All Press Releases

Volkswagen AG and its charging and energy brand Elli have reached their next milestone: With 400,000 charging points, Elli is now operating the greatest charging network in Europe, with more than 800 providers in 27 countries. Over the past 18 months, the network has doubled in size by adding about 200,000 new charging points. Elli most recently expanded its network in western and northern Europe by adding the Swedish energy company Vattenfall and the Dutch fast-charging specialist Fastned.

The European test organisation Euro NCAP has announced its latest vehicle safety test results. With the ID. Buzz, a new Volkswagen model has also been awarded a “very good” rating and received the best possible score of five stars.

Volkswagen is making the Wolfsburg site fit for the future: the brand will be making an initial investment of some €460 million in the main factory at the Group headquarters by the beginning of 2025. This was announced on Wednesday by CEO Thomas Schäfer during a works meeting in Wolfsburg. The investment is primarily earmarked for preparations to produce the new ID.3. The compact electric car will be leaving the assembly line in Wolfsburg from 2023 – initially in partial production, with full production slated from 2024. Ramp-up is due for completion by the end of 2025. The necessary training measures for the workforce are currently being prepared. Post-ID.3 ramp-up, a further all-electric model for the booming SUV segment is to boost Wolfsburg’s capacity utilization for EV production over the long term. The technical basis for the new model is the Modular Electric Drive System (MEB). Volkswagen’s e-car platform is to undergo substantial further development as the MEB+, thus becoming even more efficient.

Volkswagen will be unveiling the new ID.3 to the public this coming spring. The second-generation ID.3 is set to be the latest chapter in the ID. family success story: To date, more than half a million ID. models – built on the basis of the modular electric drive matrix (MEB) – have been delivered to customers around the world. Currently, the ID.3 is produced at the Zwickau and Dresden plants in Germany. However, the production network will be expanded next year to include the main Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg. This is in order to meet high levels of customer demand for the fully electric compact car.

The Volkswagen Group and its battery company PowerCo SE founded in July 2022 intend to accelerate the build-up of their global battery business through rapid expansion to North America. Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume and the Canadian Minister for Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, signed in Wolfsburg today an Addendum to the non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of August this year to identify suitable sites for a cell factory in Canada. The two parties will continue their cooperation in the areas of battery value creation, raw material supply chains and cathode material production which had been established in August. Furthermore, PowerCo and materials technology group Umicore have agreed to investigate a strategic supply agreement on cathode material for North America. In September, the two companies had announced that they would cooperate in Europe by forming a joint venture for precursor and cathode material production.

As a founding member of 42 Wolfsburg, which opened in spring of 2021, Volkswagen recognized the potential of the novel peer-based training concept for its transformation to a software-centered mobility provider from the beginning. Together with its software subsidiary CARIAD, Volkswagen is once again expanding its dedication to promoting the next generation of highly qualified coding experts and – along with its partners Bayer, Capgemini, Microsoft, SAP and T-Systems – providing 42 Berlin with funding in the range of double-digit millions. Additionally, Volkswagen and CARIAD are making their global network and expertise available to the students, for example through mentoring programs and internships. Following 42 Wolfsburg, 42 Heilbronn and 42 Prague, 42 Berlin is the fourth iteration that the Volkswagen Group is funding as part of the 42 network.

Volkswagen has put together a series of exclusive equipment packages for its new MOVE special-edition models. True to the slogan “Simply get more”, they come with a whole host of attractive additional model-dependent features: from background lighting and newly designed seat covers made from sustainable materials to the model-specific Zurich alloy wheels. Depending on vehicle, customers benefit from savings of up to €2,600 compared with the recommended retail price for a model with an equivalent equipment level.

Volkswagen congratulates holocaust survivor and former forced labourer Sara Frenkel-Bass on her 100th birthday. All her life she has campaigned for respect and tolerance, and to ensure the past is not forgotten. Volkswagen is profoundly connected to her and grateful for her valuable contribution to the company’s remembrance work.

The negotiating commissions of Volkswagen AG and IG Metall Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt today brought their negotiations for Volkswagen AG’s approximately 125,000 employees covered by the company collective agreement to a successful conclusion. Volkswagen AG’s chief negotiator and Chief Human Resources Officer of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand Arne Meiswinkel commented: “We reached agreement before the duty to refrain from industrial action expired, which will create long-term planning certainty and stability for the company and the workforce. With our new Volkswagen Master’s scholarship program we will also promote loyalty to our company among young talent from an early stage and ensure that we have continued access to key future skills for the transformation.”

Volkswagen is on track with the electrification of its vehicle fleet. One year earlier than planned the company has reached a further milestone in the implementation of its ACCELERATE strategy to become an emission-free, software-driven mobility provider: Since the first ID.3 models were handed over to customers in September 2020, Volkswagen has delivered 500,000 vehicles from the ID. family worldwide – despite the persistently strained supply situation.

The negotiating commissions of Volkswagen AG and IG Metall Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt today continued the collective bargaining process in Wolfsburg. Opening the second round of negotiations, Volkswagen AG’s chief negotiator and Chief Human Resources Officer of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand Arne Meiswinkel presented the situation of the company amid a challenging global backdrop. He said that the stated goal was to negotiate a collective agreement with IG Metall for the company and its employees that will ensure long-term stability. Volkswagen will make an offer in the next round of negotiations. Meiswinkel said this would depend on achieving a common understanding of the company’s overall situation and other important topics such as the future use of partial retirement and the forward-looking allocation of the 1,400 annual training places specified in the collective bargaining agreement.

The vehicle can perform assisted lane changes on the motorway if the turn signal lever is tapped briefly. It can use swarm data or also learn recurring parking manoeuvres: the Volkswagen ID. Buzz is being introduced with new intelligent assistance systems that can make driving even more convenient and also increase safety. This is in line with Volkswagen’s commitment to make the latest technologies accessible to a wide customer base early on.

Nelly Kennedy has been appointed new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand from mid-February 2023. In this role, she succeeds Jochen Sengpiehl, who has moved to Volkswagen Group China as CMO. Kennedy is currently Senior Global Brand Marketing Director at Google in California. She is an acknowledged digital expert and has decades of experience in brand marketing.

