All Press Releases
This section contains all current press releases on topics and news items concerning Volkswagen.
Markus Duesmann appointed as new member of Volkswagen Group Board of Management
At its meeting today, Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft’s Supervisory Board resolved to appoint Mr. Markus Duesmann (50) as new member of the Group Board of Management.
Volkswagen investing strongly in the future
The Volkswagen Group is continuing to invest strongly in its future. As part of Planning Round 68, the investment plan for 2020 to 2024* has been drawn up. The plan was dis-cussed during today’s meeting of the Supervisory Board and approved. The Group plans to spend nearly EUR 60 billion on the future areas of hybridization, electric mobility and digitalization in the next five years. This amounts to slightly more than 40 percent of the company’s investments in property, plant and equipment and all research and development costs during the planning period. Compared with the Group’s last Planning Round, it represents an increase of around 10 percentage points. The Group intends to invest around EUR 33 billion of this figure in electric mobility alone.
In brief: More than 200 horses in a sports bag – the electric drive in the Volkswagen ID.3
The ID.3 heralds the beginning of a new era of electric mobility for Volkswagen. The electric drive, which is based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB), is produced by Volkswagen Group Components. It’s not only less complex than a conventional petrol or diesel engine, but also compact enough to fit in a sports bag. But how does the electric drive, produced at the component site in Kassel, actually work?
Volkswagen breaks ground on expansion for electric vehicle production in United States
Volkswagen of America marked the start of construction for its electric vehicle production facility. The Chattanooga site, where production begins in 2022, will be Volkswagen's North American assembly base for electric vehicles on the Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB). The company also announced it intends to build a plant for the assembly of battery packs for EVs at the Chattanooga site.
Volkswagen and BASF honour battery researcher Dr. Kimberly See
This year’s international Science Award Electrochemistry was presented to Dr Kimberly See of the California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, California, USA). She was honoured yesterday evening at the Science Award Electrochemistry & Science Dialogue held in Wolfsburg’s Autostadt. The award has been presented seven times as a joint initiative of Volkswagen and BASF and is aimed at young scientists of excellence. Prizes total €70,000, of which €50,000 is awarded to the overall winner.
Volkswagen Passenger Cars grows deliveries in October
The Volkswagen brand delivered 562,200 vehicles worldwide in October, 8.8 percent more than in October 2018. Volkswagen made further significant gains in market shares in a shrinking overall global market. There was also growth in China (+7.5 percent), the brand’s largest single market, and Brazil (+1.6 percent), with deliveries rising despite shrinking overall markets. Following the weaker figures in October 2018 as a result of the changeover to WLTP, there were further sharp increases in deliveries in the European market (+23.4 percent) and the home market of Germany (+40 percent).
TRATON publishes its “Innovation Stories”
The new print and online publication gives insights into the world of TRATON
Highlight of the new Golf – The Digital Cockpit
The new Golf will shortly come to market with a revolutionary cockpit that is clearer, neater, completely digitalised, and connected online, and that will make operating this bestseller more intuitive than ever.
Volkswagen presents Sara Frenkel Award for Respect, Tolerance and Moral Courage to young citizens for the first time
Volkswagen today presented the Sara Frenkel Award for Respect, Tolerance and Moral Courage for the first time. The winners come from Wolfsburg, including young people from the Carl Hahn and Anne-Marie Tausch Vocational Colleges as well as young shop stewards from Volkswagen and a project team of the Aids-Hilfe charity. They received the awards for ideas to strengthen respect and tolerance in society and initiatives to oppose violence and racism with moral courage.
Volkswagen starts pre-production in first plant purely focused on e-mobility in China
The new plant of the SAIC VOLKSWAGEN joint venture has been completed. It is purely built for the production of all electric vehicles on Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB). Celebrating the start of pre-production, a first China-specific all--electric Volkswagen ID. model rolled off the production line. The plant sets the next milestone in Volkswagen’s global electrification strategy. The start of series production of all-electric cars based on the MEB platform in Anting is scheduled for October 2020.
