The electric car startup Piëch Automotive AG, based in Switzerland, is single-mindedly heading towards the market launch of its battery-powered sports car. The company founders Toni Piëch and Rea Stark, who caused quite a stir at the Geneva Motor Show 2019 with their innovative study, have brought strong support to the company. The Supervisory Board is now chaired by Matthias Müller, former CEO of Porsche and Volkswagen.

Müller’s commitment is part of a competence offensive that also includes operational management and accelerates the young automotive company on the home stretch to market entry. From now on, Klaus Schmidt, who as Chief Technology Officer has already been responsible for the modular and highly innovative vehicle concept for four years, will be one of two CEOs to take over operational management of the company for all technical areas. Andreas Henke, also as CEO and Chief Marketing Officer, is responsible for the operational and strategic skills in positioning the brand, customer relations, finances and personnel. Henke has recently been successful in the high-end market of Porsche and Burmester and will give the company a clear, unique profile. The new CEO dual leadership will strengthen the competence of Piëch Automotive. Traditional automotive values will be merged with the innovative power of creative impulse generators and external partners to implement trend-setting solutions for a sustainable automotive culture.

Founder Toni Piëch explains: “With Matthias Müller, we have convinced a long-standing and successful manager in the automotive industry of our disruptive approach. He will be an experienced advisor and contact person for us”. And founder Rea Stark adds: “The CEO dual leadership with Klaus Schmidt and Andreas Henke strengthens our objective of not only bringing technologically highly innovative vehicles onto the road, but also establishing the brand and completely redefining the relationship with our customers and prospects”.

Matthias Müller, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, comments: “I was spontaneously inspired by the mission of the two founders because it is more consistent and visionary than any new approach I have encountered during my work in the automotive industry. I am proud to be involved in this new chapter of modern automotive history and to help shape the future of the automobile. This approach deserves every effort”.

As CEOs, Klaus Schmidt and Andreas Henke are convinced that the foundations have now been laid to position the brand and to competently expand development, financing and partnerships. The coming phase will continue to be characterised by attracting creative top talents and experienced experts from the automotive industry and interdisciplinary fields to the company. The company was also able to gain Jochen Rudat as an experienced specialist for the development of sales activities. The former Tesla Sales Director for Europe has the valuable knowledge and competence to implement a unique sales concept in the market.

The successfully completed financing round A, partly due to the entry of investor Peter Thiel, will be followed in the coming months by round B, led by UBS as advising bank.

Testing of first technology carriers and construction of the new Piëch Engineering Campus

Just in time for the design freeze of the new sports car, the commissioning of the first prototypes, the engagement of important development and production partners and the construction of the Piëch Engineering Campus in Memmingen, the start-up is consistently preparing for the next chapter of its still young company history.

Piëch Automotive’s highly innovative modular vehicle concept, which allows numerous body variants, drive systems and continuous hardware and software upgrades, is unique in its optionality. It pursues new ways of conserving resources and ensures the future viability of the company. It thus already sets a milestone today for sustainable individual mobility.

To launch the first of three vehicle concepts planned to date, the two-seater electric sports car, the company plans to introduce its revolutionary battery and charging technology into series production at the end of 2022. It allows 80% of the capacity for a range of 400 kilometres to be recharged in just 4:40 minutes, which is an absolute top value in a global comparison. The maximum possible range is 500 kilometres (WLTP).

www.piech.com