Nikolai Ardey

Nikolai Ardey is a senior executive in the automotive industry, currently serving as the Executive Director of VW Group Innovation at Volkswagen AG, a position he has held since January 2020.1 With a career spanning over two decades in the automotive sector, Ardey has extensive experience in various aspects of vehicle development, particularly in powertrain innovation and sustainability.

Career Highlights

Volkswagen AG:: As Executive Director of VW Group Innovation, Ardey is responsible for shaping the future of mobility. He describes his mission as "Being part of the rapid transformation of mobility".1

Previous Roles::

• AUDI AG: Head of Powertrain Development (2017-2020)
• BMW Group: Held multiple leadership positions (2000-2016), including:
  • Head of Efficient Dynamics
  • Vice President of Powertrain Definition and Integration
  • Vice President of Diesel Engine Development
  • Director of Project Management for Powertrains

Education and Expertise

Ardey holds a doctoral degree (Dr.-Ing.) from the Technical University of Munich, obtained in November 1998.1 His areas of expertise include:

• Powertrain strategy and development
• E-Mobility and hybrid technologies
• Software functions for powertrains
• Advanced engine development
• Project management

Innovation Focus

At Volkswagen, Ardey is deeply involved in innovation initiatives:

1. He emphasizes that "Innovation cannot be governed. It has to be connected."3
2. Under his leadership, Volkswagen AG was recognized as one of the "Corporate Startup Stars" by the International Chamber of Commerce and Mind the Bridge in 2022.2
3. Ardey is actively involved in collaborations, such as signing an MoU with imec for future cooperation.4

Recent Projects

Ardey has been involved in cutting-edge projects at Volkswagen, including:

• The development of an eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) drone prototype called "Volkswagen Group Sky Garden," which won the German Design Award.5
• Collaborating with Moonshot Pirates on the "Shape the Future of Mobility" Challenge, focusing on sustainable innovation.6

Nikolai Ardey's career demonstrates a strong commitment to innovation in the automotive industry, with a particular focus on sustainable and future-oriented mobility solutions.