Global Social Business Summit Berlin - The Gathering 2019: Volkswagen promotes ideas for social and sustainable business
Social, economic and ecological: At the Global Social Business Summit Berlin - The Gathering 2019 (GSBS) - 550 representatives from business, science, politics and society are discussing business models that pursue social and ecological goals and are profitable at the same time. The conference with participants from 54 countries is taking place on 7 and 8 November in Berlin. For the fourth time, Volkswagen Group is supporting the annual conference with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus and is represented by three members of the Group Management Board: Hiltrud Werner, Integrity and Law, Gunnar Kilian, Human Resources, and An-dreas Renschler, Truck & Bus brand group and CEO of TRATON SE.
New electric family member: ID. SPACE VIZZION will be presented at the Los Angeles Auto Show
Volkswagen will debut the ID. SPACE VIZZION to the world on the eve of the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 19th 2019—a zero-emissions vehicle for a new era, new thinking and new mobility. The ID. SPACE VIZZION is a wagon of tomorrow that combines the aerodynamic characteristics of a Gran Turismo with the spaciousness of an SUV. Stylistically, the ID. SPACE VIZZION follows the design DNA of the ID. family, yet has a completely independent and progressive character.
Volkswagen initiates system changeover to e-mobility – Production of the ID.3 starts in Zwickau
Volkswagen’s electric offensive is picking up speed: Today saw the official start of series production of the ID.3. The first car in the new generation of electric vehicles (EVs) – a white ID.3 – rolled off the assembly line watched by Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel and Group CEO Dr. Herbert Diess. The Volkswagen Group plans to sell some 22 million EVs worldwide by 2028, thus helping EVs make the breakthrough. Zwickau has a key role to play in this endeavor: For the first time, a large car manufacturing plant is being entirely converted to e-mobility, with investments running at €1.2 billion. Zwickau is already scheduled to produce some 100,000 electric models next year. From 2021, up to 330,000 EVs will leave the assembly line each year, making the site the largest and most efficient EV factory in Europe and a trailblazer in the transformation of Volkswagen’s global production network.
9M 2019: TRATON increases unit sales by 8% to 179,100 vehicles
TRATON GROUP today presented its results for the first nine months of 2019. Unit sales climbed by 8% to 179,100 (prior-year level: 166,300) vehicles, driven by sharp gains in the core markets of Brazil and Europe (especially Germany, France and the United Kingdom). This figure was supported by MAN TGE unit sales of which more than doubled. Sales revenue rose by 6% to €19.8 (€18.6) billion. TRATON GROUP posted operating profit of €1.5 (€1.1) billion, an increase of 34%. The operating return on sales climbed to 7.5 (5.9)%. On an adjusted basis, operating profit improved by 20% and the operating return on sales by 0.8 percentage points. The prior-year figure was held back by expenses of €115 million for the restructuring of activities in India. The level of order intakes declined by 6%. The book-to-bill ratio was well below the prior-year level, at 0.95 (1.09).
Volkswagen strengthens brand presentation in China: MEB roadmap, new models and new brand design
The Volkswagen brand is boosting its e-mobility offensive in China. Next year, about 300,000 electrified models are already to be handed over to customers. The figure will then reach about one million by 2025. By 2023, the Volkswagen brand will offer 10 models based on the MEB modular electric drive toolkit on the Chinese market. In Guangzhou, the SUV study ID.Next, already on show at the IAA, gave a glimpse of the first model in the ID. family for China. Production of this model is to start at the end of 2020. The ID.3 will then be produced by SAIC VOLKSWAGEN at the new plant in Anting. This way, Volkswagen is also making its corporate goal clear in China: the brand is on its way to mobility with a net neutral carbon balance.
Volkswagen brand confirms full-year targets – nine-month sales revenue and profit up significantly
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand continued its profitable growth in the third quarter of the current fiscal year. Despite a slight decline in deliveries, sales revenue of the Volkswagen Group’s core brand improved to EUR 65.4 billion in the first nine months of 2019, up 4.7 percent compared with the previous year. The growth in sales revenue was primarily driven by mix and price effects. Operating profit before special items rose to EUR 3.2 billion, an increase of 35 percent on the prior-year period, which had been negatively impacted by the WLTP changeover. The operating return on sales before special items improved to 4.8 percent as of the end of September (previous year: 3.7 percent). Special items from the diesel issue totaled EUR -722 million after nine months (previous year: EUR -1.6 billion).
