#FavoriteMoments with Oswaldo Filho Longo: Perspectives on the Mobility Industry

In this #FavoriteMoments interview, Oswaldo Filho Longo shares his perspective on today’s fast‑moving mobility landscape — and the innovations and challenges shaping its future. His passion for learning, adaptation, and forward momentum offers a clear view of where the industry is heading.

From São Paulo to Vienna

Oswaldo recently travelled from São Paulo to Vienna to attend a key meeting of voestalpine HPM experts from our global Industrials segment. While he was here, I sat down with him for a #FavoriteMoments interview (video below) to learn more about his career and the segment closest to his heart: Mobility.

One thing that immediately stood out about Oswaldo was his energy and enthusiasm. You can see it clearly in the video—he’s genuinely excited about how the industry keeps changing and pushing forward. It’s little wonder that his #FavoriteMovie is Back to the Future. No vehicle is cooler than the DeLorean, and no technology and innovation combination is more memorable than Doc Brown and Marty McFly.

“This is what I live by,” he told me once the filming wrapped and we could talk more freely. “Lifelong learning—never stop moving forward.”

I wanted to understand how that philosophy shaped his career, but before we got there, we turned first to the wider topic of mobility today and what makes it such an exciting field for him.

Mobility Today — Connecting People and Resources

“As I mentioned in the video,” Oswaldo said, “mobility today fosters the connection between people and resources. It pushes boundaries through innovation and technology. And what really makes this awesome for me is how everyone in the industry is striving to make the world a better place.”

voestalpine HPM—a global mobility partner with strong local presence

For Oswaldo and his team, everything begins with understanding customer needs. “We clearly focus on how we contribute to the entire mobility industry,” Oswaldo explained. “This means we have the materials, services, and expertise available in all regions. Our people really make a difference—they’re highly skilled and passionate professionals. They’re able to provide our customers with quality steel solutions for a wide range of applications.”

Mega Trends versus Regional Realities

With decades of experience behind him, Oswaldo has witnessed many shifts in the mobility landscape and can clearly break down today’s conditions.

“There are many challenges in the mobility industry today,” he said. “On a global scale, we see the mega‑trend of electric vehicles. But if we look at Brazil, the charging infrastructure is still developing. So while there is a volume drop for combustion vehicles, the demand is largely met by hybrid vehicles. And this situation isn’t unique — it’s mirrored in other regions around the world.”

Market Pressures

“The automotive market is very dynamic!” Oswaldo continued. “China currently dominates the electric vehicle segment. Brands like BYD, Geely, and Great Wall Motors are major players, and India is becoming increasingly competitive — especially in small EVs. This puts considerable pressure on European premium automakers, as well as on U.S. manufacturers who depend heavily on their large domestic market. When you add the uncertainty of tariffs, the vulnerability of global supply chains, and constantly changing regulations, the industry becomes extremely complex to navigate.”

The Future of Mobility

I asked Oswaldo about the road ahead for the automotive industry — would we all be driving EVs soon?
“At least in the mid‑term, hybrid vehicles will remain strong and continue to develop,” he said. “But other technologies will also shape the future of propulsion: electric with next‑generation batteries, hydrogen systems…” He paused, weighing the possibilities. “We’re seeing development cycles accelerate. Automotive models are being updated within just a few years, and AI and data integration are becoming essential. Cars are turning into smart devices — like our mobile phones — constantly updated with the latest technologies and services.”

The voestalpine HPM Advantage

“With such rapid development in the automotive industry, there’s an ever‑increasing demand for highly specialized steels that can withstand high temperatures and high pressures,” Oswaldo explained. “Weight reduction and strength are also critical — along with production efficiency.”

One of Oswaldo’s #Favorite mobility applications is Racing. “When we talk about Formula One or NASCAR, the volume for parts is very low,” he said. “But racing is a key driver of innovation. The racing community understands that even the smallest improvement in material properties can increase performance. And here, voestalpine is at the forefront — with our additive manufacturing powders and technologies, our eifeler coatings, and our high‑performance applications such as gears and crankshafts.”
You can find out more about voestalpine HPM Racing here.

Regional and Segment Perspectives

Valve Production

“In Brazil, we make high‑performance steels for engine valves — materials built for heat, pressure, and heavy stress,” Oswaldo said. “We supply Tier 1 companies that serve the big global brands, exporting worldwide. Competition from China and India is tough, so we continually improve both cost and technology. Combustion may be shrinking, but valves still rely on strong martensitic, austenitic, and nickel‑alloy grades — and that’s where voestalpine is solid.”

Railways

“In railways, our work in Brazil focuses on producing axles for a small group of regional customers,” Oswaldo explained. “It’s a niche market, but in large countries with major mining and transport networks, there’s steady demand. The challenge is competing with China’s lower costs and navigating high tariffs in places like the U.S., so we constantly review and refine our processes to stay competitive.

Oswaldo’s Journey

With time pressing, we switched tracks and headed toward the end of our conversation, talking about Oswaldo’s career and a few of his #FavoriteMoments. I fired off some rapid‑fire questions, and his answers revealed the person behind the professional:

• #FavoriteSong: Elevation by U2
• #FavoriteFood: Brazilian BBQ
• #FavoritePlace in Brazil: Home with his family
• #FavoriteMovie: Back to the Future
• #FavoritePlace in Summer: Punta Cana
• #FavoriteHobby: Judo — “I’m a black belt and instructor in a social project”

Oswaldo describes his career as a steady path of learning and adaptation — “Every year something changes, and you must move fast,” he says. With his first degree in Mechatronics Engineering, he easily entered the automotive market. Over time, he transitioned into the Commercial area, complementing his background with courses in Sales and, subsequently, Finance. He expanded his horizons by taking on various roles in Sales and Program Management over the years, tackling diverse challenges in global projects.

What has never changed is his drive to grow. Throughout the years, he consolidated his expertise with an MBA in People Management and Leadership. Demonstrating his versatility, he then completed a second degree in Law, also becoming a qualified lawyer. More recently, he further elevated his executive profile with a specialization program at Harvard Business School in Management and Leadership — all while taking on increasing responsibilities.

“It’s lifelong learning — we need to update, update, update,” he says. For Oswaldo, every step of his journey is about staying curious, staying agile, and staying ready for whatever comes next.

Keep Moving Forward

Spending time with Oswaldo made one thing clear: mobility isn’t just a market segment — it’s a mindset. His passion for change, learning, and innovation reflects the spirit of voestalpine HPM and the people who drive it forward every day.

If you haven’t already, make sure to watch the video above to hear Oswaldo’s insights in his own words — the energy is unmistakable.

And if you’d like to learn more about how voestalpine HPM can support your mobility project, challenge, or idea, simply click the button below to contact our experts.

Find out more

You can find out more about the voestalpine HPM #FavoriteMoments campaign by exploring some of our other videos:

And stay tuned: our next #FavoriteMoments episode is already in the works — featuring another colleague with a surprising story and a fresh perspective from inside the voestalpine HPM world. You won’t want to miss it.