According to Traton CEO Andreas Renschler, there are key lessons that his company has taken away from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, giving the outbreak a positive spin at the recent Summer of Purpose virtual/live global business event held in Munich, Germany.

“The experience from the coronavirus pandemic will strengthen our resilience as a society because we’ve become more flexible and even more focused. The same goes for the Traton Group,” said Renschler, who also serves as a member of the board of management of Volkswagen AG. “The lockdown has clearly demonstrated the speed with which we can adapt when we need to.”  

Renschler’s keynote address also highlighted the idea that positive business results can also be achieved with virtual meetings and working from a home office, adding that this global experience “will lastingly change the way we work.” The Traton Group, which oversees brands such as MAN, Scania, and Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus, is currently analyzing how some of these changes can be combined with pre-COVID practices to identify the most effective way of doing business now and in the future.

“The crisis is making us realize where society’s vital organs are: in the healthcare and water supply sectors — and also very considerably in transportation,” said Renschler. “Transportation is the heartbeat of a connected society and an essential factor in all economies.”

While the economic decline caused by the coronavirus pandemic is forcing companies to refocus their priorities, Traton is not abandoning its plans for alternative-fueled vehicles, according to Renschler.

“We at Traton are fully committed to the climate targets set in the Paris Agreement. That’s why we’ll invest one billion euros in alternative drives up to 2025, despite the crisis, because the coronavirus evolution can and must become a green revolution,” he added.