Volkswagen optimizes traffic flow with quantum computers
Volkswagen is launching in Lisbon the world’s first pilot project for traffic optimization using a quantum computer. For this purpose, Volkswagen is partnering with public transport provider CARRIS to equip MAN-buses with a traffic management system developed in-house. This system uses a D-Wave quantum computer and calculates the fastest route for each of the nine participating buses individually and almost in real-time. This way, passengers’ travel times will be significantly reduced, even during peak traffic periods, and traffic flow will be improved. Volkswagen is testing its system, which was developed jointly with the software specialists Hexad and PTV Group, during the Web-Summit technology conference in Lisbon from November 4 to 8 – during the conference, buses will carry thousands of passengers through the city traffic in Lisbon.
ID.3 start of production in Zwickau
The start of the production of the ID.3 in Zwickau will be broadcasted live on Monday, November 4th, 2019, from 11:00 am until 12:20 pm CET (10.00 am GMT – 11:20 am GMT).
Volkswagen increases sales revenue and profit
In the first nine months of the current financial year, the Volkswagen Group continued to perform well in a difficult market environment. Between January and September sales reve-nue grew by 6.9 percent year-on-year to EUR 186.6 (174.6) billion. Operating profit before special items increased significantly by 11.2 percent to EUR 14.8 (13.3) billion, mainly due to improvements in the mix and in the fair value on derivatives. The operating return on sales before special items stood at 7.9 (7.6) percent. Special items, which were due to legal risks in connection with the diesel issue, amounted to EUR -1.3 (-2.4) billion after nine months. Operating profit (after special items) improved by 24.5 percent to EUR 13.5 (10.9) billion, bringing the operating return on sales up to 7.3 (6.2) percent. Profit before tax rose by 16.9 percent to EUR 14.6 billion.
First for Africa: Volkswagen and Siemens launch joint electric mobility pilot project in Rwanda
In a first for the African continent, the Volkswagen Brand has launched a pilot project in partnership with Siemens to test the feasibility of electric mobility in an African country.
Volkswagen donates €150,000 to the International Auschwitz Committee for education and research
The Volkswagen Group is donating €150,000 to the International Auschwitz Committee (IAC) to support two international pilot projects: educational conferences with witnesses of genocides after the Second World War and digitization for research into the identity of Holocaust victims. The Human Resources Board Member of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, Gunnar Kilian, and the Chairman of the Group Works Council, Bernd Osterloh, signed the symbolic check for the donation in Wolfsburg today.
TRATON and Hino establish a procurement joint venture
Commercial vehicle manufacturers TRATON GROUP and Hino Motors, Ltd. have reached a further milestone in their strategic partnership aiming to offer customers the highest value: The two companies have established the procurement joint venture “HINO & TRATON Global Procurement” in order to maximize the global procurement synergies between the two companies. The joint procurement targets a wide range of parts and technologies whose purchasing contracts are made by the two companies. Through this partnership, HINO and TRATON anticipate an increased global footprint, in particular in Europe and Asia, resulting in an expanded supplier base.
Countdown to production start: Conversion of Zwickau plant to electric car factory began in 2018
The countdown is on: Seven days to go until Volkswagen begins series production of the all-electric ID.3. Federal Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel and Group CEO Dr. Herbert Diess will be there to watch the first car roll off the assembly line at the plant in Zwickau on November 4, 2019. The Federal Chancellor will attend the official ceremony and also visit the production line. The ID.3 is the first model in the latest generation to hit the road under Volkswagen’s global electric offensive. Volkswagen is the very first volume manufacturer to entirely convert a large car factory from internal combustion engines to e-mobility. The phased transformation of the factory already began in 2018 and will be fully completed in 2021, transforming Zwickau into the largest and most efficient electric car plant in Europe.
