We started the day with a company visit to HOERBIGER, which gave us an inside look at a parts supplier that works with many major car manufacturers. They focus on precision components for transmissions, valves, and pressurization systems, small parts that play big roles. Our first stop was a smaller facility where employees worked closely on fine-scale components. It was interesting to see the supply chain in action, starting from these specialized labs.

Later, we toured a larger production site filled with heavy machinery and automated processes. The setup reminded me of the other factories we’ve visited, with robots and humans working in sync to create complex parts. As someone who drives a manual transmission, I especially enjoyed learning more about the inner workings of the transmission systems they help produce.

After lunch, we heard presentations from the team at HOERBIGER, who talked about their place in the automotive industry and how they’re adapting. One clear takeaway: the company is facing challenges as the industry shifts away from manual transmissions and ICE’s toward electric vehicles. They have plans in motion to pivot, but time will tell how that plays out.

In the afternoon, we switched gears completely and headed to Oberammergau. This might’ve been my favorite part of the trip so far. We took a gondola up into the Alps and were met with absolutely incredible views. The air at the top was crisp and clean; it just felt good to be up there.

Afterward, we explored the town of Oberammergau, which had tons of charm and shops. A group of us sat down, relaxed, and took in the sights of the city. We ended the day with gelato from a local shop.

Overall, today was the perfect mix of learning and just appreciating where we are. Hard to believe there are only a few days left.