Today, Volkswagen AG announced its goal of making its data center operations net carbon-neutral by 2027. To achieve this goal, the Group has expanded its computing capacities at Green Mountain, a Norwegian operator of CO₂-neutral data centers. With this expansion, one quarter of Volkswagen’s global data center operations will run carbon-neutrally. This corresponds to annual CO₂ savings of 10,000 tons.

The Volkswagen Group is driving forward its transformation into a mobility provider and is entering into a partnership with car sharing company MILES Mobility. In this regard, MILES Mobility has acquired UMI Urban Mobility International GmbH from Volkswagen Passenger Cars and with it the WeShare car sharing business and will integrate it into its existing portfolio. Both parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. Also in the context of the new partnership, MILES has ordered more than 10,000 all-electric vehicles from the Audi, Seat/Cupra and Volkswagen Passenger Cars brands, which are scheduled for delivery from 2023. In this way, Volkswagen aims to participate even better in the rapidly growing market for new mobility services, offering greater choice to its customers at the same time.

With the inclusion of the EU taxonomy into its new Green Finance Framework (GFF) the Volkswagen Group makes investments in Green Debt Instruments issued by the company more attractive, transparent and reliable for sustainability investors. The GFF links the Group’s decarbonization goals with its financing strategy. Only capital expenditures (capitalized development costs and additions to property plant and equipment) for battery electric vehicles (BEV) that are aligned with the EU taxonomy are taken into account under the new GFF. The investments are audited in connection with the annual report by the Groups independent auditor on a reasonable assurance basis. Investors can thus obtain a high level of transparency and verification for the use of proceeds.

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand further strengthened its economic efficiency in a persistently difficult environment. At almost EUR 2.5 billion, the operating result before special items for the first nine months of the current year was double the figure for the same prior-year period (EUR 1.2 billion), sales revenue rose to EUR 52 billion (prior-year period: EUR 49 billion). The net operating cash flow reached EUR 1.0 billion (prior-year period: EUR: -0.3 billion). Even though numerous customer orders could not be delivered as planned due to the persistent shortage of parts, the result was bolstered by a positive model mix and a recovery in delivery volumes in the third quarter: At 1.26 million, the number of vehicles delivered worldwide from July to September 2022 was 15.3 percent higher than the same prior-year period.

Volkswagen Group posted solid financial results in the third quarter in a difficult global environment. Total vehicle deliveries to customers were up in Q3, with overall operating result increasing from EUR 2.6bn in a supply-constricted Q3 2021 to EUR 4.3bn. The Group’s financial performance in Q3 demonstrates how measures to strengthen supply chains have successfully helped to mitigate a challenging global landscape.

Volkswagen is focusing its development activities for autonomous and highly automated driving. In the area of autonomous driving as a service (MaaS/TaaS), the Group is consolidating its development partnerships. Volkswagen will no longer invest in Argo AI. In individual mobility, Cariad is continuing to drive forward the development of highly automated and autonomous driving together with Bosch and, in the future, in China with Horizon Robotics.

Volkswagen Group announced today its goal to significantly grow its IT team in India. The company aims at doubling its workforce to 3,500 employees by the end of 2024. Volkswagen Group Technology Solutions India (VWITS) is the global in-house capability center providing IT & technology solutions to Volkswagen AG, its ten brands and multiple regional companies.

Volkswagen Group and Canadian quantum technology company Xanadu have established a multiyear research program to improve the performance of quantum algorithms for simulating battery materials. The goal is to reduce computational costs and accelerate Volkswagen’s adoption of quantum computers to develop battery materials that are safer, lighter, and more cost-effective.

The Volkswagen subsidiary Elli is offering electric vehicle customers of the Group brands more comprehensive service. The wall boxes can now be purchased from the German Audi, SEAT, Cupra, ŠKODA Auto, Volkswagen and Volkswagen Nutzfahrzeuge dealerships. Through the new sales channel, Elli is continuing its strategy to offer a customer-friendly ecosystem for electric mobility. The new partner for in-store sales of the wall boxes is Volkswagen Original Teile Logistik GmbH & Co. KG (OTLG).

The Volkswagen Group continued to drive forward its successful global electric offensive. The deliveries of all-electric vehicles were up 25 percent in the first nine months year-on-year. Despite ongoing supply constraints, 366,400 BEVs have been handed over to customers until the end of September, up from 293,000 in the prior-year period. The BEV share of total deliveries climbed to 6.0 percent in that timeframe, up from 4.2 percent in the same period of 2021. China remains the biggest driver with 112,700 BEVs – more than twice as many as at the end of Q3 2021.

Volkswagen has once again received a top score of five stars for the Golf in the Euro NCAP safety test (European New Car Assessment Programme). The European consumer protection institution awarded very high ratings in all areas examined. The compact Volkswagen model was particularly impressive when it came to the safety of adult occupants, children and vulnerable road users, as well as in terms of its assist systems. Its standard equipment now also includes the centre airbag for the front seats. The latest Golf thus comes equipped with a comprehensive safety concept that satisfies the new, more stringent test procedure. As such, the Golf remains among the best in its class.

The Volkswagen Group is strengthening its development competence “in China, for China” to accelerate the pace of innovation, promote technological localization and further strengthen its customer focus in this important market. A new partnership between its software company CARIAD and Horizon Robotics, one of the leading providers of computing solutions for smart vehicles in China, will accelerate the regional development of Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) and Autonomous Driving (AD) systems for the Chinese market. As part of the cooperation, CARIAD and Horizon Robotics plan to also establish a joint venture, with CARIAD being majority shareholder. Volkswagen Group willoverall invest approximately EUR 2.4 billion in the cooperation with Horizon Robotics. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2023. Together CARIAD and Horizon Robotics plan to develop cutting-edge, highly optimized full stack ADAS/AD solutions for China to drive forward the integration of numerous functions on one chip, increasing the stability of the system, saving costs, and reducing energy consumption. The fully integrated software/hardware technology offers differentiation and provides scalable as well as cost efficient ADAS/AD solutions for the Group’s BEV (Battery Electric Vehicles) models in China. The closing of the transaction is subject to the final signing of transaction documents between the parties involved and customary government approval, as well as, in particular, the approval of merger control and foreign investment authorities.

