All Press Releases
This section contains all current press releases on topics and news items concerning Volkswagen.
T-Roc with new top-of-the-range engine and more customisation options
Volkswagen enhances the range of special equipment for the T-Roc: the popular, compact SUV is now available to order with a particularly powerful 2.0-litre diesel engine generating 140 kW / 190 PS. Two new design packages are also available for the T-Roc: the “Black Style” equipment package lends the T-Roc more elegance, thanks to many black, contrasting elements; the optional “beats” package includes the first-class “beats” sound system and many highlights in red – on the inside and outside of the vehicle.
Volkswagen invests in climate protection projects to compensate for unavoidable CO2 emissions
The Volkswagen Group is now supporting climate protection projects, focusing initially on forest conservation and restoration, especially in the tropics. Projects are certified according to the highest international standards ‘Verified Carbon Standard’ (VCS) as well as ‘Climate Community and Biodiversity Standard’ (CCB) or "Gold Standard".
Volkswagen supports exhibition marking the presentation of the renowned art award “Kaiserring Goslar” to Barbara Kruger
„A contribution to the discourses defining how we live“: A large range of artworks from the renowned conceptual artist Barbara Kruger will be on view at the Mönchehaus Museum in Goslar, Germany, from 21 September 2019 to 26 January 2020. Volkswagen supports the retrospective which follows the presentation of the Kaiserring Goslar to the artist turning her into a winner of one of the most important international prizes for modern art. The partnership represents an important part of Volkswagen’s commitment to invite a large audience to explore culture in the region.
TRATON hosts Innovation Day in Sweden
When TRATON hosts its “Innovation Day” on Wednesday, October 2, at Scania’s development site in Sweden for international journalists and analysts, it is more than just about showcasing innovations from the three brands. “Innovations are not just about products and technology,” explains TRATON CEO Andreas Renschler. “It is about the particular approach, and how we as a company position ourselves to deliver innovative solutions for our customers and meet the high expectations for a focus on tomorrow and sustainability.” This is because there are few industries going through such a radical change as the transportation industry.
Group deliveries fall in August
In August, there was a drop of 3.1 percent in deliveries by the Volkswagen Group compared with August 2018 to 848,600 vehicles. As expected, fewer vehicles were delivered in Europe compared with the same month last year, when deliveries were especially high as a result of WLTP. 316,500 customers took delivery of a new Group vehicle in Europe, representing a drop of 3.4 percent. In the regions of North America (+3.3 percent) and South America (+3.9 percent), Volkswagen Group deliveries rose compared with August 2018, while the Asia-Pacific region reported a drop of 4.8 percent. Dr. Christian Dahlheim, Head of Volkswagen Group Sales: “The Volkswagen Group continued to perform well in a challenging market environment in August, with a slight rise in its global market share. On a positive note, we once again increased our market share in China, our largest market, significantly.”
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.
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.”
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.
Volkswagen rolls out wallbox for everyone
Volkswagen wants to make e-mobility attractive and affordable for as many people as possible. The brand is therefore rolling out a range of wallboxes to coincide with the start of the new ID.3: Going forward, customers will be able to charge their electric vehicles quickly and conveniently at home thanks to the ID. Charger. It offers a charging capacity of up to 11 kW and charges almost five times faster than a normal domestic power socket. This means an ID.3 with a 58 kWh battery can be fully charged in about 6 hours. With a launch price starting at €399, the ID. Charger offers outstanding value for money. Volkswagen estimates that about half of all charging operations for electric vehicles will take place at home.
Volkswagen Passenger Cars: Deliveries slightly down on previous year
In August, the Volkswagen brand delivered 493,800 vehicles to customers throughout the world, down 3.8 percent on the same month last year. In a generally declining global market, Volkswagen succeeded in maintaining a stable market share in the reporting month and a slight increase for the year to date. As expected, fewer vehicles were once again delivered in Europe (-9.9 percent) following a particularly strong performance in August 2018. In China, Volkswagen increased its market share slightly in a shrinking overall market. In Brazil and the USA, Volkswagen recorded a marked increase of 15.4 respectively 9.8 percent.
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.
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.
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.
Volkswagen uses hackathon for solutions for more transparency in the supply chain
For human rights and environmental protection: As part of the Berlin Startupnight on Friday, September 6th, around 100 participants from Volkswagen, adidas, Zalando and Deutscher Bahn as well as five start-ups met for a hackathon at the DRIVE! Volkswagen Group Forum. The aim was to develop digital solutions to make it easier to monitor compliance with human rights and environmental protection along deeply staggered supply chains. The goods and services involved are sourced via such supply chains with up to nine stages in various countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa.
