Press Releases
Long range and rapid charging: the battery system is at the heart of the Volkswagen ID.3, ID.4 and ID.4 GTX
What do the fully electric compact Volkswagen ID.3, the ID.4, which was recently singled out for the “2021 World Car of the Year” award, and the recently presented high-performance model ID.4 GTX have in common? They all have cutting-edge technology on board in the shape of the high-voltage battery system from Volkswagen Group Components in Braunschweig. This makes for strong performance, long range, excellent safety and rapid charging. The demand for attractive and affordable electric vehicles based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB) is so high that the site recently expanded production to up to 500,000 batteries a year.
The new Polo GTI in the starting blocks
Just in time for the traditional GTI weekend meet on Lake Wörthersee, which is again unable to take place due to COVID-19, Volkswagen is offering a first peek at the new Polo GTI. The compact sports car is based on the new Polo that was recently presented, and will become the premium version of the product line. This GTI model also represents pure dynamism and expressive design – the success factors of the GTI concept. The official world premiere of the new Polo GTI will take place at the end of June 2021.
A boost for the digital age – Programming school “42 Wolfsburg” starts operations
Non-profit coding school “42 Wolfsburg” will start operations on May 11 with 170 students from over 30 countries. As early as next year, up to 600 students will be trained to be software developers at the Markthalle in Wolfsburg. “42 Wolfsburg” is the latest offshoot of the talent factory “42” founded in Paris in 2013. The innovative educational model of the worldwide “42” network relies on new, creative forms of IT training without admission restrictions, professors or lectures. Volkswagen is supporting “42 Wolfsburg” with EUR 3.7 million in the first year and a further two million euros annually in the following years. The goal is to “break new ground in IT education so that graduates have all the tools they need to creatively shape the future of zero-emission, digital mobility,” said Volkswagen Board Member for Human Resources Gunnar Kilian and Ralph Linde, Head of Volkswagen Group Academy & President of 42 Wolfsburg e.V., in Wolfsburg on Monday. Other partners of “42 Wolfsburg”, in addition to SMEs and civil society organizations such as the ReDi School for refugees, include Porsche, Microsoft, Google and Red Hat.
Successful start to the new fiscal year for Volkswagen
Volkswagen has got off to a successful start in 2021 despite the global shortage of semiconductors and restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. Sales revenue in the first quarter grew by 5.4 percent to EUR 20 billion. Following the pandemic-related drop to EUR 481 million in the previous year, operating profit increased sharply to EUR 900 million and was thus almost at the level of the pre-crisis year 2019. The operating return on sales likewise rose sharply to 4.5 percent (previous year: 2.5 percent). Volkswagen CEO Ralf Brandstätter: “We’ve managed to carry over the momentum from the second half of 2020 into the new year – despite the continuing challenges posed by the pandemic and the global shortage of semiconductors. The increases in all key performance indicators show that our ACCELERATE strategy and rigorous cost management of the past months are gaining traction. On the basis of that, we’ll systematically continue to drive our transformation with a focus on e-mobility and digitalization.”
Strong first quarter for Volkswagen Group
The positive business development of the Volkswagen Group in the second half of 2020 continued in the first quarter of this year. This resulted in strong financial performance with significant improvements over the weaker prior-year period that was impacted by the pandemic. Some key figures even came in above pre-crisis levels from the first quarter of 2019. Successful management of the Covid-19 pandemic and semiconductor shortages, along with recovery in the markets, were key to this positive development. As a result, sales revenue increased by 13.3 percent to a high level of EUR 62.4 billion. Operating profit soared compared to the prior-year level to 4.8 (0.9) billion. The higher earnings were mainly due to increased unit sales, improvements in the product mix, positive effects from the valuation of raw material hedges and initial success from the fixed cost reduction program. One-off restructuring expenses of EUR 0.4 billion had a negative impact. The Automotive Division underscored the robustness of its business model with a high adjusted net cash flow of EUR 5.5 (–1.5) billion. The Division’s net liquidity rose to a very solid level of EUR 29.6 billion. The Volkswagen Group raised the outlook for its operating margin for full year 2021 to 5.5 to 7.0 percent. It was previously 5.0 to 6.5 percent.
Press shop expansion: Volkswagen reduces the number of truck journeys to Zwickau e-location by 9,000
Volkswagen officially inaugurated the press shop expansion in its electric car plant in Zwickau. As of now, the complete outer skin for the six electric models produced in Zwickau will be pressed on site. The €74 million investment will enable further gains to be made in reducing the carbon footprint of the ID.3 and ID.4. The effect is remarkable: more than 9,000 fewer direct truck journeys each year from now on for body manufacturing and thus annual savings of 5,800 tonnes of CO2. This will create 60 new jobs in the factory. The official opening was attended by Minister President of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer, in the company of Christian Vollmer, member of the Board of Management with responsibility for Production and Logistics for the Volkswagen brand, Dr Stefan Loth, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Saxony and Jens Rothe, Chairman of Volkswagen Saxony’s Central Works Council.
The new Tiguan Allspace is gearing up for its world premiere
The Tiguan was given an update back in autumn last year, and now the countdown has started for its equally successful brother. The Tiguan Allspace is celebrating its premiere on 12 May, with pre-sales starting in the next weeks. In addition to a fresh new design for the exterior, the long version also boasts advanced technical features: new control and assist systems guarantee even more convenience and the Tiguan Allspace now has a wide range of online-based services and functions on board thanks to the MIB3 Infotainment system.
Volkswagen Board discusses decarbonization plan with independent Sustainability Council
At their first joint meeting this year, Volkswagen Group Board of Management and the independent Volkswagen Sustainability Council discussed the Group’s decarbonization plan and activities. The Sustainability Council called in particular for an even stronger discussion on Volkswagen Group’s corporate purpose to provide CO2 neutral mobility for all, together with a clearly defined end date for internal combustion engines. During the discussion, both sides agreed on a more thorough ESG (Environmental Social Governance) reporting system, and to commission an additional study on socially responsible workforce transition. The firm commitment of Volkswagen to the EU Green Deal also includes the demand for more green energy, faster exit from fossil energy production, rapid expansion of charging infrastructure, and new rules for state aid to strengthen the transformation and decarbonization of industry and production sites. The nine-member Sustainability Council has been advising Volkswagen on strategic issues relating to sustainability and social responsibility since 2016.
Way to Zero: Volkswagen presents roadmap for climate-neutral mobility
At the first Way to Zero Convention, Volkswagen today gave details of its plans for decarbonizing the company and its products. The company intends to be net carbon neutral by 2050 at the latest. A new interim milestone is the targeted 40-percent reduction in CO2 emissions per vehicle in Europe by 2030 – substantially outperforming the Group target of 30 percent (baseline: 2018). As a result, an average Volkswagen would emit around 17 tons less carbon dioxide. As well as accelerating the transition to e-mobility, the production (including supply chain) and operation of electric cars is to be made net carbon neutral. Added to this is the systematic recycling of the high-voltage batteries from old electric vehicles.
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