Volkswagen supports the exhibition of this year’s winner of the Kaiserring art award Isaac Julien. From October 8th until January 29th, two artworks of the acclaimed British artist and filmmaker are going to be on view at the Mönchehaus Museum in Goslar. In its role as partner of the exhibition Volkswagen helps the region to ensure that art is accessible to a large audience.

PowerCo, the new battery company of the Volkswagen Group, and Umicore, the Belgian circular materials technology group, announced today the founding of a joint venture for precursor and cathode material production in Europe. From 2025 onwards, the joint venture will supply PowerCo's European battery cell factories with key materials. By the end of the decade, the partners aim to produce cathode material and their precursors for 160 GWh cell capacity per year, which compares to an annual production capacity capable of powering about 2.2 million full electric vehicles. Cathode active materials are crucial for a successful powertrain transition towards e-mobility as they are the key technological lever for battery performance, as well as the biggest single contributor to overall battery cost.

Elli, the Volkswagen subsidiary that manages all activities related to charging and energy for the Group in Europe, the Elia Group and its start-up re.alto signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) today in Berlin. The MoU underscores the signatories’ shared vision of integrating electric cars into the electricity system. Over the next few years, the partners will identify possible barriers to EV integration and explore how to showcase its benefits, for example by developing demonstrators.

At Chantilly Arts & Elegance near Paris, the Volkswagen Group will present an innovative design study that will redefine the long-distance mobility of the future on September 24. The all-electric powered Innovation Experience Vehicle (IEV) is a real prototype that drives autonomously (Level 5) and gives a realistic outlook for the mobility of the coming decade. The car’s modular interior concept makes it a flexible, sustainable Mobility-as-a-Service alternative to short-haul flights. As a research vehicle, the purpose of the Gen.Travel is to test the concept and new functionalities for customer response. Based on the study results, individual features may later be transferred to series vehicles.

Never before has the internationally acclaimed Guggenheim Museum in the Spanish city of Bilbao welcomed so many guests as during the last months. Responding to the strong interest of visitors, the museum even offered special opening hours during the summer months. The reason for this outstanding level of attraction was the exhibition “Motion. Autos, Art, Architecture” which linked the history of mobility and the design of urban environments with ideas of how we come together and live in the future.

Volkswagen has made new appointments to key positions on the Brand Board of Management, laying crucial foundations for the company’s transformation toward the age of digital and autonomous mobility. Thomas Ulbrich becomes board member in charge of the newly created New Mobility division, which unites the e-series and software expertise of Volkswagen Passenger Cars. Kai Grünitz, previously Head of Development at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, succeeds Ulbrich as the board member responsible for Technical Development (TD). Other personnel changes relate to Finance. Patrik Andreas Mayer, currently Chief Financial Officer at Volkswagen Group Russia, becomes the Chief Financial Officer at the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand. He succeeds Alexander Seitz, who has been appointed Executive Chairman of Volkswagen Group South American Region. He is thus the successor to Pablo Di Si, who has been President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America and CEO of Volkswagen North American Region since September 1, 2022. Ulbrich, Grünitz, Mayer and Seitz will take up their new posts effective October 1, 2022.

Volkswagen presents today the ID.5 GTX „Xcite“ to the public for the first time today at the ID. Meet in Locarno (Switzerland). This vehicle is an individual product made by apprentices at Volkswagen’s three locations in Saxony, at Zwickau, Dresden and Chemnitz. For one year, 14 of the best budding specialists worked on a project to demonstrate their skills with considerable creativity and responsibility under expert supervision – from the first design through the adaptation of the bodywork and paintwork to technical commissioning. In addition to sustainability, reflected by vegan leather in the interior, the main focus of this year’s project was on holistic mobility. The ID.5 GTX „Xcite“ already has on board an electric skateboard for the last few meters to the driver’s destination. This is the eighth project of its type completed since 2014.

Electrifying surprise at the ID. Treffen in Locarno: Volkswagen presents the ID. XTREME in Ticino today, an exceptional off-road concept car that will generate an enthusiastic response among the many electric mobility fans at the event. The fully electric concept car with all-wheel drive system is based on the ID.4 GTX and combines the strengths of a modern SUV with the sense of adventure embodied by a rugged off-road vehicle.

The Volkswagen subsidiary Elli, which oversees all activities involving charging and energy in the Group, has become a partner in the sustainable bonus programme offered by &Charge. The goal is to consistently improve the charging experience with the help of customer feedback and to provide money savings at the charging station. Elli charging-tariff customers as well as users of SEAT and CUPRA Easy Charging, ŠKODA AUTO Powerpass and, in future, Volkswagen We Charge will benefit from the partnership as they will immediately be able to redeem the &Charge kilometres they have collected for Elli charging vouchers.

The Volkswagen Group is further developing its Group management. The Group Board of Management of Volkswagen AG is being streamlined and responsibilities will be reallo-cated. The Supervisory Board adopted a corresponding resolution. The new Chairman of the Board of Management, Oliver Blume, will focus on strategy, quality, design and the software subsidiary CARIAD. In addition, the central Board of Management divisions Fi-nance, Human Resources and Truck & Bus, Integrity and Legal Affairs, IT, Technology as well as China will continue to be represented on the Group Board of Management along with the brand groups Volume, Premium and Sport & Luxury.

Volkswagen AG and the Government of Canada aim to promote e-mobility in the country and to explore opportunities across Canada’s automotive and battery supply chain. This was agreed in a "Memorandum of Understanding" (MoU) signed today in Toronto by Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess and Canada's Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, in the presence of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Both parties will investigate opportunities for Canada to contribute to Volkswagen’s global and regional battery supply chains. PowerCo, the newly founded battery company of the Group, has a central role in these efforts and will drive forward the planned cooperation in the fields of battery value creation, raw materials supply chains and cathode material production in the North American region.

