Bavaria: automotive centre of the past, present and future. Andreas Flocken developed the first electric car in Coburg in 1888, Rudolph Diesel invented his compression ignition engine in Augsburg in 1893, and in 1951, Walter Linderer patented the airbag in Munich. Today, the cutting-edge trends in the automotive sector are electromobility, software-defined vehicle and autonomous cars.
Bavaria: automotive centre of the past, present and future. Andreas Flocken developed the first electric car in Coburg in 1888, Rudolph Diesel invented his compression ignition engine in Augsburg in 1893, and in 1951, Walter Linderer patented the airbag in Munich. Today, the cutting-edge trends in the automotive sector are electromobility, software-defined vehicle and autonomous cars.
Bavaria-based OEMs are among the most innovative automotive manufacturers in the world in the fields of electromobility, software-defined vehicle and autonomous driving. Three of the ten companies and institutions with the most patent applications in 2024 come from automotive industries in Bavaria. Pilot projects such as the partnership between MAN and DB Schenker or the E|MPOWER project, a test track for inductive charging of electric vehicles on the A6 motorway, led by the Chair of Manufacturing Automation and Production Systems (FAPS) at FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg clearly demonstrate the international leadership and innovative strength of Bavarian companies and universities.
Another pioneering institution is the CARISSMA center at the Technical University of Ingolstadt, which is considered Germany's only research center for vehicle safety. Here, research is conducted into integrated safety systems and automated driving in order to move closer to Vision Zero – the long-term goal of zero traffic fatalities. In Roding, AVL operates a state-of-the-art weather hall where sensors are tested under realistic conditions such as fog, rain, or snow – crucial for the safe functioning of autonomous systems. This is complemented by the MINGA project in Munich, where driverless transport systems such as Level 4 on-demand vehicles, automated solo buses, and bus platoons are intelligently linked and sensibly integrated into the existing public transport network.
In order to integrate the developed electric mobility concepts into everyday life, the Bavarian state government has strongly promoted the establishment of a comprehensive charging infrastructure in recent years with its own subsidy program, so that almost 35,000 charging and fast charging points are now available, representing around 20 percent of the total German charging infrastructure. BMW and MAN are also investing heavily in battery production at their sites in Straßkirchen, Wackersdorf, and Nuremberg, thereby securing future-proof jobs in Bavaria.
In addition to electromobility, Bavaria is focusing especially on hydrogen as the energy carrier of the future, thus making a pioneering contribution to the mobility revolution. With its own hydrogen strategy, the "Hydrogen Alliance" and a hydrogen user center in Pfeffenhausen, Bavaria aims to become the world's leading expert in H2 technology through the promotion of companies, mobility research, and test and application facilities. In parallel, a new public hydrogen filling station for trucks, buses, and cars is being funded along the A6 at Amberg-Ost by the company H2Mobility to advance the expansion of the H₂ infrastructure.
Current projects and developments are driven not only by world-renowned OEMs, but above all by the approximately 1,100 companies along the entire value chain. These include suppliers such as Bosch, Brose, Dräxlmeier Group, Rexroth, Schaeffler, and Webasto. Together, they generate around one-third of Bavaria's industrial sales.
450000.00
employees in the automotive sector
21104.00
Engineering Graduates
1100.00
companies in the automotive industry
30.00
% of companies and institutions with the most patent applications in 2021 in the automotive industry come from Bavaria
The global players of the automotive sector
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Talents & Research
minusLeading research institutes and university research groups across Bavaria are exploring what the future of mobility looks like. The Fraunhofer Institutes IIS(for integrated circuits) and IGVC (for casting, composite and processing technology) but also the iwb user centre in Garching and Augsburg are exemplary for outstanding Bavarian research. The research work by experts and students from universities and universities of applied sciences on advanced future technologies is the ideal breeding ground for innovation in Bavaria. Engineers, designers, software development and IT specialists work together to develop solutions for the future.