Special service for journalists: “Volkswagen live” broadcasts from the IAA 2019 for the first time
For the first time, Volkswagen will report live from a motor show with a Newsdesk and a TV studio: To kick off the IAA (The Frankfurt Motor Show), the Communications Department will be broadcasting daily from its stand in Hall 3 in Frankfurt am Main, commencing on the evening before the event and on the press days (Sept. 10-11). At the Newsdesk, media representatives will also receive text, image and film materials as well as direct contacts to interview partners. Workstations for journalists can also be used, located at the exhibition stand.
Change of leadership at MOIA: Robert Henrich succeeds Ole Harms
Volkswagen’s mobility subsidiary MOIA is realigning its leadership team. The founder and former CEO Ole Harms is leaving MOIA to take on new, responsible tasks in the Group. Details of the new function will be announced at a later date. The new CEO at MOIA is the former Chief Operating Office Robert Henrich, who was instrumental in developing MOIA’s ridesharing service. He is joined by CFO Frank Dilger to make up MOIA’s new leadership team.
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.
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.
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.
Premiere: New energy for the Beetle
Volkswagen Group Components presents a holistic concept with its partner eClassics for the subsequent electrification of the historic Volkswagen Beetle. The conversion exclusively uses new parts they have mutually agreed on from the series production of Volkswagen Group Components. The electric drive, the 1-speed gearbox and the battery system are based on the new VW e-up!. The conversion of the historic Beetle is being carried out by the specialist company eClassics. Its premiere is being celebrated with a near-production version of the e-Beetle at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Germany.
“Next milestone in the success story” – TRATON SE listed on the SDAX
TRATON SE is joining the circle of SDAX companies and will be listed in this segment of the German Stock Exchange starting September 23, 2019, according to an announcement made by Deutsche Börse yesterday night in Frankfurt am Main. “After our successful IPO in June, we are now looking forward to our planned inclusion in the SDAX. With this step, we have reached the next milestone in our success story,” said TRATON CFO Christian Schulz.
Volkswagen Group Night at IAA 2019
The Volkswagen Group Night at the IAA 2019 will be broadcasted live on Monday, Sep-tember 9, 2019, from 08.00pm until 08.30pm CEST (06.00pm GMT – 06.30pm GMT):
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.
Volkswagen Press Conference at IAA 2019
The Volkswagen Press Conference at the IAA 2019 will be broadcasted live on Tuesday, September 10th 2019, from 10.15 am until 10.30 am CEST (08.15 am GMT – 08.30 am GMT):
Volkswagen do Brasil develops its first vehicle for the international market
Groundbreaking premiere: For the first time, Volkswagen do Brasil is developing a vehicle based on the modular transverse toolkit MQB completely in-house; the model is also to be produced later in Europe and sold on other international markets. Volkswagen is strengthening the economic significance of Volkswagen do Brasil with the regionalization of the South American market. Through 2020, Volkswagen is investing seven billion BRL (approx. €1.5 billion) in Brazil in the development of new products, digitalization and technological innovations.
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).
1,400 women and men start apprenticeship or dual courses of studies with Volkswagen
Start of training in 2019: 1,400 career entrants started their dual vocational training or their dual course of studies with Volkswagen today. The 389 women and 1,011 men will train in one of six commercial and 23 technical vacations or complete one of 19 dual courses of studies. 85 of the new recruits are aiming to obtain a bachelors degree at a university. About 30% of the budding specialists at Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg plant are women, 28 percent of career entrants throughout Germany are women.
Volkswagen Group intends to further expand after sales business
The Volkswagen Group is orienting its after sales business fully towards meeting the up-coming challenges of digitalization and e-mobility. The growing number of electric vehicles with maintenance costs that are about 20 to 30 percent lower than conventional vehicles will have an impact on after sales business in the future. Nevertheless, the Group plans to considerably boost sales and profit from after sales over the next few years. The main drivers will be growing customer loyalty through digital services and the steady growth in the fleet of Group vehicles. Currently, 100 million vehicles receive support from 25,000 service stations throughout the world. By 2030, there will already be about 150 million vehicles. With sales of €15.9 billion in 2018 for genuine parts alone, after sales accounts for a significant share in Group sales. In comparison with 2017, sales grew by about 2 percent. As part of the e-mobility offensive, it is planned to build a warehouse for high-voltage batteries at the Kassel plant. Dr. Christian Dahlheim, Head of Group Sales: “After sales business has been a mainstay of the Volkswagen Group’s profit for many years. Against the backdrop of the transformation towards e-mobility and digitalization, we are working intensively to ensure that this remains the case in the future. We will continue to significantly expand this business area, which is important for us and our service partners, in the future.”
