harm efforts to attract a diverse workforce and ultimately affect innovation. In contrast, some argue that DEI, if implemented well, drives performance by creating a more inclusive work environment that attracts top talent. This shift is not isolated to Boeing. For example, John Deere, Toyota, Harley Davidson or even Jack Daniels have also reduced their DEI programs. Even large tech companies like Meta, Snap, and Zoom have trimmed or eliminated DEI roles, signaling that the "DEI bubble" may be bursting, at least in its previous form. Some companies are even rebranding their initiatives, focusing more on "Inclusion and Diversity" (I&D) rather than DEI, which might reflect a more inclusive, less politically charged approach. Ultimately, the retraction from DEI programs by major corporations reflects both economic pressures and a broader cultural debate about the role of corporate responsibility in addressing societal issues. While some argue that diversity efforts are essential for innovation and future business success, others believe that a renewed focus on meritocracy 💪🧠 and opportunity should replace policies aimed at equal outcomes. In our view, limiting non-essential costs is a bold yet correct course of action, considering Boeing's rather challenging situation. The past few months have been difficult for this OEM, and the decisive steps taken demonstrate that the management team is both bold and determined in making decisions driven strictly by business considerations. #news #aviation #boeing #dei #employees #marketnews #engineering

Volkswagen is planning significant job cuts and the closure of at least three factories in Germany as part of a sweeping cost-reduction strategy. Daniela Cavallo, head of Volkswagen’s works council, described the restructuring as a major departure from previous policies, which traditionally protected jobs in Germany. This shift is driven by the challenges Volkswagen faces, including rising competition from Chinese automakers in Europe, a slower-than-expected electric vehicle transition, and sluggish demand in major markets, especially China. Cavallo emphasized that the German government should intervene to support domestic industry amidst these economic pressures. In response, government representatives acknowledged the issue but stressed the need to balance corporate decisions with employee welfare. This restructuring has fueled concern within Germany, where Volkswagen remains one of the largest employers. Further, other German automakers like Mercedes-Benz have announced similar cost-cutting initiatives as the industry contends with increased competition and economic challenges. It should be understood that Volkswagen is at the core of a complex web of economic interdependencies, and its challenges will impact not only Germany's economy! This situation involves multiple layers and is far from a simple fix. Large-scale layoffs are merely a cost-optimization measure designed to buy the company time to implement strategies aimed at reversing the negative trend. Six months ago, our engineers participated in the Volkswagen Partner Forum 2024, where new plans were introduced to reduce the development cycle for new models by 30%. The Volkswagen Group outlined a bold and radical plan to shift from custom solutions to standardized ones. It was foreseeable that drastic steps would soon be taken, and this restructuring appears to be part of a larger plan. It is unfortunate that such operations are being conducted at the expense of employees who are striving to perform their jobs to the best of their ability. Yet we are aware that, while the process is painful, Volkswagen's prolonged difficulties would have even more catastrophic consequences. An intriguing aspect of this restructuring is the appeal for support from the German government. It’s no secret that Chinese corporations receive strong support from the state. Perhaps we are witnessing the emergence of a new automotive market model built on public-private partnerships. #news #automotive #vag #volkswagen #economy #germaneconomy

During the Paris Motor Show, an unusual protest took place — a man dressed as a cow (yes, seriously!) drew attention to major issues with 1.2 PureTech engines used in Citroën and Peugeot models. These engines have become notorious due to numerous malfunctions, with owners complaining about recurring problems and insufficient responses from manufacturers. 👉 The protest video garnered nearly 3 million views, highlighting the widespread concern among drivers of Stellantis-owned brands. A man dressed as a cow turned out to be an entrepreneur running a company that supplies vehicles to driving schools in France. He explained his choice of costume by saying that, for the Stellantis group companies, customers are treated like "cash cows." Beyond the comedic aspect of the protest, this happening became a strong statement from the consumer community. Now the ball is in Stellantis' court. 🔧 Stellantis has yet to take effective measures to address the faulty engines. Customers are still waiting for repairs and compensation. #Engineering #Automotive #Citroën #Peugeot #PureTech #Stellantis #Automotive #Protest #ParisMotorShow

