Why Webasto wants to become key battery systems firm

Webasto Chairman Holger Engelmann wants to turn the roofs and thermal management specialist into a battery systems expert in time to capitalize on the forthcoming wave of electric cars from global automakers. It's a bold move, but Engelmann believes that the family-owned German company, which had record sales of 3 billion euros in 2016, already has several skills needed to branch into a new sector. He spoke about this and more with Automotive News Europe Managing Editor Douglas A. Bolduc.