Vehicle driving along a road in the desert

Article

Turning Tech into Teaching Moments

People & Culture

April 29, 2026
2-min read

The Magna donation of a used development equipment is giving mechatronics students at an Austrian technical high school some real-world experience with future mobility.

The small equipment is similar to a remote-controlled car. It has a flat surface, can carry about 130 pounds, is equipped with a camera, sensors and a computer.

Magna engineers used the device for autonomous driving experiments and mobility concepts several years ago. Finding a second life for it became a priority when the project ended. It has become a hit with students and teachers.

"With a simple donation, people see what’s possible with Magna."

“We trained with static displays in the past,” said Burkhard Reichl, head of the mechatronics department at Höhere Technische Lehranstalt (HTL) Steyr school. “The students are thrilled they have something that moves and gives them hands-on experience. The Magna prototype is helping with lessons in systems thinking and training for careers in the automotive industry.”

The connection between the school and the company stems from Daniel Schleicher, a former HTL Steyr mechatronics student who is now a Magna senior manager for AI and software technologies.

Schleicher recalled memorable class projects with a practical twist that fueled his love of new technologies. They included building a gas-turbine engine and a water wheel for a local water park. Renewing ties with the school was a natural fit.

“When we closed our project at Magna, we thought who can benefit from this prototype and reuse it?” he said.

Five students in a workshop engage in programming and coding a remote controlled vehicle, creating an atmosphere of collaboration and focus.

The equipment first was donated to two project teams at a local university who used this in building their own prototype on autonomous driving applications. When they were finished, the Magna team focused on the next-generation of students.

“Lifelong learning starts with building relationships,” Schleicher said. “You build a network and connect with people. If we have resources, it’s worth it to repurpose where it makes sense. This is part of our culture.”

Today, the equipment is touching lives beyond the 50 students who are working on coding and programming in lab sections of the mechatronics class, said Reichl. During a recent open house, the prototype charmed prospective students by zipping along hallways as an informal marketing ambassador, courtesy of Magna.

“With a simple donation, people see what’s possible with Magna,” said Schleicher.