Three days. Two states. Seven German companies. One mission: building new transatlantic connections and exploring business opportunities in the U.S. e-mobility market.
From October 4–6, 2026, the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern U.S. (GACC South) welcomed seven German companies for an E-Mobility Business Delegation through Tennessee and Alabama.
The delegation brought together representatives from ADS-TEC Energy, Adler Elektrotechnik Leipzig, AKE technologies, comemso electronics, HEYCO-WERK Heynen, Sensolus, and Vector Informatik for a focused program of market insights, industry discussions, site visits, B2B meetings, and networking.
With technologies spanning EV charging, battery and energy storage, testing and measurement systems, automotive software, production automation, electrical components, and industrial asset tracking, the participating companies represented different parts of the e-mobility value chain.
Nashville: A Connected E-Mobility Ecosystem
The delegation program began in Nashville, Tennessee, with a Tennessee Market Briefing focused on the state’s e-mobility landscape, energy infrastructure, automotive sector, and regional business environment.
The morning opened with remarks from Christian Schuetz, Honorary Consul of Germany in Tennessee, followed by perspectives from Alexa Voytek of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Office of Energy Programs, Will West of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and Caitlyn Klauser of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Together, they provided the German companies with insights into Tennessee’s evolving e-mobility market, energy environment, regional development, and the network of organizations supporting continued growth in the sector.
One of the strongest impressions from the Nashville program was how closely connected the different parts of Tennessee’s mobility ecosystem are. Government, utilities, universities, research institutions, regional organizations, and industry work closely together, creating a strong network for companies looking to understand, enter, or expand within the market.
For the German companies, the program therefore offered more than a traditional market overview. It provided direct access to the broader ecosystem supporting Tennessee’s automotive, battery, energy, and e-mobility sectors.
Bringing Industry, Research, Energy, and Government to One Table
A central element of the Nashville program was the Executive Business Roundtable.
Moderated by Bruce Doeg, TennSMART Board Member, the discussion brought together the German delegation with experts from across Tennessee’s mobility ecosystem.
Victoria Hirschberg of the University of Tennessee System provided a strategic perspective on Tennessee’s e-mobility and battery landscape, while Alexa Voytek, Will West, and Caitlyn Klauser contributed perspectives from state government, energy, and regional economic development.
The research and innovation side was represented by Kevin Heaslip, Director of the Center for Transportation Research at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Richard Davies of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, while Mark Jensen of Chargebyte contributed an industry perspective from the EV charging sector.
Together, participants explored how the U.S. Southeast can build on its strong automotive and manufacturing base while responding to developments in battery storage, charging and energy infrastructure, supply chains, software, testing, advanced production technologies, and increasing electricity demand.
The conversation also addressed research and commercialization, regional competitiveness, and the importance of collaboration between public and private stakeholders.
For the participating German companies, the roundtable created an opportunity to introduce their technologies while hearing directly from the organizations and experts shaping the regional market about current needs, future developments, and potential areas for cooperation.
The exchange also reflected one of Tennessee’s key strengths: the ability to bring industry, utilities, research, government, and regional organizations together around shared challenges and opportunities in future mobility.
A special thank you to Baker Donelson for welcoming the delegation and supporting the Nashville program.
Vanderbilt University: Data and Technology for Future Mobility
The Nashville program also included a visit to Vanderbilt University’s Institute for Convergent Software Integrated Systems (ICONS), where the delegation gained insights into data-driven research and technologies relevant to the automotive and e-mobility sectors.
A particular focus was the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s I-24 Mobility Technology Interstate Observation Network (MOTION).
The four-mile section of I-24 in the Nashville-Davidson County metropolitan area uses 294 ultra-high-definition cameras to capture vehicle movements. The resulting images are transformed into a detailed digital model of traffic behavior using anonymous AI-based trajectory algorithms developed by Vanderbilt University.
For the German companies, the project provided a practical example of how mobility data, artificial intelligence, transportation research, and digital infrastructure can be combined to better understand vehicle behavior and support the development of future mobility solutions.
