At the Forum Automobile Logistics 2025 (FAL), it became clear that the shortage of semiconductors will remain one of the key issues for the industry in the medium term. In his keynote speech, Maximilian Krane, Managing Director of btv technologies GmbH, explained the consequences of current developments in the semiconductor market for automotive manufacturers - and how component logistics must respond to them.
“The classic distributor, which works with fixed margins and inflexible delivery models, is no longer suited to the highly volatile requirements of our time,” says Krane. “With our 'component logistics as a service' model, we are putting control of the entire supply chain back into the hands of the OEMs - with full cost transparency and maximum flexibility.”
The change in the semiconductor market – challenges for the automotive industry
According to Statista, the global semiconductor market will reach a volume of around 640 billion euros in 2025 - with annual growth of 8.69% until 2029. The automotive industry in particular is facing a massive increase in its demand for semiconductors due to the shift towards electromobility and autonomous driving.
In addition, the European Chips Act is increasing the pressure on the industry, as European production capacities are to be expanded in order to reduce dependence on Asia. This transformation requires new strategies in component logistics - moving away from pure distribution models towards flexible and transparent end-to-end solutions.
Component logistics as a service – the answer from btv technologies
With “component logistics as a service”, btv technologies has developed a model that is consistently geared towards the needs of the automotive industry. The customer remains at the center of all processes - from direct procurement and flexible warehousing to the needs-based supply of plants and sub-suppliers.
Special focus: long-term storage as a solution for asynchronous development cycles. While new generations of vehicles often take many years to develop, semiconductor cycles are significantly shorter. To bridge this discrepancy, btv offers the option of storing strategically important components for the long term - with full transparency and control over stocks. “In this way, we are alleviating one of the biggest challenges in the automotive supply chain,” explained Krane at the FAL.
Full cost transparency and flexibility
Another core element of “Component Logistics as a Service” is transparent billing: customers only pay for the logistics and services provided - not for the components themselves. This significantly improves cost control. Safety stocks can be flexibly adapted without long-term commitments or hidden surcharges.
Resilience thanks to end-to-end integration
The close integration of all relevant players - from manufacturers to contract manufacturers and sub-suppliers - creates an end-to-end network with clear responsibilities. Transparency, the ability to react quickly and collaborative partnerships along the entire process chain make the supply chain more resilient to geopolitical crises, production stoppages or sudden changes in demand.
Sustainability as another building block
In addition to efficiency, btv also considers sustainability: Transports are bundled, European storage capacities are built up in a targeted manner and climate-friendly logistics partners are integrated. This improves the carbon footprint of component logistics - an important aspect that car manufacturers are increasingly demanding as part of their ESG strategies.
Maximilian Krane, Managing director and CEO of btv technologies GmbH in an Interview with the VDA (Sorry, German only)
Conclusion: component logistics rethought
Maximilian Krane's keynote speech at the Automotive Logistics 2025 Forum impressively demonstrated that the automotive industry needs to realign its supply chains in order to meet the challenges of the semiconductor market. “Component logistics as a service” offers a future-proof solution here - transparent, flexible and resilient. In combination with long-term warehouse strategies, a resilient concept is created that can also withstand future crises.
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