The European automotive industry is under increasing pressure to improve competitiveness while responding to technological transformation, cost constraints and global competition.
These challenges are reshaping the relationship between OEMs, suppliers, engineering teams, research institutions and manufacturing partners.
At the MCG Open Day 2026, more than 100 invited partners and industry professionals gathered at MCG to discuss how stronger collaboration across the ecosystem can support a more competitive European automotive industry.
Competitiveness as a shared challenge
Automotive competitiveness increasingly depends on the ability to address several requirements simultaneously.
New products must reach the market efficiently. Engineering decisions need to consider manufacturability and cost. Production systems must deliver quality, repeatability and flexibility. Innovation must also move effectively from research and development into industrial application.
This makes closer cooperation across the value chain increasingly important.
The discussions during the Open Day reflected this broader perspective, bringing together views from industry, public institutions, academia, suppliers and organisations across the automotive ecosystem.
Collaborative R&D and industrial application
A central part of the programme was dedicated to the presentation of results from projects led and implemented by MCG within the Hi-rEV and Drivolution Mobilising Agendas.
These projects provided concrete examples of how collaborative R&D can contribute to the development of new technologies and capabilities with industrial application.
They also highlighted the importance of connecting research, engineering and manufacturing from an early stage.
For automotive companies, this connection can help reduce the distance between innovation and industrialisation, while improving the ability to respond to future product and production requirements.
Connecting strategy with industrial execution
The programme also included a guided visit to selected MCG production areas.
Participants were able to connect the broader challenges discussed during the event with the engineering, industrialisation and manufacturing capabilities required to turn product requirements into serial production.
For MCG, this connection is fundamental.
A successful automotive component must meet its technical requirements, but it must also be manufacturable, scalable and capable of maintaining demanding standards for quality, cost and delivery throughout the programme.
Speakers and Perspectives
- The impact of MCG on the Alenquer region
Eng. João Nicolau – Mayor of Alenquer - The challenges facing Portuguese Small Mid Caps in the European automotive industry
Dr. José Couto – President of AFIA - MCG Presentation
Eng. Carlos Saraiva – General Manager, MCG Automotive - Implementation and impact of the PRR on Portugal’s automotive components industry
Dr. Pedro Dominguinhos – President of the National PRR Monitoring Committee - Hi-rEV and Drivolution projects – Results at MCG
Eng. Vitor Pereira, Engineering Director, and Eng. José Freitas, Sales Engineer – MCG Automotive - The role of national component suppliers in the competitiveness of Volkswagen Autoeuropa
Dra. Dinora Guerreiro – Procurement Business Area Manager at Volkswagen Autoeuropa - The role of academia in the competitiveness of the European automotive industry and the impact of AI
Engª. Beatriz Silva – Associate Professor, Instituto Superior Técnico - The role of national component suppliers in the competitiveness of JAC in Europe
Eng. José Pacheco – Managing Director for Europe, JAC Products - The impact of Hi-rEV + Drivolution projects on companies
Eng. João Machado – General Manager, Mobinov
The diversity of these perspectives reinforced one central idea: automotive competitiveness increasingly depends on combining innovation, engineering capability, industrial execution and effective collaboration across the value chain.
For MCG, strengthening these connections will remain central to supporting future automotive programmes.
Looking for a partner for high-volume automotive manufacturing?
MCG supports complex automotive programmes from engineering and industrialisation to full‑scale production.
João Porém
MCG Automotive Commercial Director
Pedro Carvalho
MCG Automotive Commercial Director
Direct contact with our commercial team for project discussions and RFQs.
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