We started the day early with a trip to the University of Augsburg. Our morning began with a virtual lecture from a Bloomberg journalist who gave us a deep dive into the automotive industry. He talked about trends like feature-based pricing and the upcoming EU ban on internal combustion engines. It was interesting to hear how some companies are both lobbying to delay the ban while also investing in electric vehicle technology. It was a really engaging way to start the day and got me thinking more about how companies are adapting to the EV transition.

After that, we met with our groups to begin working on short presentations about our assigned companies. My group is focusing on HOERBIGER, which develops precision components for industries like automotive and energy. It was great getting to meet the German students we’ll be collaborating with and start learning more about the company together.

We had lunch at the university dining hall and then took a tour of the campus. Later, the German students led us on another walking tour of Augsburg, sharing their perspectives on the city. One of our final stops was a local brewery, where we got to sit outside and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. That might’ve been my favorite part of the day.

We ended the evening with dinner at an Italian restaurant and had more time to hang out and get to know everyone. I’m really excited to keep working with this group throughout the trip.