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.
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.
Innovative twin dosing reduces NOx emissions by approx. 80 percent
Since 2018, only SCR exhaust gas treatment systems have been used in Volkswagen models with diesel engines. SCR (selective catalytic reduction) technology significantly reduces nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas. Volkswagen has now developed the next evolutionary stage of the SCR system – so-called “twin dosing”. Adblue is injected selectively upstream of two SCR catalytic converters which are arranged in series. The system is used in the new Passat 2.0 TDI Evo with 110 kW (150 PS), which already meets the technical requirements of the future Euro 6d emission standard as a result.
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.
Volkswagen Group Appoints Professor Ye Qi to Sustainability Advisory Council
The Volkswagen Group has appointed Professor Ye Qi from Hong Kong as a new member of its independent Sustainability Advisory Council. Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Board of Management, said: "The Sustainability Advisory Council is a very important body for the Volkswagen AG. It has given significant impetus to the decarbonisation strategy of the Group. We are pleased that the Advisory Council is now being supplemented with another renowned expert, Professor Ye Qi. His expertise in regenerative energy generation in an urban environment is outstanding."
Final testing phase of the new Golf has started
A new Golf is rolling up to the starting grid, marking the eighth generation. The design and digital innovations launch this bestseller – which has been built more than 35 million times – into a new age: the era of electrified drives, a digitalised and connected interior world, assisted driving and online-based functions and services. The next generation of the Golf will shape the era with new impulses.
Volkswagen mourns death of Ferdinand Piëch
The Volkswagen Group mourns its longtime CEO and Supervisory Board Chairman Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Piëch. On behalf of all 660,000 employees, the Supervisory Board and the Management Board express their sincere condolences to the family and pay tribute to Piëch’s great service to Volkswagen, the Group brands, and the development of the automobile as a whole.tt
New Passat GTE with longer electric range
The new Passat GTE merges the benefits of electric mobility with the qualities of a long-distance vehicle, making it one of the most efficient mid-class models of our time. The plug-in hybrid drive in the Passat GTE starts up silently on electrical power alone. One major benefit compared to its predecessor: under the new WLTP cycle, the electric range reaches up to 54 km (Variant) or 56 km (saloon). As a result, the majority of your day-to-day journeys in urban settings are emissions-free.
Personnel changes in production
Uwe Schwartz, Head of Planning and Production Technology of the Volkswagen brand, is to become manager of the Emden plant with effect from October 1, 2019. In this function, he succeeds Andreas Dick, who is to become Technical Vice President and Member of the Board of Management of FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Co. Ltd. in China in September 2019. This function was previously held by Dr. Jürgen Unser, who has been appointed as project manager for the planned multi-brand plant effective September 1, 2019. Dr. Jan Spies, currently Head of Production Planning of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Hanover, is to succeed Uwe Schwartz as Head of Planning and Production Technology of the Volkswagen brand.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Volkswagen trains further software developers — Applications start for second “Faculty 73” course
Volkswagen is training a new cohort of software developers on its Faculty 73 program. Applications can be submitted from this week onwards and must be received by September 22. Once again, the program offers places for 100 trainees. The two-year program will start following the comple-tion of selection tests on March 1, 2020. 100 more participants will join the program on September 1, 2020. By that stage, a total of 300 trainees will have joined. Human Resources Board Member Gunnar Kilian says: “Our experience with the first year has been very positive and shows that the program is a resounding success. We will therefore be continuing it very intensively.”
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.
Sachsen Classic 2019: Volkswagen goes rallying with vintage coupes
From Dresden to Leipzig: thousands of spectators are expected to line the 580-kilometre route to cheer on the 200 vehicles at the 2019 Sachsen Classic, which is supported by Volkswagen. Volkswagen Classic lines up with five cars: the Karmann Ghia TC 145 (1970), Karmann Ghia Type 14 (1974), SP 2 (1974), Scirocco I SL (1981) and Passat B2 CL Formula E (1983).
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.