The stopwatch says it all: the new Golf R “20 Years” is the fastest R model of all time on the German racetrack Nürburgring-Nordschleife. The anniversary vehicle with its increased power has bettered the previous lap record of a Golf R on the 20,832 km long racetrack once more by four seconds. The Golf R “20 Years” clocked an official lap time of 7:47.31 minutes. Thanks to its exclusive standard equipment, optimised driving dynamics and a standard output of 245 kW (333 PS), the Golf R “20 Years” offers significantly improved performance and guarantees an emotionally charged motorsport experience between the “Schwedenkreuz” and “Döttinger Höhe” track sections.

The Volkswagen Group and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M) today announced they intend to expand their cooperation. Both companies signed a Term Sheet on the supply of MEB electric components for Mahindra’s new, purpose-built electric platform INGLO, deepening the Partnering Agreement from earlier this year. The cooperation intends to have a volume of more than one million units over lifetime and includes the equipment of five all-electric SUVs with MEB components. In addition, the two companies will explore further opportunities for collaboration, opening the perspective towards a broader strategic alliance to accelerate the electrification of the Indian automotive market.

In the wake of Oliver Blume’s appointment as the future Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, the company had decided to reorganize its communications. Rudolph will become the new head of Group Communications in addition to being Vice President Communications, Sustainability and Politics at Porsche AG. He will retain this dual function after a possible IPO of Porsche AG.

Volkswagen Group posted robust operating results in the first half, enabling important investments in future profit pools and new platforms. The Group continued to make great strategic progress in Q2, registering crucial developments across its tech-platforms – mobility services, batteries and software.

The Volkswagen brand further strengthened the Group’s economic efficiency in the first half of 2022. Effective sale management, improved cost efficiency and consistent implementation of the ACCELERATE strategy have led to a strong financial result. Operating result before special items rose to EUR 1.9 billion (first half of 2021: EUR 1.2 billion). The operating return on sales before special items rose to 5.6 percent (first half of 2021: 3.4 percent). The half-year result benefited in particular from a strong second quarter. This is also the main reason that the net operating cash flow reached 569 million euros in the first six months. As a result of optimized model and price policy, the company generated sales revenue of just under 33 billion euros (first half of 2021: 36 billion euros) – despite a significant year-on-year decline in vehicle deliveries.

Volkswagen Group China today unveiled its first electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) passenger drone prototype, as part of its strategy to explore and break new ground in fully electric and sustainable individual mobility concepts. In 2020, Volkswagen Group China launched a Vertical Mobility project to explore the next generation of mobility solutions, including the urban air mobility market and the extension of urban traffic into airspace. After intensive research, conceptual work, and development, the project team has now developed its first validation model – the V.MO. This initial prototype has also been nicknamed the ‘Flying Tiger’ due to its distinctive black and gold livery, which was painted to commemorate its launch in the Year of the Tiger.

Volkswagen of America (VWoA) today marked the start of production of its all-electric ID.4 compact SUV in Chattanooga, Tenn., the company’s first electric vehicle assembled in the United States.

In its meeting today, the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG appointed Oliver Blume as the new Chairman of the Group Board of Management. He will take over this position with effect as of 1 September 2022, combining this with his role as Chairman of the Board of Management of Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche AG and continuing in the latter capacity also after a possible IPO. Herbert Diess will at the same time resign as Chairman of the Board of Management by mutual agreement. The Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Hans Dieter Pötsch, thanked Herbert Diess on behalf of the entire board: “During his tenure as Chairman of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand and as Chairman of the Group Board of Management, Herbert Diess played a key role in advancing the transformation of the company. The Group and its brands are viable for the future; its innovative capabilities and earning power are strengthened. Mr. Diess impressively demonstrated the speed at which and consistency with which he was able to carry out far-reaching transformation processes. Not only did he steer the company through extremely turbulent waters, but he also implemented a fundamentally new strategy.”

The Volkswagen subsidiary Elli, which has Group-wide responsibility for all activities relating to the topic of charging and energy, is expanding its offer. The three brand-neutral wall box models are now also available in Italy, Sweden and Spain, following on from Germany. All chargers allow charging at home with a maximum charging capacity of 11 kW and are therefore up to eight times faster than a household socket. Three flexible and transparent charging tariffs are offered. The “Drive Highway” tariff for long-distance drivers has already been hailed in Germany as “the cheapest charging tariff from an independent provider” by the Europe-wide market analysis “E-Mobility Excellence Comparison 2022”.

Volkswagen Group is strengthening its U.S. leadership team to accelerate its ambitious growth strategy in North America. As part of its NEW AUTO strategy, the Group aims to leverage the transformation to electric vehicles (EVs) in the region with a broad product portfolio and the set-up of a new company to enter the all-electric pickup space. Scott Keogh, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, has been appointed President and CEO of Scout, an independent company that is being established in the U.S. Pablo Di Si, Executive Chairman of Volkswagen South American Region, will assume leadership of Volkswagen Group of America, and CEO of Volkswagen North American Region. The leadership changes will take effect September 1.

Higher efficiency and lower emissions: Volkswagen has enhanced its bestselling 1.5 TSI petrol engine and is now introducing the latest generation, the TSI evo2, in the first models in Europe. This engine makes it possible to reduce both fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. The compact, ultra-modern four-cylinder engine will initially be available with an output of 110 kW (150 PS), and further variants of the 1.5 TSI evo2 will follow. The T-Roc and T-Roc Cabriolet will be the first models to be delivered with the new engine. The TSI evo2 will also be introduced successively in other models by the end of the year.

The Volkswagen Group increased its deliveries of all-electric vehicles by 27 percent in the first six months year-on-year and thus successfully continued its global electric offensive. Despite supply bottlenecks, a temporary stop of production in Europe and Covid-related lockdowns in China, 217,100 BEVs have been handed over to customers in the first half year, up from 170,900 in the prior-year period. The BEV share of total deliveries reached a level of 5.6 percent, up from 3.4 percent in the first half of 2021. The biggest growth driver was China with 63,500 BEVs – a more than three-fold increase versus the prior-year period.