The visit also demonstrated how university research can connect with real-world transportation and automotive applications and create opportunities for future collaboration between research and industry.
A special thank you to Vanderbilt University and the ICONS team for welcoming the delegation and sharing insights into their current research and technologies.
Turning Market Insights into Business Connections
Throughout the Nashville program, the German companies also participated in individual B2B meetings tailored to their technologies and U.S. business development goals.
These conversations allowed participants to move from broader discussions about the regional market into more targeted exchanges around specific technologies, potential applications, and partnership opportunities.
Combined with the Market Briefing, Executive Business Roundtable, and Vanderbilt visit, the meetings gave the participating companies multiple points of access into Tennessee’s e-mobility network and an opportunity to better understand where their solutions could fit within the regional market.
Continuing to Northern Alabama
Following the Nashville program, the delegation continued to Northern Alabama, another major automotive and advanced manufacturing region in the U.S. Southeast.
At the Robotics Technology Park / AIDT, participants gained insights into Alabama’s manufacturing environment, automation, robotics, technical training, and workforce development.
The program also included direct exchange with representatives from the Alabama Department of Commerce, AlabamaGermany Partnership, AMP Center, and regional industry partners.
Connecting with Alabama’s Automotive Industry
The German companies also met with representatives from Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, ABB, Bocar, and other regional stakeholders.
These meetings provided opportunities to discuss potential technology applications, better understand the priorities of U.S. manufacturers, and establish contacts for future follow-up.
A special thank you to AIDT and the Robotics Technology Park, Alabama Department of Commerce, AlabamaGermany Partnership, AMP Center, Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, ABB, and all participating organizations and companies for supporting the program.
Seven German Companies Across the E-Mobility Value Chain
The delegation brought together seven German companies active across different parts of the mobility and automotive manufacturing ecosystem:
- ADS-TEC Energy – EV charging and battery-based energy solutions
- Adler Elektrotechnik Leipzig – electrical protection solutions and fuses for e-mobility applications
- AKE technologies – automated assembly and testing systems for battery and EV production
- comemso electronics – testing and measurement systems for electric vehicles, batteries, and charging technologies
- HEYCO-WERK Heynen – plastic and metal components for automotive and e-mobility applications
- Sensolus – industrial IoT and asset-tracking solutions for production and logistics
- Vector Informatik – software, embedded systems, testing, and development solutions for the automotive industry
Together, their technologies covered multiple stages of the e-mobility value chain, from charging and energy storage to vehicle development, production, testing, logistics, and components.
Three Days of Transatlantic Exchange and New Business Opportunities
Over the course of three days, the delegation experienced different sides of the e-mobility market in the U.S. Southeast.
In Tennessee, participants experienced a highly connected ecosystem in which utilities, government, universities, research institutions, business organizations, and industry work closely together.
In Alabama, the delegation gained additional exposure to the region’s automotive manufacturing base and the infrastructure supporting advanced production.
Together, the two states provided complementary perspectives on the development of future mobility in the Southeast.
For the participating German companies, the program combined market intelligence with something equally important: direct access to the people, companies, and institutions shaping the market.
For GACC South, the E-Mobility Business Delegation reflects our ongoing commitment to connecting German and American businesses, facilitating international market entry, and building long-term transatlantic business relationships in future-oriented industries.
A special thank you to all participating companies, speakers, host organizations, and regional partners who contributed to making the program possible.
The delegation was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) as part of the German Energy Solutions Initiative.
We look forward to seeing how the conversations and connections established in Tennessee and Alabama continue to develop into new partnerships and future German-U.S. business opportunities.
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Explore Our Past Delegations
From industry-focused business development trips to market briefings, company visits, B2B meetings, and networking opportunities, GACC South connects German companies directly with key U.S. markets and industry ecosystems.
Take a look at our past delegations to see where we’ve been, who we’ve connected, and how these programs bring transatlantic business opportunities to life.