Press Releases
PowerCo and Umicore establish joint venture for European battery materials production
PowerCo, the new battery company of the Volkswagen Group, and Umicore, the Belgian circular materials technology group, announced today the founding of a joint venture for precursor and cathode material production in Europe. From 2025 onwards, the joint venture will supply PowerCo's European battery cell factories with key materials. By the end of the decade, the partners aim to produce cathode material and their precursors for 160 GWh cell capacity per year, which compares to an annual production capacity capable of powering about 2.2 million full electric vehicles. Cathode active materials are crucial for a successful powertrain transition towards e-mobility as they are the key technological lever for battery performance, as well as the biggest single contributor to overall battery cost.
Elli and Elia Group forming partnership to integrate EVs into the electricity system
Elli, the Volkswagen subsidiary that manages all activities related to charging and energy for the Group in Europe, the Elia Group and its start-up re.alto signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) today in Berlin. The MoU underscores the signatories’ shared vision of integrating electric cars into the electricity system. Over the next few years, the partners will identify possible barriers to EV integration and explore how to showcase its benefits, for example by developing demonstrators.
The innovative way to travel: design study GEN.TRAVEL makes world debut
At Chantilly Arts & Elegance near Paris, the Volkswagen Group will present an innovative design study that will redefine the long-distance mobility of the future on September 24. The all-electric powered Innovation Experience Vehicle (IEV) is a real prototype that drives autonomously (Level 5) and gives a realistic outlook for the mobility of the coming decade. The car’s modular interior concept makes it a flexible, sustainable Mobility-as-a-Service alternative to short-haul flights. As a research vehicle, the purpose of the Gen.Travel is to test the concept and new functionalities for customer response. Based on the study results, individual features may later be transferred to series vehicles.
Exhibition „Motion. Autos, Art, Architecture“ achieves great success for Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Never before has the internationally acclaimed Guggenheim Museum in the Spanish city of Bilbao welcomed so many guests as during the last months. Responding to the strong interest of visitors, the museum even offered special opening hours during the summer months. The reason for this outstanding level of attraction was the exhibition “Motion. Autos, Art, Architecture” which linked the history of mobility and the design of urban environments with ideas of how we come together and live in the future.
Volkswagen announces new appointments to key positions on the Brand Board of Management
Volkswagen has made new appointments to key positions on the Brand Board of Management, laying crucial foundations for the company’s transformation toward the age of digital and autonomous mobility. Thomas Ulbrich becomes board member in charge of the newly created New Mobility division, which unites the e-series and software expertise of Volkswagen Passenger Cars. Kai Grünitz, previously Head of Development at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, succeeds Ulbrich as the board member responsible for Technical Development (TD). Other personnel changes relate to Finance. Patrik Andreas Mayer, currently Chief Financial Officer at Volkswagen Group Russia, becomes the Chief Financial Officer at the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand. He succeeds Alexander Seitz, who has been appointed Executive Chairman of Volkswagen Group South American Region. He is thus the successor to Pablo Di Si, who has been President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America and CEO of Volkswagen North American Region since September 1, 2022. Ulbrich, Grünitz, Mayer and Seitz will take up their new posts effective October 1, 2022.
Premiere at the ID. Meet: apprentices from Volkswagen Sachsen present ID.5 GTX „Xcite“ show car
Volkswagen presents today the ID.5 GTX „Xcite“ to the public for the first time today at the ID. Meet in Locarno (Switzerland). This vehicle is an individual product made by apprentices at Volkswagen’s three locations in Saxony, at Zwickau, Dresden and Chemnitz. For one year, 14 of the best budding specialists worked on a project to demonstrate their skills with considerable creativity and responsibility under expert supervision – from the first design through the adaptation of the bodywork and paintwork to technical commissioning. In addition to sustainability, reflected by vegan leather in the interior, the main focus of this year’s project was on holistic mobility. The ID.5 GTX „Xcite“ already has on board an electric skateboard for the last few meters to the driver’s destination. This is the eighth project of its type completed since 2014.
Volkswagen presents all-electric ID. XTREME off-road concept car in Locarno
Electrifying surprise at the ID. Treffen in Locarno: Volkswagen presents the ID. XTREME in Ticino today, an exceptional off-road concept car that will generate an enthusiastic response among the many electric mobility fans at the event. The fully electric concept car with all-wheel drive system is based on the ID.4 GTX and combines the strengths of a modern SUV with the sense of adventure embodied by a rugged off-road vehicle.
Charging more affordable for EV drivers: Elli becomes partner of the &Charge bonus programme
The Volkswagen subsidiary Elli, which oversees all activities involving charging and energy in the Group, has become a partner in the sustainable bonus programme offered by &Charge. The goal is to consistently improve the charging experience with the help of customer feedback and to provide money savings at the charging station. Elli charging-tariff customers as well as users of SEAT and CUPRA Easy Charging, ŠKODA AUTO Powerpass and, in future, Volkswagen We Charge will benefit from the partnership as they will immediately be able to redeem the &Charge kilometres they have collected for Elli charging vouchers.
Volkswagen Supervisory Board resolves to further develop Group management
The Volkswagen Group is further developing its Group management. The Group Board of Management of Volkswagen AG is being streamlined and responsibilities will be reallo-cated. The Supervisory Board adopted a corresponding resolution. The new Chairman of the Board of Management, Oliver Blume, will focus on strategy, quality, design and the software subsidiary CARIAD. In addition, the central Board of Management divisions Fi-nance, Human Resources and Truck & Bus, Integrity and Legal Affairs, IT, Technology as well as China will continue to be represented on the Group Board of Management along with the brand groups Volume, Premium and Sport & Luxury.