Volkswagen Group delivers fewer vehicles in July
In July, there was a drop of 2.4 percent in deliveries by the Volkswagen Group compared with July 2018, to 886,100 vehicles. In Europe, deliveries fell by 3.6 percent to 393,600 vehicles. This development had been expected as deliveries in July 2018 had been especially high as a result of the WLTP changeover. In the regions of North America (-0.9 percent) and Asia-Pacific (-0.3 percent), deliveries were slightly below the levels for July 2018. There was a pos-itive development in South America (+3.2 percent) compared with the same month last year. Dr. Christian Dahlheim, Head of Volkswagen Group Sales: “The Volkswagen Group has made a solid start to the second half of the year and has once again slightly increased its market share in a global market that is generally shrinking. It is especially gratifying to note that we have grown in our most important market, China, despite the general downward trend in the market.”
New T-Roc R is available to order now
For years, the letter "R" has adorned the Volkswagen brand's extremely sporty models. With the T-Roc R, Volkswagen is now bringing the new top model from the successfully launched T-Roc product line onto the road. Thanks to its four-cylinder TSI engine with a displacement of 2.0 litres, the compact performance CUV has an output of 221 kW / 300 PS and a torque of 400 Nm. The new T-Roc R is available to order now.
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.
Lower deliveries for Volkswagen brand in July
In July, the Volkswagen brand delivered 489,000 vehicles to customers throughout the world, 3.3 percent fewer than the same month last year. From January to July, Volkswagen handed over 3.49 million vehicles, down 3.8 percent on the previous year. In a generally declining global market, Volkswagen succeeded in maintaining a stable market share both in July and for the year to date. As expected following the record values of July 2018, Volkswagen in Europe once again delivered fewer vehicles (-8.8 percent) in July 2019. In China, Volkswagen delivered 2.0 percent more vehicles in a shrinking overall market and further expanded its market share. In Brazil, Volkswagen recorded a marked increase in deliveries of 13.5 percent.
“Accept no roof!” – The new T-Roc Cabriolet
Volkswagen breathes fresh air into the SUV segment with the world premiere of the new T-Roc Cabriolet. The open-top version expands the range of the popular crossover model, adding yet more lifestyle to the booming SUV market. The new T-Roc Cabriolet sees its official presentation at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) from 12 to 22 September. The launch will take place in spring 2020.
2019 Beetle Sunshine Tour: a sea of lights at the Volkswagen icons’ summer festival
The 15th Beetle Sunshine Tour – an event attracting more Beetle, New Beetles and Type 1s than anywhere else in the world – will start in Travemünde, near Lübeck at the Baltic Sea, on Friday 16 August. Around 500 vehicles have registered to take part this time around. The highlight this year is a “sea of Beetle lights”, where hundreds of these popular Volkswagen models will come together with light chains on Saturday evening. Some of the most beautiful examples will be presented at the same time as a “Beetle light chain” on the promenade in Travemünde.
Volkswagen scouts for talents at Hockenheim
Under the motto of “FEEL GOOD @ Volkswagen”, Europe’s largest automaker is presenting itself as an attractive employer at Formula Student Germany (FSG) in Hockenheim from August 7 to 11, 2019. At the Hocken-heimring, the company has been convincing prospective career entrants for several years. Repeatedly, former members of an FSG team have joined Volkswagen as trainees or interns.
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.
Record-breaker: Volkswagen to present legendary automobiles during the 2019 Classic Days at Schloss Dyck
Volkswagen Classic will be presenting five automotive highlights during the 2019 Classic Days at Schloss Dyck: the race-proven “Mille Miglia” Beetle, the VW-Porsche 914/4 celebrating its anniversary, and the record-breaking W12 Nardo. The “World Champion” Beetle also represents the pinnacle of performance in the world of Volkswagen, while the Apal Buggy provides plenty of summer driving fun.
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.
TRATON increases operating profit to over €1 billion in first half of the year
The TRATON GROUP announces strong first half-year results. During the first six months of this year, the Group increased its operating profit by €212 million compared with the prior-year period to over €1 billion. The Group generated sales revenue of €13.5 billion (previous year: €12.6 billion), representing a 7% increase compared with the first six months of 2018. The previous year figure still includes sales revenue of Volkswagen Gebrauchtfahrzeughandels und Service GmbH (VGSG), which was disposed of as of January 1, 2019, in the amount of €348 million. Adjusted for this sales revenue, the increase for the current fiscal year was 10%. During the first six months of 2019, TRATON GROUP sold 123,336 vehicles worldwide, which was also up around 10% against the prior-year figure. This growth was driven primarily by the continued favorable development of the core markets in Europe, especially Germany, and Brazil. At the same time, however, the level of order intakes in the Industrial Business segment at 120,491 units during the first six months of 2019 was 6% below the same period of 2018, driven by a decline in truck orders in the EU28+2 region, Russia, India, and Turkey as well as lower orders for buses in Mexico, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. The ratio of order intake to sales (book-to-bill ratio) was 0.98 in the first half of 2019.
