The Podcast on Cost, Innovation & Industrial Change

Real conversations on cost leadership, technology shifts, and industrial strategy.

New Episode. Every month

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NEW EPISODE #9

China’s Speed Changes Everything

Are German manufacturers really losing to Chinese technology, or just to Chinese speed? On this episode of Beyond Cost, host Jakob Etzel talks with Prof. Dr. Martin Koers, former VDA president, about the one field where Germany still leads (combustion engineering) and the three where China has pulled ahead: EVs, software-defined vehicles, and autonomous driving. Koers shares what he learned after moving to Shenzhen to teach, from 9-9-6 work culture to five-year plans that set direction while a ruthless domestic market decides who survives.

Beyond Cost Episode 9 (Prof. Dr. Martin Koers): China's Speed Changes Everything
EPISODE #9

China’s Speed Changes Everything

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Beyond Cost Episode 8: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Achim Kampker. No Risk Is the True Risk.
EPISODE #8

No Risk Is the True Risk [DE]

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EPISODE #7

Carbon Is the Cost Nobody Budgets

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EPISODE #6

The Benchmarking Gap: Why Chinese OEMs Are Pulling Ahead

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EPISODE #5

Start Early or Pay Twice: The Brutal Truth About Cost Engineering ROI

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EPISODE #4

Hydrogen vs Electric? Europe’s Real Problem Is Hesitation in a Race for Innovation

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EPISODE #3

Germany’s Manufacturing Edge Is Fading: Can Industry Reclaim It?

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EPISODE #2

20 Years of Building Cost Software: A Founder’s Journey From Factory Floor to Boardroom

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EPISODE #1

Is This the End of German Automotive Leadership? ZF Insider Speaks Out

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