Waiblingen, 22.09.2026 | Press Release
Battery power, combustion engines and e-fuels: STIHL showcases technology-neutral innovation
EU Director-General Kerstin Jorna visits STIHL
What policy framework does industrial transformation in Europe need? This question was at the heart of a visit by Kerstin Jorna, Director-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) at the European Commission, to STIHL in Waiblingen. On September 21, 2026, the family-owned company from southwest Germany demonstrated how transformation can succeed: from high-performance battery-powered products and advanced engine technologies to alternative fuels such as biofuels and e-fuels, STIHL offers a broad portfolio of solutions. The discussions focused on reliable conditions for innovation, technology neutrality, fair competition and effective market surveillance as key prerequisites for Europe’s competitiveness.
Policy dialogue on transformation and competitiveness
Selina Stihl, Deputy Chairwoman of the STIHL Advisory Board, welcomed the Director-General and emphasized the importance of close dialogue between policymakers and companies: “The major challenges of our time — from decarbonization to safeguarding Europe’s competitiveness — can only be addressed together. STIHL began systematically building up battery technology at an early stage, long before it reached its current significance in the market. Industrial transformation therefore requires staying power, substantial investment and reliable framework conditions. As a family-owned company, we stand for this long-term commitment. What matters is that policymakers enable technology neutrality and give companies the scope they need to innovate.”
Kerstin Jorna said: “The visit to STIHL impressively demonstrates the contribution innovative industrial companies make to Europe’s technological and sustainable transformation. Particularly noteworthy is STIHL’s technology-neutral approach, with which the company develops different solutions for the diverse needs of its customers. This innovative strength is an important building block for the competitiveness of Europe as an industrial location.”
Technology neutrality in practice: batteries, combustion engines and alternative fuels
Dr. Holger Lochmann, STIHL Executive Board Member for Development, demonstrated what innovation and technology neutrality mean at STIHL during a tour of the development center. In Western Europe, one in two STIHL products sold is now battery-powered. At the same time, the company continues to advance modern combustion-engine technologies and solutions related to alternative fuels. Lochmann explained: “Our customers work under very different conditions around the world. The key is therefore to offer the right solution for each application — combining performance, sustainability and practical usability. Regulation should enable this competition for the best solutions, not restrict it.”
The tour highlighted how demanding technology-neutral transformation is in practice. At the development center, STIHL showed the rigorous quality standards according to which its products are developed and tested, regardless of drive type. Safety, ergonomics, emissions and real-world usability are examined just as intensively as performance and durability.
Fair competition as a prerequisite for innovation
In addition to the transformation of drive technologies, the discussions also focused on how European industrial companies can be strengthened in international competition. STIHL shareholder Dr. Rüdiger Stihl placed particular emphasis on effective market surveillance: “A strong European single market needs fair conditions of competition for everyone and effective market surveillance. For companies like STIHL, it is essential that existing rules are consistently enforced and that trade barriers are reduced rather than new obstacles created. This is the only way innovation, investment and industrial value creation in Europe can remain successful over the long term.”
E-commerce in particular shows how important effective market surveillance is for fair competition. When products from third countries enter the EU single market without reliable checks, this creates risks for consumers and disadvantages for companies that consistently comply with European safety and conformity requirements. STIHL is therefore calling for better data connectivity to enable risk-based controls. Clear responsibilities are also needed through an economic operator in the EU that is legally and financially liable, along with consistent and effective sanctions for repeated violations.
During the concluding exchange, the participants discussed how European legislation can reliably support innovation, research and sustainable growth. To make Germany and Europe more productive and competitive, industrial value creation in Europe must be given priority, the European single market must be completed and more entrepreneurial freedom must be created.