For diversity: Volkswagen with own truck at CSD parade in Berlin
This year, Volkswagen is taking part in Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Berlin for the first time with its own truck at the CSD parade– and thus taking a clear stance in support of diversity and against discrimination. Volkswagen employees and the Group’s Diversity Management have founded the “We Drive Proud” LGBT* and friends network that not only represents the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, inter* and queer people: it also intends to help shape cultural change in the company.
Volkswagen brand boosts sales revenue and profit
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand was able to increase its sales revenue and operating profit in the first six months of the year despite a slight fall in deliveries. Driven by the improved product mix, the sales revenue of the Volkswagen brand grew by 3.4 percent to €44.1 billion. Operating profit before special items after six months was 7.4 percent higher than in the first half of 2018, at €2.3 billion. The operating return on sales increased to 5.2 percent. In the second quarter, there were no further special items resulting from litigation risks, after about €400 million had been booked in the first quarter. “In a difficult market environment, the Volkswagen brand developed very satisfactorily in the first half of the year. We were able to record improvements in operating profit and return on sales compared with the very good figures for the first half of 2018. The operating profit was supported by factors including the continuing product offensive, the optimization of fixed costs and progress with the turnaround in the regions. We intend to use this positive momentum to secure our return on sales targets. We will further strengthen our competitive position through targeted investments in e-mobility and digitalization,” says Board Member for Finance Dr. Arno Antlitz.
Volkswagen Group boosts sales revenue and profit in first half of year
The Volkswagen Group has confirmed its targets before special items for the year as a whole. In the first six months of the current financial year, the sales revenue of the Volkswagen Group grew by 4.9 percent to €125.2 (119.4) billion compared with the first half of 2018. Despite the negative development in volumes, sales revenue was boosted especially as a re-sult of improvements in the mix and price positioning in the passenger cars business area as well as the good business development in the Financial Services Division and at TRATON. The operating profit before special items improved by 1.9 percent to €10.0 (9.8) billion and operating return on sales before special items amounted to 8.0 (8.2) percent. Improvements in the mix and price positioning as well as lower special items compared with the previous year were more than sufficient to compensate for higher fixed costs, negative currency trends and lower vehicle sales. As a result, the operating profit of the Volkswagen Group in the first half of 2019, at €9.0 (8.2) billion, was 10.3 percent higher than the figure recorded for the first half of 2018. The operating return on sales rose to 7.2 (6.8) percent. The profit of the Chinese joint venture companies, which is included in the result of equity-accounted investments, fell only slightly in a shrinking general market. The pre-tax profit rose by 6.5 percent to €9.6 (9.0) billion. The net liquidity in the Automotive Division was €15.9 billion. Frank Witter, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG responsible for Finance, said: “In the first half of the year, the Volkswagen Group performed very well in a generally weaker overall market. The development of sales revenue and profit in the first six months is gratifying. We also confirm our outlook for the Volkswagen Group for the year as a whole.”
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.
One million Touaregs: milestone to be celebrated by special model with elegant extras
First-class, superior and sophisticated – Volkswagen celebrates the production of one million Touaregs with the special “ONE Million” model. The anniversary model now joins the flagship’s model range and has an impressive range of exclusive equipment.
New gearbox generation enables CO2 savings of up to five grammes per kilometre
Volkswagen has developed a new state-of-the-art manual gearbox: the MQ281, as it is known, works efficiently and saves up to five grammes of CO2 per kilometre depending on the engine-gearbox combination. The new Passat is the first vehicle to be equipped with the MQ281, followed by almost all vehicle classes of the Volkswagen Group.
SEAT Componentes produces new gearbox for Group brands
SEAT Componentes, together with Martorell and Barcelona, one of the three production centres for the Spanish brand and simultaneously part of the production portfolio for Group Components, has started production of the new MQ281 gearbox. Up to 450,000 units can be built per year. It will be used by the brands Audi, SEAT, ŠKODA and Volkswagen. Re-sorting gearbox production goes hand-in-hand with the production start of the new MQ281. While the new six-speed gearbox is being produced in El Prat de Llobregat and Córdoba (Argentina), the MQ200 manual gearbox has been primarily relocated to ŠKODA Components in Mlada Boleslav (Czech Republic). At the same time, the component plant in Kassel is concentrating on the production of the dual clutch gearbox DSG, and above all on the production of the electric drive for future vehicles built on the MEB platform.
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.
