Electric vehicles

Electric vehicles

Volkswagen offers the e-up! and the e-Golf as full electric models. An entirely new generation of full electric vehicles is to be launched from 2020: the I.D. family. These cars will be based on the new Modular electric drive matrix (MEB); each of the new I.D. models has a range comparable with current petrol models. Their zero-emission powertrain consists mainly of up to 2 electric motors (front and/or rear), power electronics (to control the high-voltage energy flow between electric motor and battery) a transmission, and a flat high-voltage battery installed in a space-saving configuration in the floorpan. The first models will be the I.D. compact and the I.D. CROZZ SUV, making their debut in 2020. The next model in the series will be the zero-emission I.D. BUZZ van to be launched in 2022.

Press releases

Flexible quick charging stations launch in China

04/08/20

Volkswagen Group News

Flexible quick charging stations launch in China

Volkswagen Group Components and the start-up Shanghai DU-POWER New Energy Technical Co., Ltd. plan to work together to produce flexible quick charging stations in China. An agreement to this effect was signed by representatives from both companies in Suzhou, China. Series production of the flexible quick charging stations is currently scheduled to start in the second half of 2020. Establishing production with a local partner is a key step in the rapidly growing electric vehicle market.

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Increasing demand for electric mobility in Germany: Significant growth for e-up! and Passat GTE

03/30/20

E-mobility

Increasing demand for electric mobility in Germany: Significant growth for e-up! and Passat GTE

Volkswagen is focussing on stepping up electric mobility and is significantly expanding its range of fully electric models and hybrids. Even before the launch of the new ID.3 this summer, the demand for electric mobility has considerably increased in Germany: already every second order for the up! model series is for the fully electric version, around 20,000 orders have been received. The GTE versions of the current Passat generation have also become increasingly more popular amongst buyers: Every seventh customer now opts for the plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

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ID.3: just as inexpensive as a car with an internal combustion engine

03/12/20

E-mobility

ID.3: just as inexpensive as a car with an internal combustion engine

With the market introduction of the ID.3 this summer, Volkswagen will make e-mobility affordable for many people. The basic version of the ID.3 will be less expensive in Germany in terms of acquisition and operation than comparable internal combustion models. As regards operating expenses alone, ID.3 drivers in Germany will save about €840 per year. “With the ID.3, the electric car will finally become affordable. This model is entirely fit for everyday use and even costs less than an internal combustion model thanks to the environmental bonus,” says Thomas Ulbrich, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen brand responsible for E-Mobility. Currently, preparations for the delivery of the ID.3 are well underway. “The time schedule will be met,” Ulbrich confirms. ”The ID.3 will be introduced to the market in the summer, as announced.”

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Volkswagen presents Green Finance Framework

03/05/20

Volkswagen Group News

Volkswagen presents Green Finance Framework

With the Green Finance Framework (GFF), the Volkswagen Group today presented further guidelines for sustainable financial instruments. In future, it will therefore be possible for investors to invest in a targeted fashion in sustainability projects of the Volkswagen Group such as e-mobility. A new corporate body, the Green Finance Committee, will select appropriate projects and can adapt the GFF to reflect changing requirements. Furthermore, regular reporting will ensure transparency in the use of funds. The objective is to ensure independent external verification of the use of funds.

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Volkswagen provides first insights into its new all-electric compact SUV ID.4

03/03/20

Models

Volkswagen provides first insights into its new all-electric compact SUV ID.4

The ID. CROZZ showcar evolves into its series production version, the ID.4: Volkswagen is forging ahead with its electric mobility strategy by providing a detailed insight into the brand’s first all-electric SUV during a webcast following the cancellation of the Geneva Motor Show. The new ID.4 will be launched this year. Following in the tracks of the ID.3, the countdown has already begun for the second model based on the new modular electric drive matrix (MEB). “Just like the ID.3, the ID.4 will also come onto the market as a carbon-neutral vehicle”, explains Ralf Brandstätter, Chief Operating Officer of the Volkswagen brand. “We will produce and sell the ID.4 in Europe, China and the U.S..”

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In brief: The all-rounder – the 1-speed gearbox

02/26/20

Volkswagen Group News

In brief: The all-rounder – the 1-speed gearbox

The ID.3 from Volkswagen enters the new era of e-mobility – quietly but with full power. After all, the typical properties of the electric drive system change the way in which power is transmitted. The powerful APP310 e-drive unit transmits power to the driven wheels using an extremely compact gearbox. The ID.3’s single gear is able to cope with all driving situations. The mechanism used has only a small number of cogs. This 1-speed gearbox is part of the electric drive system for the modular electric drive matrix (MEB) and is manufactured by Volkswagen Group Components at the Kassel plant. But why is a single gear enough for the drive motor?

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Volkswagen and partner association agree new sales model for ID. family in Germany

02/19/20

Company

Volkswagen and partner association agree new sales model for ID. family in Germany

Volkswagen and “Volkswagen und Audi Partnerverband” (Volkswagen and Audi partner association) have agreed a new sales model for the all-electric ID. family in Germany. A format similar to the agency model for major customers that has already proven its worth over many years will also apply for ID. models sold to private customers and small commercial enterprises. Following the go-ahead from retail partners, the agency agreement is to be added to the new dealer contracts that come into effect from April.

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New, innovative solution for ultra-fast charging electric vehicles

02/11/20

Volkswagen Group News

New, innovative solution for ultra-fast charging electric vehicles

The establishment of a dense public network of ultra-fast e-vehicle charging stations can be realized much faster than previously assumed. E.ON and Volkswagen Group Components are giving a new impetus with the prototype of a new, flexible ultra-fast charging station that will be presented in Essen. By integrating a battery system, it will be possible to install ultra-fast charging stations almost anywhere and at significantly lower cost without civil engineering or mains connection.

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In the year of the European Football Championship: Volkswagen launches UNITED special edition models

01/10/20

Models

In the year of the European Football Championship: Volkswagen launches UNITED special edition models

Volkswagen is getting into European Football Championship 2020 fever by offering new special edition models: up!, e-up!, Polo, T-Cross, Golf Variant, Golf Sportsvan, T-Roc, Tiguan Allspace, Touran and Sharan are now all available as a special edition UNITED model. Optional equipment includes the UNITED Plus package and the R-Line Exterior package. Depending on the particular models, customers will also enjoy maximum savings of up to €3,400.

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Test track on the A39 now operating: Volkswagen collects anonymised data for assisted driving

01/08/20

Technology

Test track on the A39 now operating: Volkswagen collects anonymised data for assisted driving

Starting signal for a forward-looking cooperative project called “Testfeld Niedersachsen” (Lower Saxony Testing Area) On the A39 motorway (Autobahn 39) between the Wolfsburg-Königslutter junction and the municipality of Cremlingen, a seven kilometre-long test track for collecting traffic flow information opened today. On the section operated by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), cameras will record anonymised data on the driving behaviour of different kinds of road users. Using the stretch of road, which has been financed by the State of Lower Saxony and the DLR, Volkswagen hoped to gather new knowledge for the purposes of assisted driving.

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Volkswagen passes the mark of 250,000 electric vehicles

12/27/19

E-mobility

Volkswagen passes the mark of 250,000 electric vehicles

In mid-December at the Autostadt, the Volkswagen brand delivered the 250,000th electric car since the introduction of the e-up! in 2013. The brand’s electrified model range has been continually expanded in the following years: e-Golf and Golf GTE followed in 2014, the Passat GTE and Passat Variant GTE in 2015. Since 2018, the Passat and Tiguan have been available as plug-in hybrids in China, where they were followed by battery electric versions of the Bora and Lavida this year. The best-selling electric car has been the e-Golf with 104,000 units delivered, followed by the Golf GTE (51,000), Passat Variant GTE (42,000) and e-up! (21,000). Half of the customers opted for a battery electric vehicle and the other half for a plug-in hybrid.

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Volkswagen significantly raises electric car production forecast for 2025

12/27/19

E-mobility

Volkswagen significantly raises electric car production forecast for 2025

Volkswagen’s electric offensive has picked up speed as planned. With the world premiere of the new all-electric ID.3 in September and the start of production at the Zwickau electric vehicle plant in November, the Volkswagen brand has already reached major milestones. 2020 will be dominated by the market introduction of the ID. family. The first ID.3 cars will appear on Europe’s roads in the summer. Over the next few years, Volkswagen intends to become the world market leader in e-mobility and is investing €33 billion in these efforts throughout the group by 2024, including €11 billion in the Volkswagen brand. Under the latest plans, the strategic target of one million electric cars is expected to be reached end of 2023, two years earlier than previously predicted. The Volkswagen brand expects 1.5 million electric cars to be produced in 2025.

