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Under The Hood: Automotive Storytelling
October 11, 2025

Welcome to In-car Wellness Experiences

- Thomas Stocker, Gentherm EP22

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 Wellbeing Revolution Decoded

In this new episode of "Under the Hood: Automotive Storytelling", brought to you by the Storytelling Tribe, we connect with Thomas Stocker, key member of Gentherm's executive team, leading their European operations and former BMW infotainment integration leader. Thomas shares insights on leadership, team dynamics, and the importance of adapting to change in a rapidly evolving industry.

Key
Insights

  • Hardware Engineers vs. Software Visionaries: The Transformation Challenge

    Thomas reveals how Gentherm evolved from producing millions of heated seats and massage components to developing WellSense – a software-defined wellness platform backed by clinical research and physiological algorithms that orchestrate thermal, pneumatic, and massage effectuators.

  • The Science of In-Car Wellbeing: From Medical to Mobility

    Discover how Gentherm leverages knowledge from its medical business unit – where temperature management can help improve patient outcomes – to create clinically-validated wellness experiences that can trick your brain into feeling warm in seconds and optimize energy consumption in EVs.

  • The SDV Enabler: Wellness as a Service

    Learn how WellSense positions itself as the “wellbeing brain” in software-defined vehicles, enabling OEMs to offer downloadable wellness modes, personalized AI-driven comfort settings, and subscription-based features that adapt to individual passenger preferences and contexts.

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Practical
Takeaways

  • Build Cross-Functional Bridges:
    When selling system solutions, map stakeholder silos early – Thomas faced four different VPs controlling components of one integrated experience
  • Invest in Clinical Validation:
    Gentherm’s science lab with hundreds of patient studies differentiates their wellness claims from engineering guesswork – quantify the impact of your innovations
  • Look to China for Future Trends:
    Chinese OEMs are standardizing massage in mid-tier vehicles and embracing wellness features that Western brands still position as expensive options
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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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