Volkswagen plans to make autonomous driving market-ready
Volkswagen AG today announced the foundation of Volkswagen Autonomy GmbH (VWAT GmbH) with headquarters in Munich and Wolfsburg. Another subsidary in Silicon Valley will follow in 2020. A further subsidiary is planned in China in 2021. As a centre of excellence for autonomous driving from Level 4, VWAT will serve to build up know-how within the Group and bring a self-driving system (SDS) to market maturity. The company will be managed by Alexander Hitzinger, Senior Vice President for autonomous driving in the Volkswagen Group and Member of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management responsible for Technical Development at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV). VWCV in Hanover is the leading brand within the Group for Autonomous Driving, Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS), and Transport-as-a-Service (TaaS).
World premiere for the new Golf: digitalised, connected, and intelligent
The Golf is the most successful European car for more than four decades. A new chapter in the history of this best-seller begins today, 24 October 2019, with the world premiere of the eighth Golf – digitalised, connected, and intuitive to operate. Never before has a Golf been so progressive. With hybrid versions launched at the same time, it is electrifying the compact class. Its digital interior enables a new dimension of intuitive operation. Speeds of up to 210 km/h are possible with assisted driving. It is the first Volkswagen to use swarm intelligence from traffic via Car2X, meaning it can warn against hazards on an anticipatory basis. Its world premiere takes place in Wolfsburg, where the Golf was invented, and where it has been built and refined for the last 45 years. The new Golf will be available on the market in December.
New teaching, new learning — Volkswagen makes vocational training fit for transformation and future
Volkswagen’s vocational training, its content and methods are being strategically aligned to the key topics for the future. The company is thus ensuring that the qualifications of its career entrants are fine-tuned to suit the needs of the transformation phase. On Thursday, “Zukunftsforum Ausbildung” took stock of how training is changing. Held at the Wolfsburg plant, topics at the conference which welcomed participants from many sites included best practice examples, discussions about digitalization and connectivity, new learning environments, the future tasks of training instructors, and vocational trainee skills.
Attractive savings and special leasing rates for the self-employed: the new Touareg DRIVE
Volkswagen launches the new special model Touareg DRIVE onto the market. This all-wheel drive, premium-segment all-rounder offers the most popular optional equipment of this product line as standard - including an electric foldable mounting bracket, trailer manoeuvring system (Trailer Assist), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), offroad package and air suspension. Touareg DRIVE will be launched with a price advantage of around EUR 7,900*. In addition, there will be attractive leasing rates, especially for the self-employed.
Countdown to the new Golf: Golf Mk7 – lightweight construction and broad powertrain options
Of more than 35 million Golf cars that have been built to date, around six million were Golf Mk7 models – the most recent generation. The story of this seventh Golf officially starts at its world premiere in Berlin, on 4 September 2012. Just one day later, pre-sales of the new Golf started in the first countries. As was also the case with its predecessors the Mk1, Mk2, Mk3, Mk4, Mk5, and Mk6 – which together achieved total sales of 29.3 million units – it became a world best-seller.
Volkswagen builds Golf faster than ever before
Over 35 million Golf in various versions have been produced worldwide since the first generation, 26 million of them at the Wolfsburg plant. Production of the new Golf at the main plant began in the summer and is currently in the run-up phase. The first vehicles will be in the showrooms at dealers in Germany and Austria in early December. To prepare for production, approximately 700 work steps were analyzed at over 400 workshops to leverage existing efficiency reserves. Numerous process improvements have been implemented to make sure the eighth generation of the bestseller can be built more efficiently than its predecessor.
Change of perspective: exhibition "People on the Run" shows the view of those affected
On 21 and 22 October, the Missio Truck of the International Catholic Missionswerk e.V. will be visiting the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg at the invitation of the Volkswagen Group Flüchtlingshilfe. On board is the multimedia exhibition "People on the Run", in which visitors can relive the dangers and problems of a forced flight.
Countdown to the new Golf: Golf Mk6 – high-end in a compact format
2.85 million Golf Mk6 vehicles were produced between 2008 and 2012. Golf generation number 6 once again represented a leap forward in terms of safety: the still laser-welded body scored the maximum of five stars in the EuroNCAP crash test with flying colours. An armada of new assist systems also premiered in this Golf – they marked the breakthrough of high-tech safety and comfort technologies.
