MEISNERAutomotive Consultancy

Introduction

I started MEISNER Automotive Consultancy in 2013 to advise on European product strategy to clients in the automotive industry, focussing on automobiles and motorcycles. To provide clients with an understanding of the future on regulations, technologies and markets, as input on their product strategy in order to have the right products on the market at the right time.

Regulative trends

Regulation has by now the most impact on the automotive sector, looking forward this is likely to continue. With demands for lower emissions and increase in safety, together with short industry lead times, the regulators have a big impact on the product. Therefore it is important to understand the movements and to be involved in the discussion before regulation is published.

Technology trends

Technology has always been evolving quickly in the automobile sector. In the last decades the technology is developing in the fields of electronics and communication, as there are a lot of opportunities. New companies enter the automobile with new technologies. It is easy to predict the rational future of the car: an autonomous shared mobility solution. However the market is not pure rational and not only based on technology, and not to forget about an important mobility concept; the powered two wheeler.

Industry trends

The automotive industry is powerful because of the large companies and the number of people that are employed directly and indirectly. For regulators the automobile industry is relatively easy to regulate (compared to other high emission industries) and has quick results because of number and renewal rate.

Market trends

The market is changing continuously, in which currently the SUV has become the new standard and electric vehicles and supporting driver systems are embraced by the market. The market has lost faith in the automobile industry due to the diesel gate but that is likely to be regained in the coming years.

Work

The work below had the biggest impact on the automotive industry in the last decade, the regulation changes are the biggest change in the automotive industry ever. The regulation is changing in many ways and have impact on the product engineering, although maybe not visible for the consumer. From 2015 to 2020 the regulation brought stepwise many changes to the automobile, which will continue. New CO2 targets in the Green Deal requiring a further reduction in 2025 and 2030 to be eliminated from 2035. And expected a new pollutant emission stage, Euro 7.

Green Deal

In July 2020 the European Commission proposed the Green Deal which has a big impact on the automobile. A big reduction step in 2030 for CO2 and then no CO2 emissions form 2035. It is clear that the automotive industry has to contribute to the CO2 reduction. The effects of the proposal are gradually more known but the CO2 reduction should be an holistic approach to be successful.

Euro 7

New pollutant emission limits focussed on internal combustion engines. Next to that additional requirements on extended durability of vehicles and continuous emission measurement during the life of the vehicle.

General Safety Regulation

A further update of the safety regulation to improve the safety of vehicles. Requirements include warning of driver drowsiness and distraction (e.g. smartphone use while driving), intelligent speed assistance, reversing safety with camera or sensors, and data recorder in case of an accident , lane-keeping assistance, advanced emergency braking, and crash-test improved safety belts

Framework regulation

Recast of the framework directive, changed to a regulation. More focus on market enforcement and responsibilities of the type approval authorities. Third parties will be able to test vehicles to check if the vehicle meets the emission standard given by the manufacturer.

CO2 Lobby

Proposed and executed as part of a team the lobby strategy, position and material for CO2 lobby of an automobile manufacturer. If the derogation for niche manufacturers would have been deleted earlier than the Commission proposal, there would not be time to change the product. The deletion would have been unfair as the manufacturer contributes to a lower CO2 fleet average by light weight and affordable vehicles. As in many regulations lead-time is important to work to a new regulatory situation.

RDE

Measuring emissions from a vehicle when driving on the road; theory is easy but practical it has a lot of implications. Real Driving Emissions (RDE) were introduced in 2015 and have a big impact on the type approval process. Supported a manufacturer to guide the RDE requirements in their type approval process. This resulted in a solid European process with minimum delays in the overall approval process.

WLTP

A long process that have been accelerated by the diesel gate. Guided a manufacturer to make the change to comply with the WLTP regulation. The preparation caused no delays in the actual approval scheme, different from other manufacturers. In some countries the WLTP introduction caused quite some tax effect with the calculated NEDC values. With the WLTP and RDE the approval costs to manufacturers are increasing.

About me

My name is Tim Meisner and I am living in an historic city in the North-West of The Netherlands. After graduation I started to work at YAMAHA MOTOR in Research and Development. After doing a project on Autonomous Vehicles (showed at Floriade exhibition 2002) I worked on a new motorcycle concept, later introduced as the Tesseract at Tokyo Motor Show 2007. In 2013, after working one year at a diesel engine supplier, I took the step and started my own business in consulting in automotive industry. If I am not working I like to ride motorcycle or work on my '72 VW Beetle. In summer I spend the sunny days at the lake with Waterski & Wakeboard club De Ven. In winter I enjoy to lay down some carves on my alpine board, preferably in the Alps but indoor as next best alternative. If I have some time left I cycle or play golf, depending on my mood.

Experience

2013 - MEISNER Automotive Consultancy

As Owner working for automotive related companies on regulation, lobby strategy and future product strategy for Europe.

2012 - 2013 Mitsubishi heavy industries

Manager Technology Center at Mitsubishi Turbocharger and Engine Europe BV
Managed the engineering and service team of the European Engines business for diesel engines.

2001 - 2012 YAMAHA MOTOR

Different positions in the department Engineering Strategy, started as project manager autonomous vehicles to Department manager engineering strategy in different group companies YAMAHA MOTOR Europe NV and YAMAHA MOTOR R&D Europe srl.
Managed a team with a wide variety of tasks; regulation, homologation, testing and advanced research.

Education

1998 - 2001

Nyenrode Business University, Master in Business Science

1993 - 1997

HAN University (HTS Autotechniek), Bachelor in Automotive Engineering

Contact

• Linkedin
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• Email

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