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Nikolai Ardey
Sustainable, connected, autonomous and fair - that’s how we shape mobility for generations to come!
Nikolai Ardey is a senior executive in the automotive industry, currently serving as the Executive Director of VW Group Innovation at Volkswagen AG, a position he has held since January 2020.1 With a career spanning over two decades in the automotive sector, Ardey has extensive experience in various aspects of vehicle development, particularly in powertrain innovation and sustainability.
Career Highlights
Volkswagen AG:: As Executive Director of VW Group Innovation, Ardey is responsible for shaping the future of mobility. He describes his mission as "Being part of the rapid transformation of mobility".1
Previous Roles::
- AUDI AG: Head of Powertrain Development (2017-2020)
- BMW Group: Held multiple leadership positions (2000-2016), including:
- Head of Efficient Dynamics
- Vice President of Powertrain Definition and Integration
- Vice President of Diesel Engine Development
- Director of Project Management for Powertrains
Education and Expertise
Ardey holds a doctoral degree (Dr.-Ing.) from the Technical University of Munich, obtained in November 1998.1 His areas of expertise include:
- Powertrain strategy and development
- E-Mobility and hybrid technologies
- Software functions for powertrains
- Advanced engine development
- Project management
Innovation Focus
At Volkswagen, Ardey is deeply involved in innovation initiatives:
- He emphasizes that "Innovation cannot be governed. It has to be connected."3
- Under his leadership, Volkswagen AG was recognized as one of the "Corporate Startup Stars" by the International Chamber of Commerce and Mind the Bridge in 2022.2
- Ardey is actively involved in collaborations, such as signing an MoU with imec for future cooperation.4
Recent Projects
Ardey has been involved in cutting-edge projects at Volkswagen, including:
- The development of an eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) drone prototype called "Volkswagen Group Sky Garden," which won the German Design Award.5
- Collaborating with Moonshot Pirates on the "Shape the Future of Mobility" Challenge, focusing on sustainable innovation.6
Nikolai Ardey's career demonstrates a strong commitment to innovation in the automotive industry, with a particular focus on sustainable and future-oriented mobility solutions.
Highlights
Let’s create mobility for generations to come together.
Young people are our future and we want to invite them to contribute actively to shaping this future. That's why Volkswagen Group is launching the #ShapeTheFutureOfMobility Challenge together with Moonshot Pirates an international education initiative. We are inviting young pioneers aged 15 to 20 from all over the world to present their creative ideas for #sustainable mobility.
We at Volkswagen are convinced that practical experience can boost a young person’s individual development and stimulate innovative ideas. With the #innovation challenge, we offer them a platform that sparks their creativity, promotes their future competences and challenges them to develop effective answers to the big questions of the mobility world.
In online workshops and expert talks, the young people gain insights into the latest technologies, learn how to initiate a project and how to respond flexibly to change. This are key skills to succeed in today’s world. Each team develops an idea from scratch and presents it in a pitch video. The young people are supported by our international mentors with expertise in areas such as Data Science, Charging & Energy and UX Design. The team with the best idea will fly to #SiliconValley.
What: Global “Shape the Future of Mobility” Challenge When: May 15 to June 4, 2023, applications can be submitted as of now Where: online
Are you on board? Then register here: www.moonshotpirates.com