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World première: Revolution in the underground car park – Volkswagen lets its charging robots loose

12/26/19

Volkswagen Group News

World première: Revolution in the underground car park – Volkswagen lets its charging robots loose

Volkswagen provides a glimpse into the future in which the search for charging stations for electric cars comes to an end. Volkswagen Group Components’ mobile charging robot takes over this task – and drives to the electric car completely autonomously.

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‘Project Qatar Mobility’: Self-driving shuttles set to take Doha's local public transport to the next level in 2022

12/14/19

Volkswagen Group News

‘Project Qatar Mobility’: Self-driving shuttles set to take Doha's local public transport to the next level in 2022

For the first time ever a cutting-edge fleet of self-driving Level 4 electric shuttles will usher in a new era of urban mobility in a capital city in 2022: Earlier today in Doha, representatives of Volkswagen AG and the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) signed the ‘Project Qatar Mobility’. The goal is to develop a ground-breaking autonomous transport project and transform the future of urban mobility to a sustainable and commercial deployment of AD shuttles and bus services – even beyond 2022. Fostering a cross-brand collaboration as blueprint for future Autonomous Driving (AD) solutions, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Scania, MOIA and AID-Autonomous Intelligent Driving will play an important role in this project. During the largest sporting event in the world, Qatar will thus be the venue for the world’s first emission-free, electric and autonomous public transport system.

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The sound of e-mobility: ID.3 attracts attention with its own driving sound

12/12/19

Models

The sound of e-mobility: ID.3 attracts attention with its own driving sound

As of July 2019 all newly registered electric vehicles must produce an artificial driving sound. Yesterday, the ID.3’s sound design was presented at the DRIVE. Forum in Berlin as part of the Future Sounds event. The almost silent, electric drive offers great potential for brand-specific sound design that not only draws attention to the car, but also to the brand. Consequently, Volkswagen-branded electric vehicles could soon be recognisable by their sound.

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In brief: Key components for a new era – the battery system

12/05/19

Volkswagen Group News

In brief: Key components for a new era – the battery system

Up to 550 kilometres with just one battery charge: Volkswagen’s fully electric ID.3 has impressive driving dynamics and great ranges. It is the first model of a product line of vehicles based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB). Its fast charging capability allows the ID.3 to be recharged with 100 kW charging power within 30 minutes for a range of around 290 kilometres (WLTP). This is made possible by the heart of the electric vehicle: the battery. The ID.3 is fitted with a high-voltage battery system which looks similar to a bar of chocolate. Up to twelve battery modules are fitted and connected with each other inside the system. The Volkswagen Group Components plant in Brunswick will produce up to 500,000 of these energy storage devices per year in future. But how does such a battery system work?

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Volkswagen ID.R is “Electric Racing Car of the Year”

11/29/19

Company

Volkswagen ID.R is “Electric Racing Car of the Year”

The “Electric Racing Car of the Year” award was presented to the fully-electrically driven Volkswagen ID.R at the “Race Night” on the eve of the Essen Motor Show. This year’s auto show (30 November to 8 December 2019) is once again proving to be a major attraction for car and motorsport fans from all over Europe. The prize, awarded by Auto Bild sportscars and Auto Bild motorsport, acknowledges the technology and successes of the 500 kW (680 PS) electric racing car, which has set five records in four countries, on three continents, in the past two years.

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Race car meets production model: Volkswagen ID.R and ID.3 at the Essen Motor Show

11/28/19

E-mobility

Race car meets production model: Volkswagen ID.R and ID.3 at the Essen Motor Show

The ID.R electric racing car and the new ID.3 will meet at the Essen Motor Show (30 November to 08 December 2019). The prototype for the racetrack and the large-scale production model for road use will be presented to the public in Hall 3 of the largest tuning fair in Europe. At first glance, the two electro pioneers represent two vehicle concepts that could hardly be more different. However, the ID.R, which has been setting records around the world since 2018, and the Volkswagen ID.3, which was presented for the first time in September, share more than just the electric drivetrain. The development of the ID.R and its appearances have provided valuable information for the series development of the ID. family. At the same time, production development supported the Volkswagen Motorsport team with know-how gained during large-scale production.

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Volkswagen delivers 100,000th e-Golf

11/27/19

Models

Volkswagen delivers 100,000th e-Golf

Volkswagen yesterday delivered the 100,000th e-Golf in the Gläserne Manufaktur Dresden. The model was launched in 2014 as the Volkswagen brand’s second battery electric vehicle (BEV) after the e-up! (2013). The e-Golf is one of the most successful electric vehicles in Europe and is also popular with customers in other countries – including the USA. The new ID.3 will be assembled in Dresden from fall 2020. In addition, the location is to be made even more attractive as a destination for visitors and customers.

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Ready for the electric future: Volkswagen is focusing its motorsport strategy on e-mobility

11/22/19

Company

Ready for the electric future: Volkswagen is focusing its motorsport strategy on e-mobility

Volkswagen is focusing its motorsport strategy on electric mobility. A clear emphasis on fully electric racing cars will be backed up by the farewell to factory-backed commitments using internal combustion engines. "The role as a technological pioneer will continue to be taken over by the ID.R electric race car, which has set important milestones for electric mobility with records at Pikes Peak (USA), Nürburgring (D), Goodwood (GB) and Tianmen (CN). In addition, Volkswagen Motorsport will develop new motorsport concepts for the ID. family on the basis of the Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB), on which numerous electric production vehicles will be based.

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Volkswagen Group China to invest over 4 billion Euro in 2020

11/21/19

Volkswagen Group News

Volkswagen Group China to invest over 4 billion Euro in 2020

Volkswagen Group China, together with its Chinese partners, plans to invest over 4 billion Euro next year, with around 40 percent of this investment going towards e-mobility. This will accel-erate the Group’s electrification strategy, which will be strengthened next year through the start of production of models based on the modular electric drive toolkit MEB in Anting (SAIC VOLKSWAGEN) and Foshan (FAW-Volkswagen). Both factories are specifically designed for manufacturing all-electric cars.

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Volkswagen and Hamburg extend strategic mobility partnership

11/21/19

Volkswagen Group News

Volkswagen and Hamburg extend strategic mobility partnership

The strategic mobility partnership between the Volkswagen Group and the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg is to be extended. The focus lies on support for e-mobility, innovative mobility services, intelligent transport networking and the use of self-driving vehicles. The aim is to bring about a lasting improvement in inner city quality of life through innovative mobility solutions. In concrete terms, this means that under the second phase of the partnership, WeShare is to be launched in Hamburg from spring 2020, following on from its successful premier in Berlin; the service will consist of an all-electric fleet of e-Golf and e-up!, to be joined by the ID.3 at a later date.

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World premiere: ID. SPACE VIZZION concept car displays perfect aerodynamics and ample space in Los Angeles

11/20/19

Models

World premiere: ID. SPACE VIZZION concept car displays perfect aerodynamics and ample space in Los Angeles

On the eve of the Los Angeles Auto Show, Volkswagen presented the seventh concept car of the ID. family. The ID. SPACE VIZZION follows the ID., ID. CROZZ, ID. BUZZ, ID. VIZZION, ID. BUGGY and ID. ROOMZZ. Like all the ID. models, the new ID. SPACE VIZZION will be fully electric. Its design and form embody a fresh approach. One particularly striking feature is the front section with airflow openings, enabling a drag coefficient of 0.24. The ID. SPACE VIZZION combines the aerodynamic qualities of a Gran Turismo with the generous interior space of an SUV – thereby defining an entirely new segment.

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The ID.3 to be assembled in the Gläserne Manufaktur in Dresden from fall 2020

11/18/19

Company

The ID.3 to be assembled in the Gläserne Manufaktur in Dresden from fall 2020

Volkswagen continues to step up the pace of its electric offensive: The ID.3 will be assembled at the Gläserne Manufaktur in Dresden in addition to the Zwickau plant. This was announced today by Gunnar Killian, Volkswagen AG Board Member for Human Resources, at a works meeting in Dresden. The ID.3 is the first model in the latest generation that Volkswagen is putting on the road under its global electric offensive. The Gläserne Manufaktur is to evolve into a Center of Future Mobility where innovative technologies are developed and tested in collaboration with industry partners and startups. Efforts to pursue new areas of business such as the function testing station are to be intensified. Vehicle collection is to be significantly expanded, and the location is to be made even more attractive as a destination for visitors and customers.

