Ford Panel Discussion - Closing the Gap: Winning Societal Support for the EV Transition in an Age of Polarization | Ford of Europe

COLOGNE, Germany, Aug. 30, 2023 – Ford Model e general manager Europe, Martin Sander, will host a livestreamed panel discussion in Munich on Monday, September 4, 2023, at 14:00 CET, as part of Ford’s IAA Mobility programme. The discussion will explore the critical topic of the EV transition in an age of polarization.

The event will be moderated by journalist Jennifer Baker. Sander will be joined on the panel by behavioural researcher Vanessa Hirneis, mobility expert Prof. Dr. Stefan Bratzel, managing director for Ford in Norway, Per Gunnar Berg and member of the German Bundestag, Thomas Heilmann.

The diverse perspectives coming from academia, government and the private sector will inform the audience on the obstacles in the way of greater uptake of EVs, and what companies, governments and societies can do to overcome them.

A live stream of the event will begin at 14:00 CET on Monday, September 4, 2023. Watch it here.

Panel Participants:

Jennifer Baker is an independent journalist based in Brussels with decades of experience covering EU policy - Jennifer Baker | LinkedIn
Vanessa Hirneis is a researcher focusing on behavioral science, sociology, and economic theory, including how policy that targets social norms and values could help people live more sustainably. Vanessa H. | LinkedIn
Thomas Heilmann is a member of the German Bundestag belonging to the CDU. Thomas Heilmann | LinkedIn
Prof. Dr. Stefan Bratzel is the founder and director of the Center of Automotive Management (CAM) in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany. Stefan Bratzel, Prof. Dr. | LinkedIn
Per Gunnar Berg is the managing director of Ford Norway. Per Gunnar Berg | LinkedIn
Martin Sander is the Ford Model e general manager Europe. Martin Sander | LinkedIn

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Ford, a global American brand woven into the fabric of Europe for more than 100 years, is committed to freedom of movement that goes hand-in-hand with looking after the planet and each other. The company’s Ford+ plan, with Model e, Ford Pro and the Ford Blue business units is accelerating its European transformation to an all-electric and carbon neutral future by 2035. The company is driving forward with bold, new EVs, each one designed with European drivers in mind and innovating with services to help people connect, communities grow, and businesses thrive. Selling and servicing Ford vehicles in 50 individual European markets, operations also include the Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Customer Service Division and 14 manufacturing facilities (eight wholly owned and six unconsolidated joint venture facilities) with four centres based in Cologne, Germany; Valencia, Spain and at our joint venture in Craiova, Romania and Kocaeli, Türkiye. Ford employs approximately 34,000 people at its wholly owned facilities and consolidated joint ventures and approximately 56,000 people including unconsolidated businesses across Europe. More information about the company, its products and Ford Credit is available at corporate.ford.com.