Nikolai Ardey

01/2020 – today VW Group
Executive Director Group Innovation

01/2017 – 31.12.2019 AUDI AG
Vice President - Powertrain Development
Gasoline 2.0l inline, 3.0l V6 and Diesel 3.0l V6 engines, transmissions, electronics, Plugin Hybrid powertrains, battery electric powertrains, HV-battery, charging technology, H2 fuel cell powertrains.
Responsibility of the afore mentioned components for the whole VW group.
(2.0l inline Diesel, <1.8l inline gasoline and V8 gasoline engines, as well as transversal axle transmissions are supplied by other group brands to AUDI.)
Main Topics:
Diesel task force, 1st BEV launch, 1st full 48V-system launch, WLTP/RDE-implementation EU6, C6b-implementation, EU7 concepts, new BEV-platform concept, extensive process design and implementation.

05/1998 – 12/2016 BMW AG Munich
04/2016 Vice President - Efficient Dynamics complete vehicle
- Driving dynamics, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
- Vehicle energy management, connected functions
- Heat management and thermal durability / -safety
- Weight management
- Vehicle aerodynamics
- Operations of wind tunnels and of the energy test center
Highlight: Taskforce manager CO2 fleet compliance 2018 plus

04/2014 Vice President - Definition and integration of powertrain
- Powertrain strategy, advanced powertrain development
- Innovation manager E-Mobility BMW 360° (E-powertrain, HV-battery, charging technologies, car2grid, energy services, connected functions)
- Powertrain architecture, advanced prototypes
- Calibration of hybrid- and battery electric powertrains
- SW-functions, diagnostics
- Powertrain acoustics
- Powertrain electronics and integrated validation
- Project management powertrain and key account for vehicle projects
Highlights: Launches of X5 PHEV, 3series PHEV, 7series, 2series PHEV, BEV technology roadmap.

01/2011 Vice President - Development of Diesel engines
- Advanced and series development, project management
- Design, simulation, testing, operations of engine test center and workshops
Highlights: 1st Tri-Turbo 6 Cylinder Diesel (Innovation award of Upper Austria), 1st BMW 3-cylinder Diesel, exhaust gas treatment technology for Real Driving Emissions legislation
10/2008 Director - Project management powertrains of BMW 1-, 2-, 3-and 4 series
- Definition of technical content, target commitment process
- Management of process chain „development/purchasing/manufacturing“
- Quality management, R&D budget, maturity tracking

05/2006 Director - SW-functions of gasoline engines and powertrain
- SW-design, design and calibration of engine diagnostics
- „HW in the loop“ - test center, calibration methods and tools

01/2004 Director - Advanced development of gasoline engines
- Engine mechanics, thermodynamics, combustion, charging technologies
Highlights: Invention and set up of the TwinPower Turbo technology, which is still the leading technology for any BMW gasoline engine (combination of turbo charging, direct injection and variable valvetrain). First V-engine with turbo chargers within the V („hot V“).

04/2003 Director - Advanced development gasoline engine mechanics
Highlights: First ball bearing crank drive.

02/2001 Senior Manager - Development valve train, timing chain and cylinder head gasket of gasoline V-engines,
- Design, mechanical testing, final release
- 2002: extension of team: „Design and release of cylinder head of gasoline V-engines.
Highlights: Introduction of BMW-Valvetronic, toothed timing chain, advanced development of an electro mechanical variable valvetrain, taskforce manager for the introduction of a V12-engine.

04/2000 Senior Manager - Simulation of multi body systems
Focus: Valvetrain, timing chain
Highlights: Introduction of BMW-Valvetronic (first variable valvetrain in automotive engines) and of toothed timing chain.

05/1998 Specialist - Simulation of engine lubrication- and fuel systems and cooling circuits

09/1992 – 04/1998 Institute A for Thermodynamics,Technical University Munich
Research and teaching associate Combustion, heat and mass transfer, particle-flow interaction, spray formation
PHD (Dr. Ing.) on combustion and flame propagation Grade: 1,0 „Mit Auszeichnung bestanden“ (= Summa cum Laude)