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Volkswagen investing strongly in the future

11/15/19

Volkswagen Group News

Volkswagen investing strongly in the future

The Volkswagen Group is continuing to invest strongly in its future. As part of Planning Round 68, the investment plan for 2020 to 2024* has been drawn up. The plan was dis-cussed during today’s meeting of the Supervisory Board and approved. The Group plans to spend nearly EUR 60 billion on the future areas of hybridization, electric mobility and digitalization in the next five years. This amounts to slightly more than 40 percent of the company’s investments in property, plant and equipment and all research and development costs during the planning period. Compared with the Group’s last Planning Round, it represents an increase of around 10 percentage points. The Group intends to invest around EUR 33 billion of this figure in electric mobility alone.

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In brief: More than 200 horses in a sports bag – the electric drive in the Volkswagen ID.3

11/14/19

Volkswagen Group News

In brief: More than 200 horses in a sports bag – the electric drive in the Volkswagen ID.3

The ID.3 heralds the beginning of a new era of electric mobility for Volkswagen. The electric drive, which is based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB), is produced by Volkswagen Group Components. It’s not only less complex than a conventional petrol or diesel engine, but also compact enough to fit in a sports bag. But how does the electric drive, produced at the component site in Kassel, actually work?

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Volkswagen and BASF honour battery researcher Dr. Kimberly See

11/13/19

Technology

Volkswagen and BASF honour battery researcher Dr. Kimberly See

This year’s international Science Award Electrochemistry was presented to Dr Kimberly See of the California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, California, USA). She was honoured yesterday evening at the Science Award Electrochemistry & Science Dialogue held in Wolfsburg’s Autostadt. The award has been presented seven times as a joint initiative of Volkswagen and BASF and is aimed at young scientists of excellence. Prizes total €70,000, of which €50,000 is awarded to the overall winner.

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New electric family member: ID. SPACE VIZZION will be presented at the Los Angeles Auto Show

11/07/19

Models

New electric family member: ID. SPACE VIZZION will be presented at the Los Angeles Auto Show

Volkswagen will debut the ID. SPACE VIZZION to the world on the eve of the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19th 2019—a zero-emissions vehicle for a new era, new thinking and new mobility. The ID. SPACE VIZZION is a wagon of tomorrow that combines the aerodynamic characteristics of a Gran Turismo with the spaciousness of an SUV. Stylistically, the ID. SPACE VIZZION follows the design DNA of the ID. family, yet has a completely independent and progressive character.

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Volkswagen initiates system changeover to e-mobility – Production of the ID.3 starts in Zwickau

11/04/19

Models

Volkswagen initiates system changeover to e-mobility – Production of the ID.3 starts in Zwickau

Volkswagen’s electric offensive is picking up speed: Today saw the official start of series production of the ID.3. The first car in the new generation of electric vehicles (EVs) – a white ID.3 – rolled off the assembly line watched by Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel and Group CEO Dr. Herbert Diess. The Volkswagen Group plans to sell some 22 million EVs worldwide by 2028, thus helping EVs make the breakthrough. Zwickau has a key role to play in this endeavor: For the first time, a large car manufacturing plant is being entirely converted to e-mobility, with investments running at €1.2 billion. Zwickau is already scheduled to produce some 100,000 electric models next year. From 2021, up to 330,000 EVs will leave the assembly line each year, making the site the largest and most efficient EV factory in Europe and a trailblazer in the transformation of Volkswagen’s global production network.

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Volkswagen strengthens brand presentation in China: MEB roadmap, new models and new brand design

10/31/19

Company

Volkswagen strengthens brand presentation in China: MEB roadmap, new models and new brand design

The Volkswagen brand is boosting its e-mobility offensive in China. Next year, about 300,000 electrified models are already to be handed over to customers. The figure will then reach about one million by 2025. By 2023, the Volkswagen brand will offer 10 models based on the MEB modular electric drive toolkit on the Chinese market. In Guangzhou, the SUV study ID.Next, already on show at the IAA, gave a glimpse of the first model in the ID. family for China. Production of this model is to start at the end of 2020. The ID.3 will then be produced by SAIC VOLKSWAGEN at the new plant in Anting. This way, Volkswagen is also making its corporate goal clear in China: the brand is on its way to mobility with a net neutral carbon balance.

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First for Africa: Volkswagen and Siemens launch joint electric mobility pilot project in Rwanda

10/29/19

Company

First for Africa: Volkswagen and Siemens launch joint electric mobility pilot project in Rwanda

In a first for the African continent, the Volkswagen Brand has launched a pilot project in partnership with Siemens to test the feasibility of electric mobility in an African country.

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Countdown to production start: Conversion of Zwickau plant to electric car factory began in 2018

10/28/19

Company

Countdown to production start: Conversion of Zwickau plant to electric car factory began in 2018

The countdown is on: Seven days to go until Volkswagen begins series production of the all-electric ID.3. Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel and Group CEO Dr. Herbert Diess will be there to watch the first car roll off the assembly line at the plant in Zwickau on November 4, 2019. The Federal Chancellor will attend the official ceremony and also visit the production line. The ID.3 is the first model in the latest generation to hit the road under Volkswagen’s global electric offensive. Volkswagen is the very first volume manufacturer to entirely convert a large car factory from internal combustion engines to e-mobility. The phased transformation of the factory already began in 2018 and will be fully completed in 2021, transforming Zwickau into the largest and most efficient electric car plant in Europe.

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Volkswagen plans to make autonomous driving market-ready

10/28/19

Volkswagen Group News

Volkswagen plans to make autonomous driving market-ready

Volkswagen AG today announced the foundation of Volkswagen Autonomy GmbH (VWAT GmbH) with headquarters in Munich and Wolfsburg. Another subsidary in Silicon Valley will follow in 2020. A further subsidiary is planned in China in 2021. As a centre of excellence for autonomous driving from Level 4, VWAT will serve to build up know-how within the Group and bring a self-driving system (SDS) to market maturity. The company will be managed by Alexander Hitzinger, Senior Vice President for autonomous driving in the Volkswagen Group and Member of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management responsible for Technical Development at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV). VWCV in Hanover is the leading brand within the Group for Autonomous Driving, Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS), and Transport-as-a-Service (TaaS).

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Volkswagen offers cities cooperation to optimize urban mobility

10/21/19

Volkswagen Group News

Volkswagen offers cities cooperation to optimize urban mobility

The Volkswagen Group is showcasing answers for urban trends and challenges at the ITS World Congress in Singapore, the world’s largest event for intelligent transport systems. The presentations focus on the Group’s extensive product and service portfolio of solutions for the problems of urban mobility. The aim is to offer cities tailored collaboration to optimize intelligent mobility concepts and develop new growth markets, for example through e-mobility, micro mobility and electric buses together with new mobility services.

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Volkswagen electric car ID.3 communicates using light

10/09/19

Models

Volkswagen electric car ID.3 communicates using light

The ID.3, the first model from the new all-electric ID. family stands for the future of the Volkswagen brand – with a large range, impressive driving dynamics, pioneering design and the innovative ID. Light concept. The intelligent light concept in the interior supports the driver visually and makes communication with the ID.3 more emotional.

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“Mille Miglia Green”: new e-up! starts at the first e-mobility edition of the famous contest

09/26/19

Models

“Mille Miglia Green”: new e-up! starts at the first e-mobility edition of the famous contest

The Mille Miglia is without doubt one of the most legendary classic car rallies worldwide. The “Mille Miglia Green” is a completely new event that borrows the original idea of long-distance racing – but only electric and hybrid vehicles are permitted to compete. The first edition of the competition starts next weekend (27–29 September). Just like the traditional event for classic models, it starts in Brescia – and the new e-up! with increased range will be taking part, as well as two electrified e-Beetles.

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Volkswagen Group Research becomes Volkswagen Group Innovation

09/24/19

Company

Volkswagen Group Research becomes Volkswagen Group Innovation

International network of ideas, continuous cooperation with all brands and drivers of expertise: Volkswagen Group Research has been an incubator for innovative vehicle and mobility solutions for 50 years now. It has been consistently restructured and positioned to further enhance its technological leadership. An international, comprehensive research approach lies at the core of what is now “Volkswagen Group Innovation” – with shared responsibilities at new Innovation Centers. The future-oriented alignment within the innovation fields of artificial intelligence, augmented reality, solid-state energy systems and autonomous driving drives this turnaround as a transformation initiative within the context of Volkswagen’s TOGETHER 2025+ strategy.

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Volkswagen Group starts battery cell development and production in Salzgitter

09/23/19

Volkswagen Group News

Volkswagen Group starts battery cell development and production in Salzgitter

The Volkswagen Group is setting benchmarks in the development, testing and production of cutting-edge battery cell technology in Germany. In Salzgitter (Lower Saxony) alone, over 1,000 jobs are to be created by 2023/24 for testing and producing battery cells – 300 at Volkswagen’s development center and pilot line, 700 in a joint venture between Northvolt and Volkswagen to build and operate a battery cell factory. Over one billion euros is to be invested in the Volkswagen Group’s battery cell activities over the same period.