Today, at the Zwickau vehicle plant, Volkswagen commissioned the first fast-charging park in Saxony, which is supplied with energy largely from a so-called power storage container (PSC). The PSC is a type of enormous electricity storage unit and consists of 96 cell modules with a net capacity of 570 kWh. The advantage is that fast-charging infrastructure can be built nearly anywhere, even if in places with a low-capacity grid connection. Residential areas are one example of where this could be used. Additionally, this solution is sustainable: all cell modules in the PSC were formerly installed as batteries in pre-production models of the ID.3 and ID.4 and have now been given a second purpose. With the pilot project, Volkswagen Sachsen is putting its technology expertise on display, which goes beyond the manufacturing of its six all-electric vehicles. Two other central German companies – AW Automotive and Automotive Research – were involved in the realization of the project.

At documenta fifteen, visitors are welcome to choose from three one-day and two multi-day workshops where they can join the Volkswagen-Soundorchestra and the musicians Olaf Pyras, Alan Affichard and Detlef Landeck in following unconventional ways for the creation of sounds. The ensemble invites their guests to explore the art of “SoundCycling”, a musical practice based on the use of unorthodox materials and ambient noises for designing new musical works.

Volkswagen is consistently continuing its e-mobility strategy: to kick off its battery offensive, the Group broke the ground for its first cell factory in Salzgitter today in the presence of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Production will start in 2025. With immediate effect, responsibility for global battery business is to be held by the newly created company “PowerCo”. In addition to cell production, the new company will be responsible for activities along the entire battery value chain. Up to 2030, PowerCo is to invest more than €20 billion together with partners in the development of the business area, to generate annual sales in excess of €20 billion and to employ up to 20,000 people in Europe alone.

It was a car for connoisseurs, individualists and enthusiasts: Volkswagen launched the Phaeton on the market 20 years ago. From 2002 onwards, the luxury saloon fascinated with its confident, calm and collected character, excellent comfort, high-tech features and impressive manufacturing quality. Volkswagen took its first steps into the luxury car segment with the Phaeton and immediately proved that it was at home in this premium market. The Phaeton acted as a shining star that benefited the whole brand and paved the way for other premium products such as the Touareg and Arteon. Its farewell came in 2016 when the Brand Board of Management decided to discontinue the saloon in favour of a systematic re-alignment with a focus on electric mobility – although the successor with the project name “Phaeton D2” was already waiting in the wings.

Volkswagen delivered another important milestone of its NEW AUTO strategy with the closing of the Europcar transaction. The Group is aiming to secure a significant share of the global market for mobility services which is expected to grow rapidly in the course of the decade. Together with its consortium partners Attestor and Pon Holdings, Volkswagen will accelerate Europcar Mobility Group’s transformation to become the leader in sustainable mobility through technology and data. The company will continue its existing partnerships while, at the same time, becoming a cornerstone of Volkswagen’s future mobility platform. Europcar Mobility Group’s offer will cater to a wide variety of the customers’ mobility needs, from car sharing for a few hours to car subscription for multiple months. Pilot phases of mobility services in partnership between Volkswagen, Porsche Bank and Europcar are to start as early as Q4/22 in Vienna. Hamburg is expected to follow in Q1/23. An important next step for the platform will be the introduction of autonomous vehicles in the second half of the decade. This will enable entirely new services and lift the business to an even higher level of efficiency and profitability.

Volkswagen, official Mobility Partner of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 and the German Football Association (DFB), is pointing out the inequalities that exist within football as the tournament kicks off. The focus is on the provocative hashtag #NotWomensFootball, with the aim of triggering a discussion around the topic of equal opportunities. The hashtag will be on display for the first time across the LED displays at the opening match between England and Austria.

The Human Resources Department of the Volkswagen Group is fueling the company’s transformation and is now enhancing its executive leadership for the work that lies ahead in this process. Marcellus Puig, the Head of HR for the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, will become the new President and CEO of the Volkswagen Group Argentina on August 1 and add a proven HR expert to the ranks of the company’s leadership. He will report to Pablo Di Si, the Executive Chairman of Volkswagen Latin America. As part of this change, Arne Meiswinkel, the General Representative of the Volkswagen Group, will become the Chief Human Resources Officer for the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand on August 1. He will report to Gunnar Kilian, the Group’s Chief Human Resources Officer, and oversee the global HR work of more than 180,000 employees. Meiswinkel will also continue to be responsible for the Group’s HR principles and management at Volkswagen AG. At SEAT S.A., Dr. Laura Carnicero succeeds Xavier Ros, Member of the Board of Management for Human Resources at AUDI AG since May 20, as the Member of the Board of Management for People and Organization with effect from 1 July. She will report directly to SEAT S.A. President Wayne Griffiths.

The Volkswagen Group and Siemens support the ambitious growth plans of Electrify America, LLC - the largest public ultra-fast charging network for electric vehicles from all vendors in North America. Volkswagen together with Siemens, the leading global technology company, is investing $450 million, valuing Electrify America at $2.45 billion. Through its financing arm Siemens Financial Services (SFS), Siemens becomes a minority shareholder in Electrify America with a low triple-digit million USD investment and will hold a seat on the board.

Dynamic, powerful and with pure aerodynamics: with today’s world premiere of the ID. AERO concept car in China, Volkswagen is providing a foretaste of the brand’s first global fully-electric sedan. The future model will be positioned in the premium mid-size sedan segment. Its progressive, stylish and aerodynamic design allows the vehicle to impress with generous space in the interior. The production version for China is expected to go on sale in the second half of 2023. Volkswagen is also planning to start production of a European series version in Emden in 2023.

A global bestseller from Volkswagen is celebrating its tenth anniversary: the modular transverse matrix (MQB). Since 2012, it has been the common basis for a variety of models. More than 32 million vehicles were produced on this platform throughout the Group. The Volkswagen brand has more than 20 million vehicles manufactured so far – from the small Polo to SUVs such as the Atlas (USA) and the Teramont (China). At the same time, the modular matrix philosophy has also been transferred to the electric world, with today’s ID. models based on the MEB (modular electric drive matrix). The next generation will use the SSP – the Scalable Systems Platform – as the Group’s electric technology matrix. It enables the vehicle to be completely connected to its ecosystem and thereby lays the foundations for fully automated driving (Level 4).

The Volkswagen brand is looking into the future and releasing exclusive design sketches of the ID. AERO, the first fully-electric limousine for the Chinese automobile market. At first glance, the new concept car impresses with its outstanding aerodynamics, elegant design and generous space. The digital world premiere of the pre-production study will take place on Monday, 27 June, at 14:00 (CEST).

