In this episode of Drivetime, Dr. Christian Dickopf, senior vice president, Corteco Division at Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies, shared his perspective on the evolving automotive aftermarket industry and the essential factors for career success. With more than 18 years of experience at Freudenberg Group, Corteco’s parent company, his journey from product development to leadership underscores the value of diverse skills and networking in this field.
Dickopf highlighted the company’s commitment to innovation, especially as the industry shifts toward electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous technologies. Corteco is actively developing unique aftermarket products tailored to EVs, which have distinct needs compared to traditional vehicles, he said.
“There is a slight dip right now. I believe, long-term, we will move toward better electric vehicles. At least that’s what the data indicates today,” Dickopf said.
Additionally, Corteco is expanding into the heavy-duty vehicle sector, focusing on providing high-durability parts to meet the demands of commercial vehicles. For aspiring professionals, Dickopf advised building cross-functional expertise and maintaining industry networks to thrive in this competitive market.
Make sure to give the video a watch; you can jump to specific topics with the episode overview below.
Episode Overview:
- Dickopf discusses his life experiences in Germany leading to his role at Corteco (0:45)
- Corteco’s role in the aftermarket (7:24)
- How Corteco plans to serve the heavy-duty market (12:06)
- Prioritizing keeping top talent with the company (15:06)
- Corteco’s recent growth and future outlook (20:09)
- Lightning round (22:06)