Examples of outstanding success: Student teams from Bavarian universities such as the Technical University of Munich and the Technical University of Augsburg have been among the leaders in the international Formula Student competition for years, a competition for self-developed racing cars with disciplines such as construction, cost evaluation, and dynamic testing. They regularly produce founders of successful start-ups, such as DeepDrive and Roding Mobility.
There are at least 15 universities and colleges of applied sciences with engineering faculties in Bavaria. Bavaria offers an excellent dual training system alongside purely academic options. One element of this system is integrated degree programmes. Students in Landshut can specialise in automotive computer science, students at Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts in automotive engineering and management, and students at Hochschule Ingolstadt in automated driving. There are also traditional dual vocational training programmes, on which businesses and chambers of commerce work together to ensure high-quality training with a strong focus on practice.
Networks
plusBavaria is not just a pioneer in networked vehicles. The region also promotes strong interdisciplinary links between stakeholders from industry, politics and research. The M.A.I. Carbon network, for example, is facilitating Bavaria's development as a European centre of fibre-reinforced plastics. Technology companies and businesses from the mobility sector are pooling their expertise in the Mobility Digital Hub. The Bavaria-wide Automotive Cluster provides a strong basis for excellent networking with 730 players from pioneering research and industry. The main objective? To drive forward innovation in Bavaria.
This is also reflected in the decision by the International Motor Show (IAA), which will be held in the Bavarian capital from 2021. Bavaria is also a key centre for global industrial partnerships: the BMW Group opened a second Autonomous Driving Campus in Munich in 2018. Together with international experts from FCA, Intel and Mobileye, BMW is working on the implementation of highly and fully automated vehicles. Furthermore, at the IBM Watson IoT Center in Munich the BMW Group and IBM are currently conducting a joint project on the i8 hybrid sports car to research intelligent driver assistance systems with the aim of creating a personalised user experience.
Start-ups
plusAccelerators, incubators and sector-specific ventures for mobility start-ups have, of course, also developed in recent years alongside traditional networks. In Bavaria, there is close collaboration between start-ups and renowned research institutions and leadings OEMs, for Bavarian start-ups are particularly strong in the B2B sector. OEM initiatives such as as the Siemens Innovation Ecosystem and BMW's Startup Garage provide helpful access to a network of top engineers and managers. And suppliers have also set up their own cooperation options, for example REHAU with UNLIMITED X or Schaeffler with its Venture Forum.This exclusive access to the who's who of the automotive sector is invaluable. For example, Argo AI, which Audi invests in, has its European headquarters and fifth Engineering Center in Bavaria and the augmented and virtual reality start-up RE'FLEKT is developing a communication technology that enables industrial companies to use step-by-step instructions, e.g. for repair work. The company's customers already include Audi, BMW, Bosch, Hyperloop, Hyundai, Porsche and Thyssen Krupp.
Bavaria's ideal location for startups is ultimately enhanced by complementary offerings such as the Munich Urban Colab, which offers a makerspace, numerous events, and proximity to the city of Munich, making it easy to quickly and simply implement pilot projects.
This cross-sector exchange of information and experience through extensive networks, and close geographical proximity to major OEMs, innovative start-ups and excellent research, make Bavaria a leading automotive industry centre.
Germany's leading innovation hub with its mix of industries and outstanding partners provides the ideal framework for the motor show’s reorganisation: in addition to the main exhibition on the exhibition grounds, there will also be events in Munich city centre, such as air taxi shows, environmental forums and concerts.
Our service for you
plusAre you interested in Bavaria as a business location for your company in the automotive industry? We are happy to support you with the entire establishment process: from planning to the search for a location, formalities and visa issues. Even once you have established yourself in Bavaria, we will put you in touch with networks, associations and clusters. Simply get in contact with us – the team at Invest in Bavaria is looking forward to hearing from you.
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