Research and development (R&D)
Technology roadmap
We transform ideas into innovative, sustainable and high-value automotive solutions, driven by R&D, engineering and excellence.
CIE Automotive's leadership position is driven by R&D&I, which forms an integral part of its product and process strategy and is reflected in its main areas of action.
INTERNATIONALISATION
- Deploying an international network of 12 R&D centres located close to key markets and strategic customers.
- Ensuring swift local support for customers and production plants, tailored to the needs of each region.
- Incorporating safety criteria from the earliest stages of product definition and development.
- Ensuring compliance with local and international standards applying to the automotive industry.
- Promoting global knowledge management to share best practices, technical capabilities and innovation among centres.
ELECTRIFICATION
- Developing components and solutions adapted to new electric and electrified vehicle architectures.
- Strengthening R&D capabilities in materials, lightweighting, thermal management and energy efficiency.
- Working alongside our customers and tech partners to anticipate the needs of the e-mobility market.
- Ensuring safe, sustainable and competitive products for global electrified platforms.
COMFORT
- Developing lightweight, sustainable interior components adapted to the new comfort and design requirements of electric and electrified platforms.
- Promoting solutions for panoramic roofs that improve safety, functional integration and user experience.
- Innovating in branding components with distinctive finishes, lighting and brand customisation.
- Optimising plastic materials, manufacturing processes and recyclability to reduce environmental impact and costs.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
- Enhancing data analytics to improve efficiency, quality and decision-making.
- Incorporating artificial vision systems into quality control, inspection and part traceability.
- Applying artificial intelligence to anticipate incidents, optimize processes and reduce costs.
- Advancing automation of key production and administrative operations.
- Deploying digital twins to simulate, validate and optimise products, processes and plants before industrialisation.
ECO-EFFICIENCY
- Designing lighter, recyclable components with lower environmental impact from the earliest stages of development.
- Selecting sustainable materials and processes that reduce consumption of energy, water and raw materials.
- Optimising manufacturing to minimise waste, rejects and emissions, and thus contribute to the fight against climate change.
- Incorporating criteria based on the circular economy, reuse, recyclability and end-of-life product management.
- Measuring and improving the environmental footprint of products throughout their life cycle.
ACTIVE LISTENING
- Constantly listening to customers, suppliers and employees.
- Collaborating with universities, technology centres and industry forums.
- Gathering ideas, needs and opportunities for improvement.
- Incorporating their contributions into innovation and decision-making processes.
- Sharing progress and maintaining a close and transparent relationship.
Engineering
CIE Automotive turns innovation into competitive advantage by developing products and processes in an integrated manner to deliver high-value solutions, maximum performance and robust manufacturing. R&D&I is a key lever for anticipating the future of the automotive industry and hastening sustainable growth.
Engineering from design to production
Our development process.
