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Under The Hood: Automotive Storytelling
August 4, 2025

The Incredible World of Functional Safety

- Alexander Much EP12

Behind every automotive innovation lies a human story. Hosted by Stéphane Lagresle, founder of The Storytelling Tribe, this podcast reveals how industry leaders translate complex technologies into compelling narratives. Through conversations with automotive executives, discover practical frameworks for making automotive innovations relatable and meaningful. For executives, product leaders, and marketers transforming mobility through better communication.

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The Safety Software Decoded

In this illuminating episode of "Under the Hood: Automotive Storytelling" from The Storytelling Tribe, we sit down with Alexander Much, former Director of Functional Safety, Cybersecurity and Open Source at Elektrobit and seasoned automotive software expert with 22 years of industry experience, to explore the critical intersection of software complexity and functional safety in modern vehicles.

Key
Insights

  • Silicon Valley vs. Detroit: The Integration Challenge

    Alexander reveals how automotive companies evolved from hardware-focused manufacturers to software-dependent
    organizations, and why most OEMs still lack clear business models for post-sale software maintenance.

  • The Mathematics of Automotive Safety Cases

    Discover how modern cars require 50-100 individual safety cases per vehicle, creating unprecedented regulatory
    complexity.

  • The Future of Software-Defined Safety

    Learn why functional safety is moving toward increased government regulation if the industry fails to maintain
    societal acceptance, especially as autonomous systems enter the market.

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Practical
Takeaways

  • Embrace Societal Context:
    Understand that functional safety definitions vary by region and time period – what’s acceptable changes with
    societal norms
  • Invest in Software Quality:
    Recognize that half of software costs occur after the car hits the road, requiring new business models for
    ongoing maintenance
  • Focus on Function Over Technology:
    Prioritize what the software does for users rather than technical specifications when communicating value
  • Enable Through Education:
    Never demand compliance without enabling engineers to understand complex concepts standards and safety protocols
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Where Technology Meets Narrative

Under the Hood: Automotive Storytelling uncovers the human narratives driving innovation in an industry that impacts lives worldwide. Hosted by Stéphane Lagresle, this podcast explores how the power of storytelling ultimately connects technology to humans

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