Important topics on the agenda when BIL invited industry, politicians and the public to panel discussions in the Transport Tent.
Even if Arendalsuka is not the place where you necessarily gain influence for your politics, it is an incredibly important meeting place for a member organization such as the Bilimportørenes Landsforening.
Not only do we get to meet members, alliance partners, industry colleagues and politicians, we also gain insight and focus on topics that are important to our members.
During Arendal Week this year, we have both held our own events, collaborated with others on events and participated in important panel discussions. In addition, we have had meetings with various member companies, collaboration partners and potential alliance partners.
BIL director Harald Jachwitz Andersen in action during “The Great Transport Debate”. From left: Øyvind Solberg Thorsen (OFV), road director Ingrid Dahl Hovland, Olov Grøtting (head of the Swedish Transport Association), Roar Norik (researcher at Sintef) and Marius Holm (communications director at Vy). Photo: BIL
Decisive with a good plan
Being four whole days in the throngs of Arendal can be a demanding exercise. 160,000 visitors (2023 figures), 2,140 events and just under 180 stands is tremendous in a municipality that normally has 46,000 inhabitants. Everyone wants attention for their company and their cause, and most of the country’s largest and most influential companies are present.
We at BIL had a good plan in advance and a clear goal of what we wanted to achieve during the days, and most things went according to plan.
State Secretary Sigrun Aasland sportily stood up for a conversation about what is needed to speed up the electrification of commercial vehicles. From left: Andreas Handeland (BIL), Christina Bu (Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association), Sigrun Aasland (KLD), Harald Jachwitz Andersen (BIL) and Ida Krag (NBF). Photo: BIL
Why are we really lagging behind in commercial vehicles?
Our first event on Tuesday was organized in OFV’s Transport Tent in collaboration with NBF and the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association. Here we spoke with the car industry, the transport industry, the Climate Change Agency and the government about what is needed for the electrification of commercial vehicles to become a success story on a par with the passenger car.
BIL, NBF and the Norwegian Electric Vehicle Association were given their input, or rather challenges, to State Secretary of KLD, Sigrun Aasland, in the subsequent panel discussion. The conversation was led by BIL’s communications manager Andreas Handeland.
Later that evening, BIL director Harald Jachwitz Andersen took part in The Great Transport Debate organized by the Road Traffic Information Council. Here he met road director Ingrid Dahl Hovland and Vy-topp Marius Holm for a debate on what the future mobility system should look like in Norway.
NIL’s Erik Solum shared insights into global trends, macroeconomics and sales expectations. Photo: BIL
An exciting look into the crystal ball
And speaking of the future mobility system – what will the Norwegian car market look like in 2030? What framework conditions do we need? And does the regulation really keep pace with technological developments and customer preferences?
This was the theme of BIL’s second event, which was organized on Thursday morning. It all started with a solid market update from Erik Solum, who is head of insight, analysis and sustainability at BIL. He talked about global trends, macroeconomics and sales expectations, before a panel consisting of some of the industry’s most exciting leaders took the stage.
Under the leadership of the BIL director, they had a constructive talk about the way forward for the Norwegian car market. The audience, both in the hall and the several hundred who followed along on stream, heard about their expectations, common challenges, upcoming technology and competitive advantages.
An exciting, pleasant and constructive conversation that put a nice end to Arendal Week 2024. Thanks to our partner OFV for good management in the Transport Tent.
What does the Norwegian car market look like in 2030, what are their competitive advantages, and what challenges lie ahead? From left: Simona Trombetta (Kia), Claes Persson (Xpeng), Ulf Tore Hekneby (Harald A. Møller) and Espen Olsen (Toyota). Photo: BIL