Elli, a brand of the Volkswagen Group, and MITNETZ STROM have now launched the nationwide pilot project for smart grid integration of electric vehicles. In the first step, around 20 drivers of Volkswagen models ID.3, ID.4 or ID.5 are involved in making electric cars part of the energy system in the future and increasingly using green electricity from the region for charging.

The Volkswagen Group is fundamentally realigning the management model for its organization in China. This will give the region greater autonomy to further strengthen its leading position in the dynamic automotive market. The central element of the realignment is a regional China Board led by Ralf Brandstätter that will take all major decisions in the region on a cross-brand basis and in close collaboration with the joint venture companies. In addition, the Group will pool the technical resources and capabilities of its brands more closely to significantly accelerate the development pace of innovative technologies and digital services “in China, for China”.

Following the production start of the ID. Buzz, German component locations have begun to produce key technology components for the new e-model. Plants in Braunschweig, Kassel, Salzgitter and Hannover are now supplying the battery system, the electric drive and the chassis. It’s the next step in a transformation process initiated in 2015 that is converting the company into an e-mobility system supplier. Volkswagen Group Components will invest €2.3 billion in the electrification of its German locations through 2026 – well more than half of overall investments.

Volkswagen’s GTX brand stands for the sporty top-of-the-line models of the ID. family. The ID.4 GTX and ID.5 GTX models with dual-motor all-wheel drive – presented just last year – will now be equipped with even more comprehensive standard equipment to emphasise this claim. In addition, they provide a glimpse of the look of other GTX models with new design accents in black and red. In future, every ID. series will have its own GTX model. The ID.4 GTX from 53,255 euros and ID.5 GTX from 56,455 euros are already available for order.

As a lead partner of documenta fifteen, Volkswagen helps to realize different programs for visitors and education purposes reinforcing sustainability, the key goal of “ruangrupa,” an Indonesian artist collective responsible for curating the major exhibition. Between June 18, and September 25, 2022, documenta presents a wide range of artworks from the most influential artists of our time at 32 different exhibition venues in the city of Kassel.

Volkswagen Group announced today its intentions to extend its partnership with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for three more years. The alliance is one of several initiatives the Group is taking to build and advance its culture of remembrance.

Starting now, Volkswagen's transformation into a tech company will be accompanied by a TikTok channel called "newauto" - the name of the Group's strategy. This is the Volkswagen Group's first appearance on the trendy video platform. Creative and entertaining videos on the channel explain the historic transformation towards the mobility world of the future, which Volkswagen pushes forward with its NEW AUTO strategy.

Volkswagen is adding another all-wheel drive version to the all-electric ID.4 product line: the ID.4 Pro 4MOTION. Based on the ID.4 Pro Performance, the model has a system power of 195 kW/265 PS and offers more traction in wet conditions and when driving on snow or loose ground. Only the sporty ID.4 GTX 4MOTION flagship model was previously available as an all-wheel drive version. Presales for the new additional all-wheel drive version are starting today; prices in Germany are from 49,020 euros.

Partners from the industrial and scientific communities want to jointly prove that the most valuable components of traction batteries can be recovered and reused several times in succession through recycling. The HVBatCycle research consortium has the goal of keeping cathode metals, electrolyte and graphite permanently in a closed material cycle (closed loop). Under the leadership of the Volkswagen Group, TANIOBIS GmbH, J. Schmalz GmbH and Viscom AG are working together with researchers from RWTH Aachen University, TU Braunschweig and the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films (IST) for three years to research and develop the necessary processes. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

The ID. Buzz is headed sustainably and efficiently into the future, building on the great strengths long offered by Volkswagen buses. The interior of the ID. Buzz is an Open Space with plenty of room, outstanding variability and a high level of comfort. At the same time, the model is a pioneering companion in the digital world. It offers the best possible connectivity thanks to its fully digital operating concept and innovative infotainment system. Technical details such as USB-C ports are also on board, allowing passengers to perform rapid charging of their smartphones, laptops, etc. with a capacity of up to 45 watts. In combination with the clear design and fresh two-tone look, the ID. Buzz becomes a “digital living room” and therefore opens up a new dimension in electric mobility.

The opening of the world’s largest exhibition for contemporary art in Kassel marks also the introduction of new sustainable mobility solutions in Kassel: a fully electric car sharing fleet, state-of-the-art EV charging stations and a rental service operating with recycled bicycles represent Volkswagen’s mobility support for documenta fifteen.

The mobility of the future is already becoming a reality on the Greek island of Astypalea. The ridesharing service "ASTYBUS" and the vehicle sharing service "astyGO" were put into operation today in the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess. Both mobility services are operating exclusively with fully electric vehicles and ensure significantly improved mobility on the island compared to the previous public transport system. It’s the next step in the transformation of Astypalea: By 2026, the island wants to switch to smart, sustainable mobility and completely modernize its energy system. The joint project of the Volkswagen Group and the Hellenic Republic serves as a future laboratory for a rapid decarbonization in Europe.

A roof converted into a ship, a propulsion system that combines recycling and sustainability and a travel format which is centered around encounters: the citizenship project by ZK/U Berlin is an energetic contribution to documenta fifteen. Volkswagen supports the project and its journey through Germany to the world’s most important exhibition for contemporary art.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Golf R, Volkswagen is launching the Golf R “20 Years” as an exclusive special-edition model. The production period limited to approximately one year makes the special-edition model a collector’s item as soon as it rolls off the production line. Like all premium performance models of the Volkswagen R with their increased power, the Golf R has its roots on the race track and stands for the transfer of innovative technologies to series production. Fan communities around the world are enthralled by the expressive design and enhanced performance. The new Golf R “20 Years” is now available to order with prices starting from 59,995 euros in Germany.

The Volkswagen Group is striving to lead the automotive industry from the front in the field of responsible raw material sourcing. In 2021, the Group published its first Responsible Raw Materials Report. It detailed Volkswagen’s methodology and activities within a newly implemented due diligence framework. This year’s report takes a first look back on significant achievements and offers an outlook on the challenges ahead.