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Breathtaking nature, fascinating technology: The ID.R’s record drive on Tianmen Mountain on video and in a digital booklet

09/12/19

Company

Breathtaking nature, fascinating technology: The ID.R’s record drive on Tianmen Mountain on video and in a digital booklet

The fifth sensational record of the ID.R: more than a week ago at Tianmen Mountain (China), Volkswagen has once again demonstrated its expertise in the field of electro-mobility and in motorsport. With the fully electric powered ID.R, the pioneer and ambassador of the brand’s ID product family, Volkswagen has set records worldwide on unique roads resp. circuits and underlined the performance capabilities of electric drive. A 56-page digital media booklet now summarizes these records and a gripping video clip looks back on the recent trip to China.

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Chancellor Merkel visits Volkswagen at the IAA in Frankfurt

09/12/19

Volkswagen Group News

Chancellor Merkel visits Volkswagen at the IAA in Frankfurt

The Volkswagen ID.3 was the center of attention on Chancellor Merkel’s visit to the Volkswagen stand at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. Dr. Herbert Diess, CEO of Volkswagen AG, reiterated the entire Group’s commitment to e-mobility: “We want to continue making individual mobility accessible to everyone in future. That means harnessing innovative technologies to make the car cleaner, even safer and climate-neutral. E-mobility is the best and most efficient option for reducing CO₂ emissions from transport.”

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Automotive Brand Contest 2019: Passat, T-Cross and ID. ROOMZZ are the “Best of Best”

09/11/19

Technology

Automotive Brand Contest 2019: Passat, T-Cross and ID. ROOMZZ are the “Best of Best”

Volkswagen scores highly in all categories of vehicle design in this year’s Automotive Brand Contest. The Volkswagen brand secured a total of six awards in the “Concepts”, “Interior” and “Exterior Volume Brands” categories, in each case taking the “Best of Best” first prize.

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IAA 2019: Volkswagen launches the breakthrough for electric vehicles with the ID.3’s world premiere

09/10/19

Models

IAA 2019: Volkswagen launches the breakthrough for electric vehicles with the ID.3’s world premiere

The future is rarely as tangible as at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt: the new ID.3 from Volkswagen – the first fully electric production car of the all-new ID. family. Its base price will be less than €30,000. The ID.3 has the potential to usher in a new era of large-scale electric mobility production. “The ID.3 is the world’s first electric car with a CO₂-neutral footprint. Consequently, it is making its mark: for innovative technology, for the freedom of individual mobility and for climate protection”, Ralf Brandstätter, Chief Operating Officer of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand, explained at IAA today.

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Vision made reality: world premiere of the ID.3

09/09/19

Models

Vision made reality: world premiere of the ID.3

Volkswagen presents the pioneering ID.3 on the evening before the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt. This vehicle is the symbol of a new era for the brand. The ID.3 extends the Volkswagen offering as the first model of a completely new generation of pure electric vehicles – featuring zero local emissions, outstanding efficiency, and full connectivity. At the same time, the ID.3 reflects the realignment of the Volkswagen brand, and is also the first model with the new Volkswagen logo.

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Volkswagen unveils new brand design and logo

09/09/19

Company

Volkswagen unveils new brand design and logo

The curtain has been raised on “New Volkswagen“: On the evening before the first press day of the IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt, the Volkswagen brand has unveiled its new logo and its new brand design. This world premiere marks the start of a new era for Volkswagen, accompanied by the presentation of the full-electric ID.3 at the same time. Volkswagen’s future is electric, fully connected and has a neutral carbon balance. With its new brand design, VW has created a uniform global 360° brand experience which is more modern and more authentic. The new Volkswagen logo with its flat two-dimensional design is clearer and has been reduced to its essential elements. The brand design and the logo aim for high flexibility and are intended for digital applications. The realignment of Volkswagen’s brand design is one of the world’s largest rebranding campaigns. The changeover to the new brand design is due to be completed by mid-2020.

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Volkswagen and Northvolt form joint venture for battery production

09/06/19

Volkswagen Group News

Volkswagen and Northvolt form joint venture for battery production

Volkswagen AG and Northvolt AB have created a 50/50 joint venture to build a factory for lithium-ion batteries. Construction of the production facility is scheduled to start in Salzgitter (Lower Saxony) in 2020. Start of production is planned for the end of 2023/beginning of 2024. The initial annual output is to be 16 GWh.

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Production of ID.3 at Zwickau plant to start in November

09/06/19

Company

Production of ID.3 at Zwickau plant to start in November

The countdown is running: series production of the ID.3 is to start at the Zwickau vehicle plant in November. Currently, the last robots are being installed and the assembly line is being commissioned. The ID.3 is the first model in an entirely new generation of electric cars based on Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Drive toolkit (MEB). The ID.3 is making its world debut on the evening of September 9 at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt (IAA). The first vehicles are to be delivered to customers next summer. With the ID.3, Volkswagen is launching the largest electric offensive in the automotive industry worldwide. In the next three years alone, production of a total of 33 models based on the MEB, spread across all the Volkswagen Group’s volume brands, is due to start.

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e-up! for everyone – new generation of the electric e-up! with a long range to be launched at a low price

09/05/19

Models

e-up! for everyone – new generation of the electric e-up! with a long range to be launched at a low price

Volkswagen is making electric mobility affordable for everyone with the new e-up!. At €21,975 (minus subsidies) the base price is lower than that of the predecessor model. A particularly appealing offer will also be available upon the pre-sales launch: lease the e-up! at a monthly rate of only €159 excluding extra payments between 18 September and 31 October 2019 (in Germany). Increased range: thanks to a new battery system, the range of the e-up! has now increased to up to 260 km. It’s important to note that, despite its compact dimensions, the e-up! is a fully fledged vehicle for four occupants. It offers smart mobility and zero-emission driving for companies, company car drivers and private motorists.

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More than 30,000 reservations for the ID.3 1ST edition

09/04/19

Models

More than 30,000 reservations for the ID.3 1ST edition

Just before the beginning of the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Volkswagen has already received more than 30,000 reservations for the ID.3. Most of the pre-bookers live in Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom. More than 100,000 further ID. fans have registered for the ID.3 newsletter which Volkswagen is using to present regular information on its new full-electric ID. family as well as topics connected with e-mobility. Volkswagen is showing the ID.3 as a world premiere at the IAA next week.

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7:38.585 minutes to reach “Heaven’s Gate” in China: Volkswagen sets first record on Tianmen Mountain with the ID.R

09/02/19

Company

7:38.585 minutes to reach “Heaven’s Gate” in China: Volkswagen sets first record on Tianmen Mountain with the ID.R

An extraordinary drive on the limit, with spectacular images and the first record on Tianmen Mountain: Volkswagen has achieved a major milestone with the ID.R in China – one that literally helps drive electromobility to new highs. Romain Dumas (F) completed the 99 tight corners on the Tianmen Mountain road in 7:38.585 minutes – faster than ever before. The ID.R currently holds the records on Pikes Peak (USA) and at the Goodwood Festival of Speed (GB), the electric lap record on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (D), and now the fastest time for an ascent of Tianmen Mountain in China. The car is the motorsport ambassador for the new, fully-electric range of vehicles from Volkswagen, the ID. family, the first of which – the ID.3 – will have its world premiere on 10 September at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA).

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The ID.3 celebrates its world premiere at the IAA

08/30/19

Models

The ID.3 celebrates its world premiere at the IAA

Representing the realignment of the Volkswagen brand like no other model; the ID.3. In just a few days’ time, the first model from the new fully electric ID. family will celebrate its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA), with its ground-breaking design, greater ranges, impressive driving dynamics and spacious interior.

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Volkswagen Group invests in leading technology company in the field of 3D holography

08/30/19

Volkswagen Group News

Volkswagen Group invests in leading technology company in the field of 3D holography

Volkswagen has acquired a minority stake in the leading technology company SeeReal Technologies. This participation will secure access for the Group to future-oriented augmented reality in the field of display technologies for the automobile. The research project will provide the Group with key know-how to make driving even safer and more convenient in the future.