Volkswagen launches major recruiting campaign
Volkswagen has launched a new HR marketing campaign. The new campaign takes a more proactive approach to highlighting the attractive work and development opportunities at Volkswagen for experts in digitalization, electrification and IT. The campaign motto is short and sweet: #hello possible. From this October, the 360° cross-sector campaign targets potential candidates under this hashtag — with a video, print ads, digital channels and out-of-home advertising.
World premiere Golf 8
The world premiere Golf 8 will be broadcasted live on Thursday, October 24th , 2019, from 06.00pm until 07.50pm CEST (04.00pm GMT – 05.50pm GMT):
Countdown to the new Golf: the Golf Mk5 – it's come of age
This was the Golf generation offering comfort and dynamics that went beyond those of quite a number of competitors within the upper mid-sized vehicle class. The same rang true for quality. A value that underlines the stability of the laser-welded body is that its torsional rigidity had increased by 35 percent in 2003 upon the debut of the Golf Mk5. This also marked the first time that the Golf was optionally available with side airbags in the rear – in conjunction with the standard airbags (front, sides at the front, head-protection airbag) this now meant that eight of these protecting, inflatable pads were on board the vehicle.
Volkswagen offers cities cooperation to optimize urban mobility
The Volkswagen Group is showcasing answers for urban trends and challenges at the ITS World Congress in Singapore, the world’s largest event for intelligent transport systems. The presentations focus on the Group’s extensive product and service portfolio of solutions for the problems of urban mobility. The aim is to offer cities tailored collaboration to optimize intelligent mobility concepts and develop new growth markets, for example through e-mobility, micro mobility and electric buses together with new mobility services.
Volkswagen Group on course to reduce CO2 emissions
While the climate package continues to be a political issue in Germany, Volkswagen committed itself to the Paris Climate Agreement some time ago. The Group has set the course for being net CO2-neutral in 2050 in line with its "goTOzero" environmental mission statement.
Countdown to the new Golf: Golf Mk 4 – the style icon
Its clear-cut and precise design characterised the brand more than ever before and set the course for the Volkswagen of the future: The Golf Mk 4 was developed in the mid 90s under the direction of the Volkswagen Head Designer at the time, Hartmut Warkuß. Today, design experts consider it a style icon that was pioneering for the product line. This also comes as a result of this particular generation’s uncompromisingly clear-cut lines and the product line’s striking C-pillar design that bridged the gap to the 1974 Golf Mk1.
Volkswagen Group delivers more vehicles in September
In September, the Volkswagen Group delivered 904,200 vehicles to customers throughout the world, corresponding to a significant rise of 9.2 per-cent compared with September 2018. In a shrinking overall global market, the Group continued to significantly expand its market shares. As expected, this development was driven by Europe (+31.0 percent) and Germany (+58.1 percent). Here, deliveries had been at an unusually low level in September 2018 as a result of restricted vehicle availability following the changeover to the new WLTP type approval procedure. In the regions of North America and Asia-Pacific, the Volkswagen Group succeeded in slightly expanding its market shares in shrinking overall markets. In South America, the Group markedly boosted deliveries in contrast to the decreasing overall market and therefore significantly expanded its market share. Dr. Christian Dahlheim, Head of Volkswagen Group Sales: “In the current economic and geopolitical environment, which is tense, our strong brands are once again proving to be especially valuable. They offer our customers security for their purchasing decisions and therefore lay the foundation for the continual expansion of our global market share.”
Volkswagen AG Granted More Time to Test Compliance Programs under its U.S. Monitorship
The Volkswagen Group announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Independent Compliance Monitor, Larry D. Thompson, have approved a request from the company for more time to demonstrate that it has met its commitments under the terms of Volkswagen’s 2017 settlement with the U.S. Government.
Countdown to the new Golf: Golf Mk3 – a pioneer in safety systems
From August 1991, Volkswagen kickstarted a new era of safety with the third generation of the Golf. The Mk3 Golf was the product line’s first model to be available with front airbags, from 1992, and furthermore, large steps forward in body design also led to significantly improved crash properties. With the Golf Mk3, Volkswagen democratised passive safety, as the improved protection it offered benefited many people.
