Matthias Zentgraf is the head of region Europe for Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL), one of the world’s largest lithium-ion battery cell manufacturers. He has led operations in the region since 2015, which includes the construction of CATL’s first plant outside Europe and Germany’s first full-scale battery cell factory, which is set to start production in the state of the Thuringia by the end of 2022 and has recently received approval for expansion. CATL will further expand its production in Europe with a new plant confirmed in Debrecen, Hungary. Matthias Zentgraf has held key roles at Samsung and has more than 30 years’ experience in the automotive industry, including systems and series introduction of drive-by-wire systems, and key account management for powertrain systems, including engine controls, drivetrain electrification and sensors. He is a mechanical engineer by training with specialisation in internal combustion engines and turbo machines.

Kjell Walöen leads production at Volta Trucks, an electric commercial vehicle manufacturer based in Sweden, which he also helped to found in 2019. He joined Volta Trucks from Polestar where he had responsibility for manufacturing and purchasing for Volvo’s new electric performance marque, leaving once the new Polestar plant in China started production. Prior to this, he worked for Volvo Cars, running the manufacturing business office for many years, including three years in China supporting the early phases of building three plants in three years. Before this, he worked for Ford, initially joining the Manufacturing Leadership Program at Ford headquarters, holding various assignments around Europe including launch manager, assembly plant manager and strategy manager. Kjell Walöen spent eight years racing on the Norwegian National Alpine Team and on the US Pro Tour, and holds an MBA at INSEAD, France. He met the founder of Volta Trucks, Carl-Magnus Norden, through the INSEAD alumni association.