The Space Race is mostly known to us through history books. For decades, there has been little progress in space exploration. However, in recent years, largely thanks to SpaceX's concepts and the implementation of new technological solutions, we are reaching for the stars with increasing boldness. As engineers, we closely follow space innovation. Yesterday, many of us watched SpaceX's test of the Mechazilla capture system, designed to catch the Super Heavy Booster mid-flight. For tech nerds like us, events like this are the equivalent of the Super Bowl – full of excitement and edge-of-your-seat tension during one of the most important engineering feats of the decade! The engineers and technologists at SpaceX successfully conducted the test, making the capture and reuse of rocket components a reality! During the test, Mechazilla's mechanical arms successfully intercepted the descending booster, which, after launching with 33 Raptor engines, safely descended to the platform by reigniting some of its engines to perform the landing maneuver. This test is a key step toward reducing spaceflight costs through the reusability of rocket components. Elon Musk, SpaceX's CEO, emphasized the importance of this achievement for future missions, including lunar landings and crewed missions to Mars. This success is particularly significant after previous challenging landing attempts, and once again, SpaceX has shown that it is closer to achieving its ambitious goals for large-scale space exploration. At the same time – as we reported a few days ago – Chinese companies are increasingly excelling in the development of modern space technologies, creating a competitive environment for a 21st-century Space Race. What a great time to be alive! #news #engineering #rocketscience #spacex #elonmusk #falconheavy #mechazilla

In recent days, the European Union decided to vote on the imposition of tariffs on the import of Chinese electric cars, marking the first shot in a trade war. This decision responds to concerns about unfair competition and subsidies that may distort the market. The most interesting player in this scenario is, traditionally, the German market, which balances the protection of its manufacturers with the need to maintain competitiveness in the global market. Notably, Germany's representation opposed increasing tariff regimes until the end. The introduction of higher tariffs is likely to lead to increased prices for consumers and limited vehicle availability. On the other hand, German manufacturers, including Volkswagen and BMW, may benefit from reduced competition from cheaper Chinese brands. It is also expected that China will respond with sanctions against European manufacturers, as the Chinese market has been particularly lucrative for German automotive companies until recently. Additionally, Chinese manufacturers have significantly more options to circumvent sanctions by producing within the EU or selling their technology under the logos of subsidiaries. This situation may further complicate trade relations between the EU and China. The dynamics of the ongoing developments will be crucial for the future of the automotive market in Europe. Let's keep a close eye on these changes! 🧐🔭🔬 #news #TradeWar #automotive #germany #china #EU

We have received very sad news from Germany. Bruno Sacco, a distinguished automotive designer who shaped the image of Mercedes-Benz for many years, has passed away at the age of 90 😪 . Sacco, born and educated in Italy, gained his first experience at Ghia and Pininfarina carrozzerie. However, true recognition and the opportunity to bring his visions to life came through his collaboration with Daimler-Benz. He started working for the German company in 1958, and by 1975, he became the head of the design department. Sacco was the mastermind behind many groundbreaking models, such as the Mercedes W124, W126, W201 (commonly called the "190"), and W140 (nicknamed "the sow" in Poland), all of which are still considered automotive icons today. His minimalist, elegant lines defined the brand's aesthetic for decades and firmly cemented Mercedes' image in the minds of its enthusiasts. As automotive engineers we would like to say: thank you for your astonishing work, mister Sacco! #news #automotive #mercedes #mercedesbenz #cardesign

For the past few days, we’ve been following the online commentary regarding a certain ambitious space endeavor, with a mix of curiosity and occasional embarrassment. On September 22, 2024, the Chinese company Deep Blue Aerospace conducted a test of its reusable rocket prototype, Nebula-1, in the Inner Mongolia region. Although the flight was nearly a complete success, the crucial landing stage failed. The rocket reached its planned altitude and began its descent to the launch pad, but due to a premature engine shutdown in the final phase, the landing was unsuccessful, resulting in the destruction of the vehicle and a rather spectacular explosion (which was captured in stunning drone footage that you can see below the post!). Some internet users found it appropriate to mock the Chinese endeavor, suggesting it as an example of "tofu dreg" engineering. Sadly, this shows a lack of understanding about the design process or simply bias against Chinese technology. In reality, failure is an expected part of testing! The main goal of such tests is to analyze and learn from the process. Deep Blue Aerospace succeeded in achieving 10 out of the 11 mission objectives, and another test is scheduled for November. The company is well on its way to refining rocket recovery technology for commercial use, and this single setback certainly doesn’t mean the entire project should be written off. Fortunately, amidst the mockery, we also saw many comments showing appreciation and respect for the engineering advancement of the Nebula-1 rocket. It’s important to recognize and accept that Chinese technology is already competitive with Western achievements in many areas. This should be a valuable lesson for all nations on how to leverage technological progress to build their own infrastructure and accomplishments! We were truly impressed by what we saw in the Nebula-1 test footage. #technology #news #engineering #commentary #china #aerospace #rocketengineering