Volkswagen Group boosts deliveries in June
In June, there was a rise of 1.6 percent in deliveries by the Volkswagen Group compared with June 2018, to 974,400 vehicles. This positive development was chiefly driven by Chi-na, where 15 percent more vehicles than in June 2018 were handed over to customers. The new emissions standard C6 has applied since July 1, 2019, which led customers to bring purchases forward to June. There had been similar effects in Europe in June 2018. Vehicle deliveries in this region had reached a high level as a result of WLTP last June; as expected, there was therefore a fall (-4.8 percent) in June 2019. In North America (-0.5 percent) deliv-eries were slightly below those of the same month last year, South America (-0.1 percent) developed almost unchanged. Dr. Christian Dahlheim, Head of Volkswagen Group Sales: “In June, the brands of the Volkswagen Group achieved good performance and boosted deliveries in overall markets that continued to shrink. In China, we benefited especially strongly from the positive impetus given by the changeover in emissions standards. It remains to be seen whether this will lead to a general turnaround there. All in all, we can look back on a successful first half of the year: the Group has maintained its position in a challenging market environment and expanded its global market share.”
Press and investor conference: Volkswagen and Ford expand global alliance
Volkswagen and Ford expand their global alliance.
Emden plant manager moves to China
Andreas Dick, plant manager at Volkswagen’s Emden factory, moves to China as Vice President (Technical) and Board of Management member at FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Co. Ltd. In his new function, he succeeds Dr. Jürgen Unser, who takes on new responsibilities in the Group. Dick’s successor as plant manager in Emden will be appointed at a later date.
Volkswagen with New Corporate Mission Statement Environment "goTOzero"
The Volkswagen Group is bundling all its measures in environmental protection under the new "goTOzero" environmental mission statement. Oliver Blume, Member of the Group Board of Management responsible for environmental protection, says: "With the new Group Environmental Policy, the Group is giving itself and its stakeholders a clear orientation. Our efforts to improve environmental protection cover the entire product cycle, from development, production and operation to the subsequent recycling of our vehicles and administration. We also involve our suppliers. Only together can we achieve our goals".
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.
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.
The new Passat: more comfort as standard thanks to better connectivity
The new Passat is the car for frequent drivers. Volkswagen is now bringing this popular company car to market equipped with the next development stage of operating and Infotainment systems. Hardware and software together form an intuitive interface with which onboard convenience and communication can be optimally adjusted by means of online-based functions and services. In the Passat, five components combine to form the current level of connected mobility: a new generation of Infotainment, an online connectivity unit (OCU) with integrated eSIM, “Volkswagen We” as an online ecosystem, the “Digital Cockpit” and a head-up display.
Higher deliveries for Volkswagen brand in June
The Volkswagen brand completed June with higher deliveries. Throughout the world, 542,300 vehicles were handed over to customers, 1.6 percent more than the same month last year. in predominantly shrinking overall markets, Volkswagen succeeded in maintaining stable market shares or further expanding them. As expected, Volkswagen once again delivered fewer vehicles in Europe following the record values of June 2018. The strong rise of 14.2 percent in China is a one-off effect resulting from regulatory changes in the overall market. With increases in deliveries by the brand of 9.6 percent and 13.0 percent respectively, the USA and Brazil were the strongest individual markets in June. In its home market of Germany, Volkswagen recorded a slight rise in deliveries (+1.0 percent).
Group Awards 2019: Volkswagen Group Honours International TOP Suppliers
On Thursday evening the Volkswagen Group presented its best suppliers with the "Volkswagen Group Award 2019" at the Porsche Visitor Centre in Leipzig. More than 200 guests from 19 countries attended this year's 17th award ceremony.
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.
Volkswagen inaugurates “We Campus” in Berlin
Volkswagen today inaugurated the “We Campus” in Berlin. The digital launch command for the new facility was given by Ramona Pop, Deputy Governing Mayor of Berlin and Senator for Economy, Energy and Enterprises, and Christian Senger, Volkswagen brand Board Member responsible for Digital Car & Services. The new “We Campus” will bring together about 900 experts from Volkswagen and its technology partners who have previously worked at different locations. In future, they will develop new added value and mobility services which will be offered within the “Volkswagen We” ecosystem. This also includes the full-electric car sharing service WeShare which has been launched in Berlin with 1,500 e-Golf vehicles. Volkswagen is continuously expanding its ecosystem and intends to create further future-oriented jobs at the campus.