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Storming the summit for e-mobility: Volkswagen targets record on Tianmen Mountain

08/29/19

Company

Storming the summit for e-mobility: Volkswagen targets record on Tianmen Mountain

10.906 kilometres, 99 corners, one aim: another groundbreaking record with the Volkswagen ID.R. On Monday, 2 September, Volkswagen will literally push electro-mobility to new peaks on the mythical Tianmen Mountain in China. The breathtaking Big Gate Road near Zhangjiajie is one of the most dramatic in the world. In the important growth market of China, the ID.R will serve as the first ambassador of the fully electric powered ID. family on the roads of the People’s Republic.

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Jürgen Stackmann: “Electro-mobility is emotive and fascinating: this is the clear message the ID.R is sending”

08/23/19

Company

Jürgen Stackmann: “Electro-mobility is emotive and fascinating: this is the clear message the ID.R is sending”

On 02 September, the ID.R will face a very special kind of challenge on Tianmen Mountain in China: record-chaser Romain Dumas (F) will set a benchmark behind the wheel of the ID.R against which the competition will be able to try their luck. So far, no one has dared to master the extremely winding route up the mythical mountain in a racing car. With the ID.R, the racing ambassador of the future ID. product family, Volkswagen demonstrates its competence in the field of electrically powered vehicles – using motorsport as a test-field and stage. In just one year, Volkswagen set new records with the all-electric ID.R at Pikes Peak (USA), the Nürburgring Nordschleife (D) as well as the Goodwood Festival of Speed (GB). In this interview, Jürgen Stackmann, Member of the Board of Management Volkswagen Passenger Cars, with responsibility for ‘Sales, Marketing and After Sales’, explains why the challenge in China is emblematic of the mobility change at Volkswagen.

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Tour launch at the Gläserne Manufaktur Dresden: Actor Walter Sittler plays Erich Kästner

08/22/19

Company

Tour launch at the Gläserne Manufaktur Dresden: Actor Walter Sittler plays Erich Kästner

On the 120th anniversary of Erich Kästner’s birth, actor Walter Sittler takes on the role of the famous Dresden-born author once again – this time with scarf and skis in tow. In this play, their third based on the life and work of the best-selling author, director Martin Mühleis and composer Libor Síma bring a wintry Christmas story to the stage. The premiere will run on Saturday, 30 November in Kästner’s hometown of Dresden. Volkswagen is also providing Dresden’s Erich Kästner Museum with a Crafter panel van which is traversing rural regions with less well-developed infrastructure throughout Germany as a mobile showroom.

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Expansion of electric charging stations at Volkswagen’s German sites begins

08/22/19

E-mobility

Expansion of electric charging stations at Volkswagen’s German sites begins

The Volkswagen brand is systematically driving its electric offensive and will be installing some 4,000 charging points at its German sites by 2025. The first are already up and running: Ulrich Markurth, Mayor of Braunschweig, was joined today by Thomas Ulbrich, Member of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management, to inaugurate the first charging center for employees with 60 new charging points. The Volkswagen Group is investing some €250 million in expanding the charging infrastructure at its European sites. When combined with the activities at dealerships, this means the Volkswagen Group is providing some 36,000 new charging points in Europe.

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World premiere for “New Volkswagen” at the IAA

08/22/19

Company

World premiere for “New Volkswagen” at the IAA

At this year’s IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt, the Volkswagen brand is celebrating two world premieres. In addition to the full-electric ID.3, the brand is presenting its new logo and its new brand design to the public under the motto of “New Volkswagen”. After the Beetle and the Golf, the ID.3 will usher in a new era for Volkswagen – electric, fully connected and balance sheet carbon-neutral. The strategic transformation with a reorientation of content and sustainable products, initiated almost 4 years ago, is now to become visible with the new brand design. All in all, the presentation of the brand is to become more digital and therefore more modern.

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Record attempt by the Volkswagen ID.R supports the electric model offensive in China

08/20/19

Company

Record attempt by the Volkswagen ID.R supports the electric model offensive in China

Tianmen Mountain is deeply rooted in Chinese mythology. The 1,519-metre mountain in the south of the country is believed to be a gateway to heaven. As such, Volkswagen’s project – to take the fully-electric ID.R and set a record for ascending the almost eleven-kilometre road to the summit, via no less than 99 corners – is of great symbolic importance. With the spectacular outing of the zero-emission ID.R, Volkswagen brand is supporting an extensive electromobility offensive in China.

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ID. BUGGY at Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance

08/16/19

Models

ID. BUGGY at Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance

For the first time the Volkswagen ID. BUGGY hits the roads and beaches of California. The concept car will also be shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance during Monterey Car Week. Since its world debut at the Geneva International Motor Show in March, the ID. BUGGY has created buzz about the future possibilities of e-mobility.

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ID.3 gets its own YouTube series

08/15/19

Models

ID.3 gets its own YouTube series

Challenges, personal experiences, moments of success: All this is included in the new weekly video series about the development of the ID.3 – Volkswagen's upcoming electric model. The new format illuminates the people behind the finished car and goes into more detail about specific details and backgrounds of the development work. The first episode is led by Klaus Bischoff, chief designer of the Volkswagen brand.

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Efficiency record in the “Green Hell” – The Volkswagen ID.R’s ground-breaking lap of the Nordschleife in figures

08/02/19

Company

Efficiency record in the “Green Hell” – The Volkswagen ID.R’s ground-breaking lap of the Nordschleife in figures

The electric record on the iconic Nordschleife with a remarkably low amount of energy: Exactly two months ago, Volkswagen achieved an electromobility milestone with the ID.R. The fully-electric ID.R raced through the 20.8-kilometre “Green Hell” in a time of just 6:05.336 minutes and at an average speed of 204.96 km/h – and all whilst using just 24.7 kWh of energy. This meant the ID.R was not only significantly faster than a GT3 sports car, but also consumed only a quarter of the energy over the course of one lap. The ID.R is the sporty forerunner and prototype for the ID.R family, with which Volkswagen will bring E-mobility to the streets for everyone from 2020. Technology used successfully during the record attempts with the ID.R will be incorporated in production vehicles.

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Volkswagen and software expert has·to·be cooperate for expansion of charging infrastructure

07/31/19

Volkswagen Group News

Volkswagen and software expert has·to·be cooperate for expansion of charging infrastructure

Volkswagen is expanding its activities in the field of charging infrastructure and is to cooperate closely with has·to·be GmbH, a leading provider of operating systems for e-mobility. Volkswagen Group company Elli is to acquire a minority stake in the company. Together, has·to·be and Volkswagen will forge ahead with the expansion of the pan-European charging network and participate in the rapidly growing market for charging solutions. Some of the Group’s own charging stations are already operating using has·to·be software and are therefore part of a holistic, integrated charging ecosystem.

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Volkswagen ID.R: Records in the rear-view mirror, sights set on Chinese challenge

07/24/19

Models

Volkswagen ID.R: Records in the rear-view mirror, sights set on Chinese challenge

Their names alone are enough to send shivers down the spine of any automobile fan: The legendary hill climb on Pikes Peak, the famous Nürburgring-Nordschleife, and the iconic Goodwood Festival of Speed. The fully-electric Volkswagen ID.R holds spectacular records at each of these prestigious motorsport venues. But that’s not all. The sports car will take on its next record attempt in September: The ID.R will set a target time on Tianmen Mountain in China. The goal for this extraordinary outing in the Far East is to set a milestone for electric cars and, in doing so, to support Volkswagen’s e-strategy in China, which is really picking up speed this year. By 2035, Volkswagen intends to increase the percentage of e-cars within its annual deliveries in China to 50 percent.

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Ford – Volkswagen expand their global collaboration to advance autonomous driving, electrification and better serve customers

07/12/19

Volkswagen Group News

Ford – Volkswagen expand their global collaboration to advance autonomous driving, electrification and better serve customers

Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen AG today announced they are expanding their global alliance to include electric vehicles – and will collaborate with Argo AI to in-troduce autonomous vehicle technology in the U.S. and Europe – positioning both companies to better serve customers while improving their competitiveness and cost and capital efficiencies.

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Dr. Frank Welsch: “The ID.R is an important ambassador for Volkswagen”

07/10/19

Models

Dr. Frank Welsch: “The ID.R is an important ambassador for Volkswagen”

Volkswagen has added two more chapters to the ID.R’s success story: the lap record for electric powered vehicles on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife was followed by the absolute track record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. This once again impressively demonstrated the performance capabilities of electro technology. But the ID.R is more than a record holder – it is the racing spearhead to the ID. family of fully electric powered production vehicles, which will appear on the market from 2020. In an interview, Dr. Frank Welsch, Chief Development Officer of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, speaks about the significance of the records for the brand’s electro-mobility offensive.

