| |AUGUST 20269Qualcomm Names Wassim Chourbaji as SVP and PresidentEU Launches 5B Scaleup Europe Fund to Boost Global Tech Growth PlansSuzuki Targets Europe with Electric Kei Car by 2027Qualcomm has appointed Wassim Chourbaji as Senior Vice President and President of Qualcomm for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), effective immediately. Chourbaji will lead the company's strategy and execution across the region while advancing strategic priorities across its businesses.Chourbaji has spent more than 20 years at Qualcomm, holding several leadership positions. Most recently, he served as President of Qualcomm Middle East and Africa (MEA) and led the company's government relations organization across EMEA. Enrico Salvatori, who has led Qualcomm's EMEA operations for more than two decades, plans to retire in June 2027 after 25 years with the company. As part of the transition, Salvatori will become Chairman and continue overseeing the EMEA Automotive division until his retirement. -Oliver Blume, CEO, Volkswagen GroupThe European Commission has finalized the legal procedures to establish the Scaleup Europe Fund, a new investment tool designed to help rapidly growing European businesses scale and compete internationally. The fund aims to raise 5 billion over the long term to support high-potential companies operating in key technology sectors.The initiative addresses a persistent challenge in Europe's innovation landscape: helping successful startups secure the substantial investment needed to become global market leaders while remaining in Europe. Initial investments are expected to begin within the next few weeks. With its legal structure now established, the Scaleup Europe Fund is officially activated as part of the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund, strengthening Europe's support for ambitious technology companies and their international growth. Suzuki plans to export an electric kei minicar to Europe by 2027, targeting European and Chinese competitors in a market segment. The model, scheduled to launch in Japan this November as the Vision e-Sky, will be Suzuki's first electric kei car and its first largely unchanged vehicle in this category exported since the Cappuccino ended production in 1995.The European version will be produced at Suzuki's Shizuoka facility, with the UK and Italy among potential markets. Regulatory changes are influencing Suzuki's strategy. In 2025, the European Union introduced a small EV category, partly inspired by Japan's kei system, offering subsidies and regulatory advantages for compact electric vehicles manufactured within the bloc. Suzuki's move reflects growing interest in affordable urban EVs. The automotive industry is facing the biggest transformation in its historyBizWireTech LeadershipStartups & InvestmentAutomotive & EV
< Page 8 | Page 10 >