Volkswagen Passenger Cars strengthens IT competence worldwide
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand is laying the groundwork for efficient and tailor-made digitalization within the company going forward with a new IT organization. Abdallah Shanti has been named Global Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Volkswagen brand and leads the IT function set up at the end of April this year. He will be in charge of IT at in excess of 50 locations belonging to the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand worldwide.
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.
Comprehensive changes at Human Resources
The HR division at the Volkswagen brand is making new leadership appointments in human resources at several sites and companies this summer. In addition, a new function will coordinate personnel work at the brand’s production sites. The Volkswagen Board Member for Human Resources, Gunnar Kilian, said: “For the transformation of the Volkswagen brand to succeed, we need optimal structures in our HR division. That is why we are overhauling our processes, moving forward with digitalization, restructuring and focusing on the top know-how of our leadership team. The present personnel changes deepen the know-how of every manager, broaden their experience and foster collaboration between sites and companies.” The changes will be successively implemented by September 1, 2019 at the latest.
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.
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."
Volkswagen donates two Multivan minibuses for Memorial Site work at Auschwitz
Volkswagen has donated two Volkswagen Multivan minibuses to the International Auschwitz Committee (IAC). In future, the vehicles are to be used in Oświęcim, Poland, for transporting people including survivors, international guests and voluntary workers to the Auschwitz Concentration Camp Memorial Site. Volkswagen and the IAC have been closely connected for over 30 years by their work on the joint project “Auschwitz – Remembrance and Responsibility”. During this time, about 3,300 Volkswagen apprentices from Germany and Poland have worked together to help maintain the Memorial Site of the National Socialist extermination camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Volkswagen Group commits suppliers to sustainability
As of 1st July 2019, the Volkswagen Group will introduce a worldwide Sustainability Rating for its suppliers. This enables the company to assess the sustainability conduct of its business partners in its supply chain with regard to risks relating to human rights, environmental protection and corruption.
Personnel changes at Volkswagen Passenger Cars and in South America
The Sales division at the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand is making several new senior management appointments in Germany and in the South America Region. Achim Schaible, previously Head Sales International, takes over as Head After Sales & Dealer Network at the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand effective September 1st. He succeeds Peter Maiwald, who retired on June 1st. Thomas Zahn, currently President & CEO Volkswagen Argentina S.A., takes over from Schaible as Head Sales International. Zahn’s successor is Thomas Owsianski, currently President Audi China.
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.
Volkswagen Group and industry partners from the energy economy further expand CNG mobility
Volkswagen Group and its industry partners from the gas supply, network, and filling station operation sectors will showcase their products and services at the 3rd CNG Mobility Days in Berlin (25–26 June 2019), presenting an overview of the current situation and the future of CNG. Volkswagen Group brands will also be exhibiting their latest CNG models in the passenger car, truck and bus segments.
Change on the Volkswagen Supervisory Board: Conny Schönhardt succeeds Birgit Dietze
There will be a change to the composition of employee representation on the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft. Conny Schönhardt (41), who took on responsibility for Strategic and Political Planning on the management board of IG Metall in January 2019, is taking Birgit Dietze’s (46) seat on the Supervisory Board as of 21 June 2019. The Group announced this in Wolfsburg on Monday.
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.
Volkswagen video explains the stricter WLTP test procedure
Euro 6d TEMP EVAP ISC – this is the complicated name of the emission standard that will be mandatory for all newly registered vehicles with the second stage of the WLTP type test from 1 September 2019. The WLTP procedure introduced last year will be further tightened by new technical requirements and the technical procedures involved in type testing will be increased yet further. Volkswagen explains the main innovations in a video (https://youtu.be/lZXdQYSF1Gk).
Works meeting at Wolfsburg main plant: Volkswagen stands for change, future, momentum
Volkswagen Board Member for Human Resources, Gunnar Kilian, and the Group and General Works Council Chairman, Bernd Osterloh, thanked the workforce for their dedication over the last years and months during the works meeting held at the main plant in Wolfsburg today (Wednesday). Speaking to more than 10,000 employees, Kilian said: “More than ever today, Volkswagen stands for a new beginning, future, momentum. Businesswise, too, we have taken Volkswagen a big step forward with the pact for the future. We have a portfolio of first class vehicles. The ID.3 and the Golf 8 celebrate their world premiere in the fall. No other car manufacturer is driving e-mobility forward like Volkswagen. And at the same time, we are also systematically orienting ourselves to the future with digitalization. All of this is only possible because the Volkswagen team delivers a top performance, because the team identifies with our course and helps safeguard our economic success. The entire Board of Management wishes to thank you for that.” Osterloh emphasized: “Our company’s transformation can only succeed if we can get the whole team on board and offer them security. The recently agreed employment guarantee up to 2029 – in other words for the next ten years – means no one needs to be worried about losing their job at Volkswagen.”
