Innovation Meets Heritage
- Chris Brown
- Jul 19
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 1
From Heritage to Hydrogen - The Goodwood Festival of Speed was a powerful reminder of how fast the industry is evolving while staying rooted in what makes it special.
A Familiar Festival, A Shifting Industry
Last week, I swapped the desk for the paddock and made my way (once again) to the Goodwood Festival of Speed – part motorsport celebration, part rolling tech showcase.
Yes, it’s still about the roar of engines and the legends of the past. But for those of us working in mobility, powertrain, or service, it’s increasingly clear: Goodwood is also a live snapshot of the industry’s future.
As
Heritage Meets Horizon
What struck me this year was how comfortably tradition and transformation now sit side by side.
You’ve got classic rally monsters and Le Mans legends parked just feet from hydrogen trucks, electric hypercars and AI-enhanced off-roaders. This isn’t just a show-and-tell it’s a signal of real, commercial momentum.
And while the products are impressive, the shift isn’t just technical. More and more, we’re seeing brands talk about platforms, lifecycle support, and readiness not just top speed.
It’s a shift we see every day at CustomerX, supporting OEM's and suppliers who are evolving their product strategies into customer-focused service ecosystems.
The Experience Around the Product
Goodwood isn’t just showing vehicles anymore it’s showing how customers will live with them.
🛠️ Connected diagnostics & predictive mice.
🔋 Battery and hybrid retrofit demos
♻️ Circular design strategies
🧰 Aftermarket solutions positioned front and centre
It’s not just about what a product is - it’s about how it’s supported, sustained, and improved after it’s in the customer’s hands.
That’s where customer experience (CX) becomes real:
Can it be serviced easily?
Is the support infrastructure ready at launch?
Will it deliver value over time?
These are the questions smart businesses are already answering and the ones we help solve at CustomerX.
From Showcase to Strategy
Goodwood may be packed with energy, passion and performance, but behind the scenes it reflects some very practical challenges:
Preparing service teams and supply chains for electrified platforms
Making CX and aftermarket strategy part of the launch, not an afterthought
Aligning channel and distribution models with how customers want to engage
At CustomerX, this is where we work, supporting clients to make sure innovation doesn’t just look good, but actually works and is supported across the lifecycle.
Final Thoughts
For all the smoke, spectacle and horsepower, Goodwood quietly reinforces an important truth:
🔧 The best tech still needs strong support.
📦 Value comes after the sale, not before it.
🤝 Experience is now as important as engineering.
The industry is evolving fast and staying grounded in what matters most to customers will be the difference between those who lead and those who follow.
If you’re navigating the same challenges, let’s talk.
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