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Volkswagen Group Components supplies numerous components and parts for the production of the Volkswagen ID.3

07/10/19

Volkswagen Group News

Volkswagen Group Components supplies numerous components and parts for the production of the Volkswagen ID.3

Pre-series production of the ID.3 has already begun at the Volkswagen plant in Zwickau. The core components for electric cars are developed and produced for the new electric vehicles at the Volkswagen Group Components plants: the electric drive comes from Kassel, the Salzgitter plant supplies its colleagues in Hessen with rotors and stators. The Brunswick plant develops and produces the battery system, further sites deliver castings and other parts.

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Faster than Formula 1: New record for the Volkswagen ID.R in Goodwood

07/07/19

Company

Faster than Formula 1: New record for the Volkswagen ID.R in Goodwood

The first electric race car to beat Formula 1: The Volkswagen ID.R has made motorsport history again by setting a new all-time record at the ‘Goodwood Festival of Speed’. Romain Dumas completed the 1.86-kilometre track in the south of England in just 39.90 seconds. In doing so, the 500-kW (680-PS) electric race car broke the previous record, which had stood for 20 years, by 1.7 seconds. He also took victory in the Sunday Shootout. The previous record at the famous hillclimb was set in 1999 by Nick Heidfeld in a 574-KW (780-PS) McLaren-Mercedes MP4/13 with a combustion engine.

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Goodwood Festival of Speed: Volkswagen ID.R electric race car sets sights on Formula 1 record

07/03/19

Company

Goodwood Festival of Speed: Volkswagen ID.R electric race car sets sights on Formula 1 record

It is a battle of the technology concepts at the “Goodwood Festival of Speed” (04 to 07 July 2019) – electric drivetrain versus petrol engine. Volkswagen travels with the ID.R electric race car to the famous motorsport revival in southern England, where it will take aim at the course record, which has stood for exactly 20 years. Back in 1999, Nick Heidfeld (D) set the fastest time of 41.6 seconds in a Formula 1 car, the McLaren-Mercedes MP4/13, driven by a V10 naturally-aspirated engine generating roughly 574 kW (780 PS). Only last year, the ID.R, which has a system performance of 500 kW (680 PS), set a new record for electric cars in Goodwood. Romain Dumas (F) was at the wheel of the ID.R, the sporty spearhead of the fully-electric ID. family of production vehicles. In doing so, he also set the third fastest time in the history of the event.

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Volkswagen takes over leading position for electro-mobility in China

07/02/19

Volkswagen Group News

Volkswagen takes over leading position for electro-mobility in China

Volkswagen is striving for the lead in transforming the auto industry towards electric mobility in China. This was endorsed by the CEO of Volkswagen AG, Dr. Herbert Diess, at the first World New Energy Vehicle Congress (WNEVC) in the southern Chinese city of Boao. The Boao Consensus, which describes the strategic results of the congress, foresees e-cars accounting for 50% of annual global car sales by 2035. Within the Chinese market, Volkswagen commits to that goal as well, making China pivotal for Volkswagen Group’s decarbonization strategy. Volkswagen intends to offer 14 electrified models to Chinese customers this year. By 2028, more than half of the Group's planned 22 million electric cars will be produced in China. At the same time, Volkswagen is strengthening its local R&D. More than 4,500 engineers work on future technologies in the country.

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ID. BUGGY singled out at Concours d’Elegance

07/01/19

Models

ID. BUGGY singled out at Concours d’Elegance

The ID. BUGGY made its first big appearance at the "Chantilly Arts & Elegance, Richard Mille" after its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show. Together with an haute couture creation by the Belgian fashion designer Ann Demeulemeester, it ventured onto the catwalk and bagged the audience award at the Concours d'Elegance. Volkswagen chief designer Klaus Bischoff, who took part in the parade, is thrilled: "It is a sensational achievement for our design team that international automotive enthusiasts chose the ID. BUGGY at such a top-class event. It shows that our vision of e-mobility has struck a chord."

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Volkswagen WeShare launched in Berlin as full-electric service

06/27/19

Company

Volkswagen WeShare launched in Berlin as full-electric service

Volkswagen is entering the growing car sharing sector. WeShare is being launched in Berlin today. With 1,500 e-Golf vehicles, the Volkswagen brand is bringing onto the roads a 100 percent electric fleet and all the vehicles will be operated on green power. They are to be followed by 500 additional e-up! vehicles at the beginning of next year and the first units of Volkswagen’s new full-electric ID.3 when it is introduced in mid-2020. WeShare is a “free-floating” system without rental stations and is operated digitally via an app. An expansion of WeShare, initially to Prague, together with ŠKODA, and then to Hamburg, is planned for 2020.

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Software Development Center: Volkswagen opens IT-Center in the Gläserne Manufaktur in Dresden

06/20/19

Company

Software Development Center: Volkswagen opens IT-Center in the Gläserne Manufaktur in Dresden

Volkswagen has opened a new IT Development Center today in its Gläserne Manufaktur in Dresden. In Software Development Center Production (SDC Production), up to 80 newly hired IT specialists will be working on the Volkswagen Industrial Cloud. In the future, the Industrial Cloud will link all 122 Group-wide Volkswagen production facilities. The goal is to amalgamate all data, and in doing so consistently digitalise Production and Logistics.

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Volkswagen and Schwarz Group to be strategic e-partners

06/19/19

Company

Volkswagen and Schwarz Group to be strategic e-partners

Shortly before the market launch of its full-electric car sharing service WeShare in Berlin at the end of June, Volkswagen has concluded a strategic partnership with the Lidl and Kaufland supermarket chains, which are owned by the Schwarz Group. The food retailers are to install 140 public charging stations for the electric vehicles of their customers at 60 Lidl and 10 Kaufland branches in the German capital. Volkswagen is to receive the exclusive right to use the new infrastructure for charging its WeShare fleet overnight outside opening hours, which will make the utilization of the charging stations more efficient. The additional charging points at Lidl and Kaufland outlets will boost the public charging infrastructure in Berlin by almost 20 percent.

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New ID.3 and future ID. models to be equipped with batteries offering the highest capacity – and an eight-year warranty

06/17/19

Models

New ID.3 and future ID. models to be equipped with batteries offering the highest capacity – and an eight-year warranty

Volkswagen will launch production of the ID.3 before the year is out. The compact-class model is the first member of the ID. family – a new generation of progressive electric vehicles whose lithium-ion batteries will allow for a range of up to 550 kilometres, making the models perfect for comfortable long journeys. The future owners of ID. models won’t need to worry about the durability of their batteries either, as Volkswagen will guarantee that the batteries will retain at least 70 per cent of their usable capacity even after eight years or 160,000 kilometres.

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Volkswagen ID.R returns to Goodwood to defend its title

06/13/19

Company

Volkswagen ID.R returns to Goodwood to defend its title

The Volkswagen ID.R is set to defend its title at the “Goodwood Festival of Speed” (4 to 7 July). Last year, Romain Dumas, at the wheel of the fully-electric race car, set a new record for electric vehicles at the prestigious race in the south of England. The Frenchman completed the 1.86-kilometre route of the Goodwood Hillclimb in just 43.86 seconds – the fastest time for 15 years. A mere five weeks after breaking the lap record for electric vehicles on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, the ID.R – the sporty spearhead of the ID. family of fully-electric production vehicles – is ready to take on its next challenge.

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Volkswagen invests in Northvolt AB

06/12/19

Volkswagen Group News

Volkswagen invests in Northvolt AB

Volkswagen AG is investing some €900 million in joint battery activities with Northvolt AB. Part of the sum is intended for a joint venture with the Swedish battery cell producer, a further share will go directly to Northvolt AB. In return, Volkswagen will acquire about 20 percent of the shares in Northvolt AB and will have one seat on the Board of Directors, subject to approval under antitrust legislation. Furthermore, a 50/50 joint venture to build a 16 GWh battery cell factory in Europe is planned during the course of this year. It is intended to locate the factory in Lower Saxony (Salzgitter) if the preconditions for this are fulfilled. Construction of the production facility is scheduled to start, at the earliest, in 2020. Battery cell production for Volkswagen is slated to commence around the end of 2023/beginning of 2024.

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Onboard video showing the ID.R’s record lap on the Nordschleife

06/07/19

Models

Onboard video showing the ID.R’s record lap on the Nordschleife

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Volkswagen plans 36,000 charging points for electric cars throughout Europe

06/06/19

E-mobility

Volkswagen plans 36,000 charging points for electric cars throughout Europe

Volkswagen is aiming for a rapid breakthrough for e-mobility and is redoubling its efforts in the field of charging infrastructure. Throughout Europe, the Group will be installing a total of 36,000 charging points by 2025; 11,000 of these are to be developed by the Volkswagen brand. They will be installed at Volkswagen plants and at about 3,000 Volkswagen dealerships in all large towns and cities. With its Group company for charging infrastructure Elli (Electric Life) and its charging service “We Charge”, Volkswagen is also moving into further lucrative business areas connected with charging. All in all, the Group is investing about €250 million at its European locations. At the same time, the Group calls for other measures to take effect rapidly for more charging stations in Germany.