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.
Volkswagen sponsors International Weimar Cultural Symposium implemented by the Goethe-Institut
For the second time, Volkswagen is supporting the Weimar Cultural Symposium of the Goethe-Institut, which will be attended by more than 300 participants from all over the world. Intellectuals, artists, scientists and decision-makers will be debating major upheavals of our time in many areas of society. Volkswagen is actively contributing to this debate and so emphasizing how the company invests in creating a livable future.
Volkswagen with new software unit
Volkswagen AG intends to group more than 5,000 digital experts together in its new “Car.Software” unit with Group responsibility for software in the vehicle by 2025. The company plans to develop significantly more software in the car and for vehicle-related ser-vices itself and to boost the in-house share of software development from the current figure of less than 10 percent to at least 60 percent by 2025. In future, there is to be one uniform software platform with all the basic functions for all vehicles throughout the Group. This will consist of the vehicle operating system “vw.os” and the Volkswagen Automotive Cloud. By 2025, all new Group models are to run on this software platform. The first vehicle based on this software platform will be the ID.3, which is to make its world debut at the IAA International Motor Show this year. Currently, more than 20,000 potential customers have registered for the pre-booking of this model.
Green Computing Performance: Volkswagen opens carbon neutral data center in Norway
The Volkswagen Group moved into a new, climate neutral data center in Rjukan (Norway) today. The facility was set up in just six months in collaboration with the Norwegian partner Green Mountain. The data center will be 100 percent powered by hydropower in the future, thus saving more than 5,800 tons of CO2 per year compared to a conventionally operated data center. The maximum output of 2,750 kilowatts will be used by the Volkswagen Passenger Cars and AUDI brands for high-performance servers, on which computer-intensive vehicle development projects are processed. These include the simulation of crash tests and virtual wind tunnel tests. The Volkswagen Group focuses on economic and ecological factors in the development of additional computing capacity. Volkswagen already operates a climate neutral data center in Iceland.
WTCR home race for Volkswagen and Benjamin Leuchter on the Nordschleife
Volkswagen Motorsport and the Sébastien Loeb Racing team are looking forward to a highlight of the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup calendar this weekend: from 20 to 22 June, Mehdi Bennani (MA), Rob Huff (GB), Johan Kristoffersson (S) and Benjamin Leuchter (D) will be driving their Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR on the legendary Nürburgring-Nordschleife (D). The WTCR drivers will be competing as part of the supporting programme for the 24h Nürburgring and 200,000 fans are expected to line the 25.378 kilometres of the combination of Grand Prix circuit and Nordschleife. After claiming the first podiums of the season at the last race in Zandvoort (NL), Volkswagen can approach the home race with plenty of confidence: this is especially true of local hero Leuchter. The Duisburg native knows the Nordschleife better than any other driver in the 27-strong starting field.
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.
Volkswagen Group expands market share in May
In May, there was a fall in deliveries by the Volkswagen Group compared with May 2018, but the decrease was lower than in previous months at 3.6 percent. In total, 918,900 cus-tomers throughout the world took delivery of a vehicle from a Group brand. Growth was achieved in some key European markets (Germany +4.6 percent, France +2.7 percent, Italy +2.7 percent), and in the regions of North America (+4.3 percent) and South America (+5.8 percent). However, these rises were insufficient to compensate in full for falls in other re-gions, especially Asia-Pacific (-9.4 percent). Dr. Christian Dahlheim, Head of Volkswagen Group Sales, commented: “In May, our brands asserted their position in shrinking overall markets and slightly increased the global market share. Deliveries developed in different ways in the various markets. In Europe, we almost reached the high level of the previous year and recorded growth in some key markets including Germany. Positive impetus came from North and South America, but this was insufficient to compensate for the continuing weakness of the overall market in our largest single market, China. It is gratifying to note that we once again significantly increased our market share in China.”
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.
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.
Volkswagen deliveries in May present a mixed picture
In May, the Volkswagen brand delivered 512,100 vehicles worldwide, 5.1 percent fewer than in May 2018. There was a mixed picture in the regions: while deliveries by the brand in North America (+8.6 percent), South America (+5,4 percent) and the individual market of Germany (+2.2 percent) rose, there was, as expected, a fall in Europe (-6.1 percent). The situation in China remained unchanged. In May, Volkswagen succeeded in increasing its market share in a shrinking overall market.