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Matthias Kässer

PartnerMunich

Matthias leads the commercial vehicle segment for McKinsey in EMEA, working with manufacturers in the truck, bus, construction/agriculture/logistics machinery, rolling stock, and engine industries

Matthias is dedicated to helping his clients and all commercial vehicle players through the ongoing transformation in their industry—ranging from GenAI and Agentic AI, to zero emission technologies, automation, digitally enabled business models, and segment shifts to intensified global competition. Matthias regularly acts as Strategy and Transformation officer for his clients.

He is a regular speaker at conferences and organizer of executive roundtables, bringing together the leaders of the commercial vehicle industry.

Exemplary impact with his commercial vehicle clients in the past 24 months includes:

  • setting up and leading a GenAI & Agentic AI transformation program for a global commercial vehicle player
  • transforming the performance of a truck&bus manufacturer across all elements of the P&L
  • developing a holistic Masterplan for commercial vehicle players in EMEA given current market environment and push from foreign competitors into EMEA
  • designing the R&D and product management organization for a truck manufacturer
  • leading a product cost and product specification optimization program at a global construction equipment manufacturer
  • defining the design-to-value and product strategy for a truck manufacturer
  • developing the 2030 strategy for a commercial vehicle player with a focus on electrification, data-based business models, and CN strategy
  • leading the full potential P&L transformation of a European truck OEM (top and bottom line)
  • conducting several successful M&A and JV processes in commercial vehicle industries
  • developing the electrification strategy at a global bus OEM, including specification design (product and services, e.g., depot charging)
  • heading a functional gen AI transformation at a global equipment OEM
  • conducting an indirect cost optimization program at a global automotive and commercial vehicle supplier
  • creating a future of the truck industry master plan for Europe

Published work

Don’t miss the bus: New strategies for European bus and coach OEMs,” McKinsey & Company, October 2025

Mobility’s future: An investment reality check,” McKinsey & Company, April 2021

Clearing the air on cloud: How industrial companies can capture cloud technology’s full business value,” McKinsey & Company, February 2021

Making the cloud pay: How industrial companies can accelerate impact from the cloud,” McKinsey & Company, October 2020

ACES 2019 survey: Can established auto manufacturers meet customer expectations for ACES?,” McKinsey & Company, February 2020

How automakers can master new mobility,” McKinsey & Company, September 2019

Start me up: Where mobility investments are going,” McKinsey & Company, April 2019

Winning tomorrow’s car buyers using artificial intelligence in marketing and sales,” McKinsey & Company, February 2019

A regional view of truck-industry profit pools,” McKinsey & Company, January 2019

Profiling tomorrow’s trendsetting car buyers,” McKinsey & Company, December 2018

Fast transit: Why urban e-buses lead electric-vehicle growth,” McKinsey & Company, October 2018

Technology delivered: Implications for cost, customers, and competition in the last-mile ecosystem,” McKinsey & Company, August 2018

Education

Technical University of Munich
Dipl.-Ing. (MSc equivalent), mechanical engineering

École Centrale Paris
MSc, mechanical engineering