The engine trends for 2025

The engine trends for 2025

Whether car, commercial vehicle, ship or airplane, the global mobility industry is currently changing faster than ever: On the one hand, traditional manufacturers are facing major challenges with new technologies, on the other hand, young new companies are bringing a breath of fresh air in drive systems, fuels and global cooperation. Over 300 experts from all over the world will present the latest developments and technology trends for motor vehicles, aviation, space and shipping at the 46th International Engine Symposium from May 14 to 16, 2025 in the Vienna Hofburg.

“Is there more than one solution on the way to Net Zero?” – The CEO of the newly founded manufacturer of compact drive units, Horse Powertrain, Matias Giannini (London), will address this question at the opening of the 46th International Vienna Motor Symposium on May 15th in the Hofburg in Vienna. He heads a joint venture founded by Geely (China), Renault (France) and Aramco (Saudi Arabia) with the aim of supplying powertrains consisting of combustion engines and compact hybrid drive systems in modular design for a wide range of vehicles and manufacturers. Also speaking at plenary sections: The Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of the injection system manufacturer PHINIA (USA), Todd Anderson, VW board member Kai Grünitz, Holger Klein, CEO of the ZF Group (Friedrichshafen), Bosch managing director Markus Heyn, Torsten Eder, Vice President Electrified Drive Systems Mercedes Benz (Stuttgart) and the board member for research and development at MAN Trucks & Bus, Frederik Zohm (Munich). “We are very pleased to be able to welcome profound experts and responsible persons in Vienna from both the OEMs and the supplier industry,” emphasizes the Chairman of the Board of the Austrian Association for Automotive Technology (ÖVK) and organizer of the engine symposium, Professor Bernhard Geringer.

"Passenger car manufacturers all over the world are currently no longer developing their own engines and drive trains. Ready-made, compact drive units from companies such as Horse Powertrain are therefore becoming more important," Geringer refers to one of the many trends that will be discussed at the 2025 Motor Symposium, and adds: "The range extender (REEV), for example, was already a big topic in electric vehicles 10 years ago, but then disappeared from the scene again. But now we are noticing in the market that the REEV is on the rise again.” When it comes to commercial vehicles, however, the race to find the drive of the future is still completely open. Both e-solutions for local distribution transport and urban buses as well as large combustion engines for long-distance transport, some of which are powered by hydrogen, are being discussed. For example, the US engine manufacturer Cummins will present a 6.7-liter hydrogen engine with direct injection in Vienna, while Volvo will present the concept of a 17-liter hydrogen combustion engine with low-pressure direct injection for heavy commercial vehicles.