Timo Unger
Senior Manager Sustainability & Environmental Affairs, Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre GmbH
As engineer for Recycling Technology by training, Timo has worked over 25 years in the automotive industry and since 2005 for the European R&D Center of Hyundai & Kia Motor Company as Senior Manager, Sustainability & Environmental Affairs. He is representing Hyundai in numerous industry working groups. Since over a decade, he chairs the Automotive Industry Task Force on REACH and the Working Group on Circular Economy of ACEA, the EU vehicle manufacturers’ association. Timo is also a member of the IMDS Steering Committee and SAICM focal point for the automotive industry, as well as a member of the UN Environment Programme Steering Group on CiP (Chemicals in Products). Today he intensively works on the interface between chemicals, products and waste including the Digital Product Passports.
The Challenge to Develop Truly Sustainable Vehicles
Upcoming and existing legislation around the globe are defining targets for the sustainable development and manufacturing of new products, including vehicles. Neither these legislations nor their targets however are necessarily fully aligned, resulting in several trade-offs and thus unnecessary industrial uncertainties and efforts. As a latest example, mid July 23, the first draft of the EU End of Life Vehicle Regulation (ELVR) has been published with the broad objective “to make the automotive sector circular, to maximize the efficient use of resources and to protect the environment”. The presentation will investigate several requirements of the ELVR also in conjunction with the current draft PFAS restriction while also analysing the resulting trade-offs which may be a barrier for a successful achievement of the Green Deal objectives.
Business Forum – 11 September 2025 – 11:10– 11:50 – Chamber Hall