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6:05.336 minutes – Volkswagen ID.R sets new electric record on the Nürburgring

06/03/19

Models

6:05.336 minutes – Volkswagen ID.R sets new electric record on the Nürburgring

Volkswagen has achieved another milestone in electro-mobility: The ID.R, powered by two electric motors, lapped the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in 6:05.336 minutes – faster than any electric vehicle before it. Romain Dumas (F) beat the previous record set by Peter Dumbreck (GB, NIO EP9) in 2017 by 40.564 seconds. With an average speed of 204.96 km/h, the ID.R once again underlined the impressive performance capabilities of Volkswagen’s electric drive. This 500 kW (680 PS) emission-free race car is the racing flagship of the future fully electric ID. product family from Volkswagen.

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A vessel for technology beyond motorsport – the charging of the ID.R system

05/29/19

Company

A vessel for technology beyond motorsport – the charging of the ID.R system

It is a science in itself: the ID.R charging system. Only with optimally charged batteries can the pursuit of the lap record for electric vehicles on the 20.8-kilometre Nürburgring-Nordschleife succeed. To this end, driver Romain Dumas (F) will also have to deploy the full system performance of 500 kW (680 PS) on the three-kilometre ‘Döttinger Höhe’ section at the end of the Nordschleife, which is nearly dead straight.

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Volkswagen launches new service called “We Experience”

05/23/19

Company

Volkswagen launches new service called “We Experience”

Volkswagen has added a new service called “We Experience” to its “Volkswagen We” digital ecosystem in Germany. The new feature provides personalized recommendations and special offers for products and services available in the vicinity of the vehicle. The service rolls out with well-known partners such as Shell, Domino’s or Tank & Rast. IBM technology is used to deliver tailor-made offers based on users’ individual profiles. “We Experience” is available in the “VW Connect” app.

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Volkswagen ID.R on the Nordschleife: High-tech meets tradition

05/23/19

Models

Volkswagen ID.R on the Nordschleife: High-tech meets tradition

20.832 kilometres, 73 corners, many changes in elevation: the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. Volkswagen has chosen one of the most iconic racetracks in the world for its next record attempt with the fully-electric ID.R. A lap record on the rollercoaster track in the Eifel region of Germany is a prestigious accolade for any race or production car. The current record for electric vehicles stands at 6:45.90 minutes and was set by British driver Peter Dumbreck in a NIO EP9 in 2017.

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Volkswagen at the 40th International Vienna Motor Symposium: autonomous vehicles, hybrid drives and the start of a new era in electric mobility

05/16/19

Technology

Volkswagen at the 40th International Vienna Motor Symposium: autonomous vehicles, hybrid drives and the start of a new era in electric mobility

Levels 3 and 4 of automated driving, a 48-volt drive system and a platform developed exclusively for e-vehicles – Volkswagen will be showcasing its progress toward integrated, CO₂-neutral mobility at the 40th International Vienna Motor Symposium. The mild hybrid (mHEV) system makes an important contribution to sustainable mobility. Depending on the driving style, it can save around 0.4 litres of fuel over 100 kilometres and cut carbon emissions in the process. Volkswagen will also provide the first ever in-depth insight into its MEB (modular electric drive matrix), the basis for automated driving.

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Volkswagen’s Incubator programme: six start-ups move into the Gläserne Manufaktur

05/16/19

Company

Volkswagen’s Incubator programme: six start-ups move into the Gläserne Manufaktur

Six new start-ups have been decided on for the founders programme in the Future Mobility Incubator at the Gläserne Manufaktur in Dresden. The winners of the final pitch were the following start-ups: AVILOO from Vienna, Kopernikus from Berlin, NAVENTIK from Chemnitz, Visualix from Berlin, home-IX UG from Stuttgart and LiGenium from Chemnitz. They will start work in the Gläserne Manufaktur in mid May 2019, where they will be able to develop their ideas for market readiness with the support of Volkswagen and the business development team of Saxony’s capital, Dresden. 114 start-ups entered the fourth founders class competition.

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Already more than 15,000 registrations for the ID.3

05/14/19

Company

Already more than 15,000 registrations for the ID.3

Less than one week after the start of pre-booking for the ID.3, more than 15,000 registrations have already been received for the first model in the new full-electric ID. family. That is already more than half of the total pre-booking volume of 30,000 vehicles. Volkswagen has recorded the greatest interest from the markets of Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, the UK and Sweden. The IT systems of the pre-booking platforms are now stable after the initial flood of customers. Jürgen Stackmann, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand responsible for Sales, Marketing and After-Sales: “The positive response shows that many customers are ready for e-mobility. People who want to be among the first to drive an ID.3 should not wait too long with their registrations. The number of pre-bookers is rising steadily.”

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Supervisory Board and Board of Management take important decisions for future of Volkswagen Group

05/13/19

Volkswagen Group News

Supervisory Board and Board of Management take important decisions for future of Volkswagen Group

The Supervisory Board and Board of Management of Volkswagen AG took important decisions for the future of the Volkswagen Group today. As part of its electrification offensive the Volkswagen Group is to move forward with setting up a battery cell production facility in Europe under a partnership. To that end, the Supervisory Board approved investments of just under one billion euros at today’s meeting. It is planned to locate a battery cell production facility in Lower Saxony (Salzgitter). It was also decided to begin concrete negotiations on the planned new multibrand plant in Europe with the remaining potential locations. In addition, the Supervisory Board requested the Board of Management to start the process to develop a forward-looking, industrially meaningful solution for MAN Energy Solutions (ES) and RENK AG. The focus lies on opening future-oriented growth perspectives for mechanical engineering in the Group, for example though a joint venture, partnerships, or a full or partial sale. Furthermore, it was decided to prepare an IPO of TRATON SE to be launched before the 2019 summer break, subject to further market developments.

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Volkswagen has already built 200 pre-production vehicles of the new electric car ID.3

05/09/19

Company

Volkswagen has already built 200 pre-production vehicles of the new electric car ID.3

Conversion of the vehicle factory in Zwickau to the largest production site for electric mobility in Europe is right on schedule. The members of Volkswagen’s Group and Brand Boards of Management, as well as the Group Works Council, were able to see that for themselves at today’s site symposium for all three locations in Saxony held at Zwickau. The focus was on preparations for start-up of the new ID.3 and building the expertise required for that. More than 200 pre-production vehicles of the ID.3 have already been manufactured successfully. The first ID. production vehicles are to roll off the assembly line at the end of 2019. Only e-cars will be built at Zwickau by the end of 2020 – up to 1,500 a day for Volkswagen and other Group brands.

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Already more than 10,000 registrations for the ID.3

05/09/19

Company

Already more than 10,000 registrations for the ID.3

At a press event held yesterday in Berlin, Volkswagen launched pre-booking in Europe for the first model in its new full-electric ID. model family, the ID.3. Customers’ interest in the special edition, the ID.3 1ST, which is limited to 30,000 vehicles, is significantly exceeding the brand’s expectations. Sometimes, the IT systems are unable to handle the large number of users accessing the system at the same time. This leads to long waiting times and interruptions in the registration process in some markets. Volkswagen is working hard to eliminate the hitches. Nevertheless, more than 10,000 registrations were received throughout Europe during the first 24 hours.

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Volkswagen offers pre-booking for the first time

05/08/19

Company

Volkswagen offers pre-booking for the first time

Volkswagen is today starting pre-booking in Europe for the first model in its new full-electric ID. family, the ID.3. With immediate effect, potential customers can register for an early production slot for the ID.3 at www.volkswagen.com/id-prebooking by paying a registration deposit of €1,000. The ID.3 1ST special edition, which has been especially configured for pre-booking, includes high-quality, high-performance equipment and is limited to 30,000 vehicles. Volkswagen is equipping the ID.3 1ST with the medium-sized battery option later available for the ID.3 series, which is expected to be most popular. With the three series battery options, ranges between 330 and up to 550 kilometers in accordance with WLTP will be possible. The pre-booking special edition has a range of 420 km (WLTP). While the base recommended price of the ID.3 series model with the smallest battery version starts at under €30,000 in Germany (target price), the exclusive ID.3 1ST special edition will be available for less than €40,000, before the deduction of the state subsidy in each case.