A few weeks ago, Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Chechnya and a loyal supporter of Russia, boasted that despite sanctions, he had managed to acquire a Tesla Cybertruck. The vehicle, with some modifications, was reportedly going to be deployed on the front lines. On this occasion, Kadyrov provoked reactions from Elon Musk several times (including claims that the vehicle was a gift from Musk himself). Recently, on the Telegram platform, the Chechen leader stated that his Cybertruck had been "remotely disabled." Regardless of the credibility of Kadyrov, who is known for his loose relationship with the truth, the situation itself is quite interesting from the perspective of business ethics and the automotive market. The war activities of Russia and Chechnya indeed bear marks of banditry, but until now, a car owner could use their vehicle in any way they wanted after purchase, even in ways that contradicted the manufacturer’s philosophy. After all, the car is personal property and, as such, subject to the owner’s will. However, if Kadyrov’s claims are true, this case represents a situation where the manufacturer is preventing the owner from using their property, even though the product has been paid for. Connected cars have incredible development potential — updates can improve the entire vehicle's characteristics and enhance its performance. Unfortunately, this can also work the other way around. A low-quality update can degrade the car’s quality or — as in this case — completely disable it. A targeted remote intervention in a vehicle breaks a certain taboo and may raise valid concerns among consumers. Of course, we've known for a while that this possibility exists, but it seems like a good moment to discuss the ethics and obligations of OEMs toward buyers. What’s your take on this situation? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments! #news #automotive #tesla #elonmusk #cybertruck

🇵🇱 Nasze oczy zwracają się w stronę rzeki. Wrocław nie jest obecnie zagrożony, choć występują pewne lokalne problemy. Szczyt fali powodziowej spodziewany jest jednak jutro. Z tej okazji mamy dla Was ważną wiadomość! Nie będziemy prowadzić wykładów na temat hydrologii, ponieważ nie jest to dziedzina inżynierii, w której się specjalizujemy. Wiemy jednak co nieco o samochodach i mocno namawiamy wszystkich naszych czytelników, których mienie jest zagrożone przez wodę: zabezpieczcie swoje samochody wcześniej, parkując w garażach wielopoziomowych lub w wyższych częściach miasta. Zróbcie to z wyprzedzeniem! Gdy woda dotrze do waszego pojazdu, nie zgrywajcie bohaterów i nie próbujcie przejeżdżać przez zalane ulice. Samochody są ważną częścią naszego dobytku, ale nie warto ryzykować dla nich życia! Woda to zdradziecki żywioł, a samochody nie są zaprojektowane do radzenia sobie z powodzią na poziomie prześwitu. Zachowajcie ostrożność, bądźcie bezpieczni i pamiętajcie - nie jesteście sami! Pomagajcie sąsiadom i proście o pomoc, jeśli jej potrzebujecie! 🇬🇧 Our eyes are turning toward the river. Wrocław is not currently in danger, though there are some localized problems. However, the peak of the flood wave is expected tomorrow. On this occasion, we have an important message for you! We’re not going to lecture you about hydrology, as it's not a field of engineering we specialize in. However, we do know a thing or two about cars, and we strongly urge all our readers whose property is at risk from water: secure your cars in advance by parking in multi-level garages or higher parts of the city. Make sure to do this ahead of time! When the water reaches your vehicle, don’t play the hero and try to drive through flooded streets. Cars are an important part of our property, but they’re not worth risking your life! Water is a treacherous element, and cars are not designed to handle flooding at clearance level. Stay cautious, stay safe, and remember—you’re not alone! Help your neighbors and ask for help if you need it! #westandtogether #flood #floodinpoland #powodzwpolsce #powodz #wroclaw