“As our recently unveiled XiM20 interior concept demonstrates, future mobility opens up entirely new technology and design possibilities for vehicle interiors,” explained Han Hendriks, Chief Technology Officer for YFAI. “Through our collaboration with Plug and Play in California, we have made significant progress with our innovation work. We believe that we will also find strong partners through Startup Autobahn that help us further advance the evolution of automotive interiors with visionary technologies.”

As Europe’s largest platform for open innovation, Startup Autobahn puts the emphasis on an open exchange of disruptive ideas and technologies. Stuttgart research factory ARENA2036 offers ideal conditions for rapid and uncomplicated cooperation between companies and selected startups from all over the world. YFAI wishes to use this opportunity to cooperate with young companies on new technologies for future vehicle interiors.

“The startup scene has a great innovative spirit which we can also use to the benefit of development work within our company,” said Han Hendriks. “At the same time, the partnership gives startups access to our many years of expertise in the automotive industry.”

Sascha Karimpour, Managing Director of Plug and Play Germany, said of the new partnership: “With its clear vision for the future of vehicle interiors, YFAI is an important partner for our innovation platform. Through direct dialog with the mobility startup scene, Startup Autobahn provides the ideal environment for further development of the passenger experience.”

About STARTUP AUTOBAHN:
STARTUP AUTOBAHN is an innovation platform powered by Plug and Play. It provides an interface between industry-leading corporations and young tech companies. In May 2016, Daimler, Plug and Play Tech Center, the University of Stuttgart and ARENA2036 founded STARTUP AUTOBAHN as an open innovation platform with global reach. Since then, they have teamed up with Anchor Partners Hewlett Packard Enterprise, DXC Technology, ZF Friedrichshafen, BASF, Porsche, Deutsche Post DHL Group, Webasto, Rolls-Royce Power Systems, Samvardhana Motherson, T-Systems and the Ecosystem Partners Murata, HELLA, BENTELER, The Linde Group, AGC Glass Europe, Wieland Ventures, Jardine Matheson Limited, Covéa, Cepsa, Bleistahl, BP, Hyundai, TÜV Rheinland and Yanfeng Automotive Interior, to bring open innovation thought to life.