Two very special ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ inspired Volkswagen ID. Buzz are part of this year’s Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California (May 26-29), part of the brand’s ongoing collaboration with the new series, coming to Disney+ on May 27.

Today, as part of the German G7 presidency, the labor and social ministers of the G7 nations visited the Volkswagen main plant in Wolfsburg to learn about the site’s shift to e-mobility, along with other topics. The ministers were welcomed by Gunnar Kilian, Chief Human Resources Officer of Volkswagen AG, and Thomas Schäfer, future CEO and current COO of the Volkswagen brand. The discussions focused on the role of Volkswagen in the successful transformation to a sustainable and software-based tech company while also keeping the needs of the employees in view. Following the workforces in Zwickau and Emden, the approximately 60,500 employees of Volkswagen AG in Wolfsburg will be prepared for e-mobility by means of training measures over the coming years.

Volkswagen is celebrating 20 years of the Touareg with the Touareg “EDITION 20”. This special-edition model will join the premium SUV model family from mid-June 2022 and features a particularly extensive range of exclusive equipment – including an extremely expressive exterior design and an elegant leather package in the interior. Since its market launch in 2002, the luxury SUV has become an out-and-out success. More than one million units of this innovative technology carrier have been sold worldwide up to the present day. The special-edition model is available to order now, with prices starting from 77,530 euros (for V6 TDI with 170 kW/231 PS).

On May 28, 2022, the final of the Women's DFB-Pokal will take place in Cologne for the 13th time in a row. You can find the Volkswagen data folder for the game.

Volkswagen is pressing ahead with gearing its plants to electric mobility. Volkswagen is expanding its global production network for electric vehicles by starting to make the all-electric ID.4 in Emden. Emden is now the second site for electric vehicles in Germany following Zwickau and also joins the Chinese plants in Anting and Foshan. Chattanooga (ID.4) and Hanover will also commence production this year. As a result, Volkswagen is creating the conditions in 2022 for building 1.2 million all-electric vehicles a year based on the MEB in the future at its sites in Europe, the U.S. and China. Volkswagen has invested around one billion euros in converting the Emden plant with its 8,000 employees. Emden is thus the first high-tech site for electric mobility in Lower Saxony. The Volkswagen Group will invest a total of 21 billion euros in Lower Saxony up to 2026 and make the federal state Germany’s center for electric mobility.

Volkswagen is giving an even stronger emotional charge to its brand and lends further momentum to its global e-strategy. The company launches sales activities for its iconic van, the ID. Buzz with a stand-out collaboration with “Obi-Wan Kenobi”; the all-new limited Star Wars series coming to Disney+ May 27, 2022. The campaign launches with a customized advert made in collaboration with Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic featuring the ID. Buzz and some familiar Star Wars characters as well as leading actor, Ewan McGregor, who will also serve as brand ambassador for Volkswagen.

The Volkswagen Group has lined up its launch crew for the mission to quickly and comprehensively industrialize new battery technologies. A highly talented team led by Frank Blome will work from their base in Salzgitter to expand the rapidly growing battery business and turn Volkswagen into a global cell manufacturer. To this end, a six-member Executive Board has been appointed to manage the new independent European company (Société Européenne), an operation that will employ top international experts from the fields of technology, procurement, production and finance. The board will begin work on July 1 and oversee all activities along the battery value chain – from the procurement and processing of raw materials to the development of the Volkswagen unit cell and the management of the company's initial six gigafactories. This work will also include new business models involving second-life uses for vehicle batteries and closed-loop recycling of valuable raw materials. The company will be headquartered at the Salzgitter site, which serves as the Group's battery hub in Europe.

Volkswagen and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M) are exploring the use of MEB electric components for Mahindra’s new “Born Electric Platform”. Both parties announced today that they have signed a Partnering Agreement on 18th May to evaluate the scope of collaboration. Mahindra intends to equip its “Born Electric Platform” with MEB electric components such as electric motors, battery system components and battery cells. The Partnering Agreement evaluates the scope of collaboration – it indicates binding rules for the evaluation phase as well as the non-binding scope of supply. The binding supply agreement will be negotiated in a continued constructive and legally compliant way to conclude by the end of 2022.

Pre-sales of the new ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo start in Germany and most European markets on this coming Friday, 20 May. The zero-emission all-rounder can be ordered from this date – whether as an electric bus for the family, leisure activities or business, or as a delivery vehicle for companies.

The men’s German DFB Cup Final will be held this Saturday, 21 May, with SC Freiburg and RB Leipzig going head-to-head. Kick-off is at 8 p.m. CEST at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. As official partner of the German Football Association (DFB), Volkswagen will, as in previous years, be providing sports journalists with an extensive data file packed full of facts and insights. This is now available to download at www.volkswagen-newsroom.de/en.

An icon returns! With the ID. Buzz and the ID. Buzz Cargo, Volkswagen brings the T1’s DNA into the present – and the future. Like the first 1950 Bus, the new models are cleanly and functionally designed, while at the same time evoking a number of emotions. But how was that accomplished? Volkswagen designers provide exclusive insights into their work.

At the virtual Annual General Meeting of Volkswagen AG, the shareholders voted by a majority of 99.9982% percent to approve the recommendation of the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board to increase the dividend for fiscal year 2021 compared with the previous years to 7.50 EUR per ordinary share and 7.56 EUR per preferred share. Approximately 3.8 (2.4) billion EUR will therefore be distributed to shareholders for the last fiscal year. The resolution on the formal approval of the members of the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board who held office in fiscal year 2021 was passed.

The latest ID.5 assistance technologies were rated "very good" and reached 4 out of 4 possible points - the highest possible score - in the Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme). The testers were impressed by the innovative systems of the all-electric ID.5 highlighting maximum comfort and an excellent level of assistance. With the "Driver Assistance Test", Euro NCAP has expanded its test scheme beyond the classic crash test and introduced a structured evaluation and classification system in the area of comfort and assistance systems. Aiming to give consumers a realistic insight into the performance of state of the art assistance systems.

The Volkswagen Group is making good progress with its transformation into a sustainable, software-centric mobility provider, despite a challenging environment. Speaking at the virtual Annual General Meeting, CEO Diess said: “We delivered in 2021. Backed by good crisis management, we are financially robust and have strengthened our resilience. At the same time, we have made major progress in implementing our NEW AUTO strategy. We will continue to forge ahead with our realignment in 2022, despite the geopolitical and economic challenges. Our teams are keen to change the world of mobility.”