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First member of the ID. family is called ID.3

05/08/19

E-mobility

First member of the ID. family is called ID.3

Months before its official world premiere at the IAA international motor show, the next milestone has already been reached: Today, Volkswagen is officially announcing the name of the first model of the new ID. family. It will be called ID.3. The number 3 is significant in two ways. On the one hand, it indicates the ID. as belonging to the compact segment, which is the class distinction in both internal and industry-wide classification systems. On the other, the ID.3 follows the Beetle and the Golf to introduce the third major chapter of strategic importance for the history of the brand.

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Volkswagen with international e-mobility marketing campaign

05/02/19

E-mobility

Volkswagen with international e-mobility marketing campaign

At the start of the pre-booking phase for its new full-electric ID. in Europe on May 8, Volkswagen is launching a broad-based international e-mobility marketing campaign. The campaign focuses especially on the ID. and is to start one year before the model’s market launch. Normally, large scale campaigns only start in connection with the launch of a model. This time, more than 600 individual communication elements are being produced for distribution on various channels. The key element and the umbrella campaign will be the “eManifesto: ID. Volkswagen, just electric”, which is to be shown on the occasion of the DFB cup final in Berlin on May 25 and will “electrify” more than 50 percent of the advertising space available in the German capital. Further elements of the campaign will be “influencer”, “barrier”, “teaser” and product films. As the heart of the campaign, the central information pool on e-mobility, the www.volkswagen.de/id website, will go live when pre-booking for the ID. starts. The highlight of the campaign will be the world premiere of the ID. at the IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt. The media budget for the campaign in Europe will run well into the double-digit million range.

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Volkswagen ID. R completes its first test on the Nordschleife

04/26/19

Models

Volkswagen ID. R completes its first test on the Nordschleife

One day after the world premiere for the new ID. R at the Nürburgring, Romain Dumas drove the first test laps on the Nordschleife in the fully electric race car. On the 20.832-kilometre-long circuit, the Frenchman completed an extensive testing programme, driving two alternative ID. R chassis to make optimal use of the available time. In doing so, Volkswagen Motorsport began the final preparation phase for the attempt to set a new lap record for electric vehicles on the tradition-steeped track in the Eifel with the 500 kW (680 PS) race car.

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Electric to the max: 56 pages on the ID. R and the electro-mobility strategy from Volkswagen

04/25/19

Company

Electric to the max: 56 pages on the ID. R and the electro-mobility strategy from Volkswagen

Volkswagen Motorsport presents its new digital booklet, “Electric to the max – the record-chasing ID. R.”, with all the information on the continuously developed version of the first fully electric race car from Volkswagen. Over 56 pages, there are interesting facts, exclusive insights and explanations on how the ID. R, as the racing flagship for future electric production vehicles from the ID. family, combines Volkswagen’s technical competence in relation to electric drive with the emotions and fascination of motorsport.

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Motorsport with electric drive: Double world premiere for the new Volkswagen ID. R

04/24/19

Models

Motorsport with electric drive: Double world premiere for the new Volkswagen ID. R

Volkswagen has presented the continuously developed version of the ID. R, the fully electric race car. The racing flagship of the future fully electric product family from Volkswagen is to set a new lap record for electric vehicles on the 20.832-kilometre-long Nordschleife. In order for driver Romain Dumas to undercut the until-now best time of 6:45.90 minutes, Volkswagen Motorsport has consistently and continuously developed the ID. R. On 25 April, the ID. R is to complete its first test on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. Virtually speaking, the ID. R will already drive its first laps from today; for the first time, a race car will also be presented at the same time in a near-reality computer simulation that can be downloaded free of charge.

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Electric Vehicles with Lowest CO₂ Emissions

04/24/19

Volkswagen Group News

Electric Vehicles with Lowest CO₂ Emissions

For the same vehicle models with different powertrains, the carbon footprint of the battery-powered E variants is already better than those of the corresponding vehicles with internal combustion engines. In addition, the electric vehicles offer a higher CO₂-saving potential in all phases of the product cycle. Furthermore, it is of crucial importance for CO₂ emissions whether the propulsion energy is generated from fossil or regenerative sources. This is the result of a certified life cycle assessment (LCA) of the Volkswagen Golf, which compares the CO₂ emissions of the different vehicle versions with either an electric or an internal combustion engine.

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Bring on the Nürburgring – ID. R ready for its record attempt on the Nordschleife

04/18/19

Company

Bring on the Nürburgring – ID. R ready for its record attempt on the Nordschleife

The ID. R has completed the next series of tests in preparation for the challenges that lie ahead. After working on the aerodynamics in the wind tunnel, the most recent tests at the racetracks in Le Castellet and Alès (both France) focused on the energy management software. The objective was to establish the ideal set-up for the electric drivetrain ahead of the record attempt on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. In the summer of 2019, the ID. R, sporty forerunner of the ID. family of fully-electric production vehicles from Volkswagen, will be aiming to set a new record lap time for electric vehicles at the historic Eifel circuit, with Romain Dumas at the wheel.

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Volkswagen ID. R uses Formula 1 technology for optimal aerodynamics

04/16/19

Company

Volkswagen ID. R uses Formula 1 technology for optimal aerodynamics

Volkswagen has set itself a new challenge with the ID. R this year – the Nürburgring-Nordschleife instead of Pikes Peak. A race track instead of a hill climb. Full-throttle sections instead of hair-pins. Because of this, the fully electric-powered ID. R has been continuously developed with respect to its aerodynamics.

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China plays key role in Volkswagen Group’s e-mobility strategy

04/15/19

Volkswagen Group News

China plays key role in Volkswagen Group’s e-mobility strategy

China will play a key role in the Volkswagen group’s global transformation and its accompanying decarbonization program. Thus, this year will see an intensified roll-out of new energy models. Volkswagen Group China aims to produce more than half of the group’s global objective of 22 million BEVs by 2028. To speed up its e-offensive, it will also launch a new joint venture in charging infrastructure. All this will lay the foundation for wide acceptance of e-mobility. Meanwhile, in the area of future technologies, Volkswagen Group China is combining its research power, with Volkswagen brand, Audi and Group R&D working together within the new ONE R&D structure.

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Volkswagen launches model offensive in China

04/15/19

Volkswagen Group News

Volkswagen launches model offensive in China

Volkswagen plans an extensive model offensive in China. The brand will have doubled its SUV range by 2020. Volkswagen announced during the Auto Shanghai 2019, that the share of SUVs is expected to rise to up to 40 per cent. It is targeting the tradiotional part as well as the growing e-mobility sector. The Volkswagen brand presented five new SUV, four of them as world premieres. SAIC VOLKSWAGEN showed the T-Cross and the soon to be launched Teramont X, FAW-VW the SUV Coupé Concept and SMV Concept. Besides the four models of the joint ventures the latest member of the ID. Family celebrated its world premiere: the ID. ROOMZZ.

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World première of the ID. ROOMZZ in Shanghai

04/14/19

Models

World première of the ID. ROOMZZ in Shanghai

Volkswagen has today presented the newest member of the ID. Family – the ID. ROOMZZ – at the “Brand SUV Night” in the run-up to Auto Shanghai. The multivariable all-rounder is a zero-emission SUV of the five-metre class which is tailored to both family and business requirements. The series version is to be initially launched on the Chinese market in 2021. The ID. ROOMZZ’s bodywork design follows the clear, homogeneous lines of the rest of the ID. family. The concept car also breaks new ground in the full-size SUV segment thanks to multiple details.

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Intelligent power strip: Transparent Factory in Dresden installs flexible, expandable electric charging infrastructure

04/12/19

Company

Intelligent power strip: Transparent Factory in Dresden installs flexible, expandable electric charging infrastructure

The Transparent Factory in Dresden is expanding its electric charging infrastructure. Extra charging points have been installed at Volkswagen’s Dresden site as part of a joint venture with the start-up ChargeX. Just days after receiving CE certification, the start-up’s first charging solution anywhere in the world has officially come on stream. The idea behind it is as clever as it is cost-effective: the only installation required was a 22 kW wall box. Two additional charging points are now connected using an intelligent power strip. 32 charging points are now available for staff and visitors. Pilot projects are also planned at other Volkswagen locations. The Office of Economic Development for the City of Dresden is also providing about €36,500 of funding for a pilot project in which ChargeX will conduct practical testing of integrated charging control (load management).

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Stories

03/17/20

E-mobility

“The MEB is a decisive plus point”

The battery is considered the heart of modern electric cars. Frank Blome heads the Battery Cell business unit at Volkswagen Group Components. In an interview, he explains how the modular electric drive matrix (MEB) works and what progress can be expected in battery technology.

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