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The future of the industry
S+B: What about the auto industry in general? Do you think the purpose of
every auto company should be oriented toward the environment, quality of life
for employees, and broader prosperity in general?
SENARD: In general, it should be oriented that way. But the realities vary from
one company to the next. In general, automakers have had to cope with incredi-
ble pressure in the market, in the form of lower prices and overcapacity. This has
created turmoil, sometimes with social consequences.
As for the environmental sustainability part, honestly, the auto industry world-
wide is probably doing better than most people realize. In terms of sustainable
mobility, there is much to be done. The optimal technology is not there yet, and it
will need a huge amount of investment before we get there. Nobody really knows
if the targets that have been set are achievable. And that creates tough questions.
When you’re a CEO, you can launch a research program. You can follow it.
You can feed it. But if it doesn’t come out with results, you can’t force that. And
nobody really knows what mobility is going to mean in five or 10 years.
S+B: One thing seems certain: The roster of leading automakers, and the
structure of the industry, will not be the same.
SENARD: You’re absolutely right. I was telling my Michelin team yesterday that
in the future, there will be more ecosystems of companies than individual stand-
alone enterprises. These ecosystems will link a Michelin company to a Renault