Volkswagen Group will launch an all-electric pick-up and rugged SUV in the United States. The decision of the Board of Management was confirmed today by the Supervisory Board of the Volkswagen Group.

The Volkswagen Group and SEAT S.A. will mobilize 10 billion euros, together with their partners in the Future: Fast Forward project, in the event of a positive resolution of the PERTE VEC. This was announced today by Herbert Diess, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, who visited the Parc Sagunt II site, together with Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain; Ximo Puig, President of the Valencian Generalitat; Wayne Griffiths, President of SEAT S.A.; and Thomas Schmall, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Chief Technology Officer and Chairman of the Board of SEAT S.A.

Volkswagen Group posted strong financial results during the first quarter, despite a difficult global environment. The main drivers were an improved sales mix, better pricing, continued cost discipline and the flexibility provided by the Group’s global set-up. As such, Volkswagen mitigated the impact from worldwide shortages of semiconductors and wire harnesses by reallocating resources between its main markets in Europe, China, and the Americas. This resulted in sales revenue of EUR 62.7 billion (+0.6 percent) and a robust operating profit before special items of EUR 8.5 billion including positive effects mainly from commodity hedging activities. Even excluding these effects, the underlying operating profit of around EUR 5 billion lies significantly above previous year and underlines the robustness of the business. Based on the figures and the expected better semiconductor supply in the second half of the year, the Group confirms its outlook for 2022. However, it is not yet possible to conclusively assess in particular the specific effects of the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine conflict or effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the Volkswagen Group’s business, on the global economy and growth in the industry in fiscal year 2022.

The Volkswagen brand strengthened the Group’s economic efficiency sustainably lastingly in the first quarter of 2022. In the first three months, the operating profit before special items increased to EUR 513 million (Q1 2021: EUR 490 million). Sales revenue came in at just under EUR 15 billion (Q1 2021: EUR 17.6 billion) due to an optimized model and price policy, while the number of deliveries in the same period came in at around one million vehicles (Q1 2021: 1.36 million) due to the war in Ukraine, the global semiconductor shortage and the most recent coronavirus measures in China. In contrast, the operating return on sales before special items rose to 3.4 percent (Q1 2021: 2.8 percent).

Imelda Labbé is taking over as the new member of the Board of Management for Marketing, Sales and After-Sales at Volkswagen Passenger Cars on July 1, 2022. She succeeds Klaus Zellmer, who has been appointed as CEO of ŠKODA AUTO a. s. with effect from July 1. Currently holding the post of Spokeswoman for the Board of Directors of Volkswagen Originalteile Logistik GmbH (OTLG), Labbé has many years of experience in sales, product and brand management, and the after-sales business.

Volkswagen and bp have today launched their strategic partnership that will boost the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) across Europe, unveiling the first charger in Dusseldorf, Germany. The partnership brings together two of the leading global players in e-mobility who aim to transform access to EV charging in key European markets by rapidly building a fast charging network across Europe by 2024 and delivering a seamless experience for EV drivers.

In view of the most recent changes in the Volkswagen Group Board of Management and the ‘Volume’ Brand Group, Volkswagen Group China and the Volkswagen Passenger Cars, ŠKODA AUTO a.s. and Volkswagen Group Components brands are adjusting their communications leadership structure.

The Volkswagen Group is launching a major quality offensive in terms of charging and energy. The volume brands Volkswagen, Cupra/Seat and ŠKODA are now offering simple tariffs for public charging, allowing customers to charge at fixed kilowatt-hour prices throughout the entire charging network. With this step, the company creates optimal cost transparency. At the same time, the Volkswagen Group is further expanding its European charging network: E-car drivers can now use more than 310,000 charging points throughout Europe, including around 10,000 fast chargers at over 3,000 locations. Volkswagen is also planning a comprehensive partner program to increase the comfort at charging parks.

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) has scientifically reviewed and upgraded the ambition of Volkswagen Group’s emissions reduction targets in production. Volkswagen's SBTi ambition level thus rises from "below 2 degrees" global warming to "1.5 degrees" for its scope 1 (internal operations) and scope 2 (energy supply) emissions. The initiative and the company are publishing this news on the eve of the worldwide Earth Day, on which Volkswagen is calling on its workforce for the second time to take part in the global Project1Hour. Around 670,000 employees worldwide can spend an hour coming up with climate protection ideas - for their own carbon footprint and that of their company.

The electrification of Astypalea is picking up speed: The Volkswagen Group has delivered the first electric cars to private customers on the Greek island. A turquoise ID.3 Pure was handed over to its new owner directly at the windmills of Chora, the main town on Astypalea. Further deliveries included the ID.4 and e-up! as well as the Seat MÓ eScooter 125. As a result, the e-fleet on Astypalea is further growing, after the local authorities have been using electric vehicles already since last year. The "Smart & Sustainable Island" project is a joint initiative of the Volkswagen Group and the Hellenic Republic. In the coming years, Astypalea will be converted into an island where the mobility will be smart and sustainable, and the energy system will be completely renewed.

The Volkswagen Group successfully continued its global electric offensive in the first quarter, lifting deliveries of all-electric vehicles by 65 percent year-on-year. Despite supply bottlenecks for semiconductors and wire harnesses, 99,100 BEVs have been handed over to customers by the end of March, up from 60,000 in the opening quarter of the previous year. The biggest increase was seen in China, where 28,800 customers took delivery of a BEV manufactured by a Group brand – a more than four-fold increase versus the prior-year period.

Customers can now lease new vehicles online from Volkswagen in Germany. The all-electric ID.4 and ID.5 models from Volkswagen’s ID. family will initially be offered. They will be joined later by the ID.3. “This marks a key step in digitalizing our sales as part of our ACCELERATE strategy. We are one of the first major automotive manufacturers to offer complete online leasing of freely configurable vehicles,” said Klaus Zellmer, member of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management responsible for Sales, Marketing and After Sales. The offering is also to be rolled out successively to other European countries.