Volkswagen Group joins the Tent Partnership for Refugees - a global business network mobilizing companies to support refugees around the world
The Volkswagen Group has today joined the Tent Partnership for Refugees (Tent), a global business network which mobilizes companies around the world to support refugees. As well as encouraging companies to make commitments to help refugees, Tent also shares best practice and companies’ experiences to support the economic integration of refugees. To date, the companies in the network have helped over 200,000 refugees in 34 countries.
The new Passat is the “Best Company Car in 2019”
A successful launch year for the new Passat: just a few weeks after its release, the Passat, refined with a far-reaching update, wins the “Best Company Car in 2019” award. The new edition of this Volkswagen best-seller had already secured first place in important comparative tests, underlining that the new Passat is also among the best business models on the market.
Countdown to the new Golf: Golf Mk II – a perfected concept
In 1983 Volkswagen launched the second Golf generation on the market. It was in this vehicle that the “Golf generation”, as German best-selling author Florian Illies coined the vehicle’s contemporaries, learnt to drive. The fact of the matter is that this Golf also became a worldwide success: by the time it was phased out in 1991, Volkswagen had produced 6.3 million Golf Mk II.
Volkswagen starts 2019 opinion barometer
The Volkswagen Group has proceeded to the next round of its Group-wide employee survey. Over the next few weeks, more than 600,000 employees from some 180 companies worldwide will have an opportunity to express their opinion on topics such as cooperation and leadership, information, the workplace and work processes. Above all, though, their feedback can drive improvements. Each company has a four-week window for participation, at Volkswagen AG this period runs from October 21 to November 17, 2019.
Countdown to the new Golf: Golf I – the pioneer
The first series-production Golf rolls off the production line in Wolfsburg in March 1974 and is available at dealerships from May in the same year. Where the Beetle had dominated the scene with its rear-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive for many decades: the era of the front-mounted engine installed across the body and front-wheel drive had finally dawned. The Scirocco and the Passat, introduced in 1973, had kicked off this trend shortly before. With the Golf, the class with the highest volumes had now also been converted to the new technology.
Volkswagen unveils the new Atlas Cross Sport SUV coupe
Only presented as a concept vehicle at the New York International Auto Show last year, the production version of the Atlas Cross Sport has now been unveiled in Chattanooga. The successful SUV for North America, Russia and the Middle East is now available as a coupe version. The dynamic version of the Atlas combines sporty properties with a high utility value.
SEAT generates biomethane from waste
SEAT will participate until 2023 in the Life Landfill Biofuel project, recently ap-proved by the European Commission, which aims to produce renewable gas from municipal landfills. The project will be developed jointly with other partners over the next four years and has a total budget of €4.3 million, of which the European Commission will contribute 55%.
Rise in deliveries for Volkswagen Passenger Cars in September
In September, the Volkswagen brand delivered 533,700 vehicles to customers throughout the world, 10 percent more than the same month last year. Volkswagen is therefore winning market shares in a shrinking overall global market. The brand recorded the strongest growth in Europe (+45.4 percent) and especially in Germany (+73.9 percent). This was due to the marked fall in deliveries in September 2018, when vehicle availability was severely restricted as a result of the changeover to the new WLTP type approval procedure. In the USA and China, Volkswagen succeeded in maintaining or further expanding its market share in a generally shrinking overall market. The situation in South America was similar. Brazil remains the strongest motor for growth in deliveries in the region (+16.0 percent).
The all-new Golf is ready to go
If there’s one car you could call a bestseller for decades, it’s the Golf. Developed continuously from one generation to the next, it has become firmly established worldwide. In two weeks, on 24 October, the Volkswagen brand presents the eighth generation at a world premiere in Wolfsburg: featuring more digitalisation and connectivity than ever before, packed with innovations and sporting a highly expressive design.
Bentley Motors’ Headquarters and Main Plant now CO2 neutral
Bentley Motors' corporate headquarters and main plant in Crewe, England, received CO2 neutrality certification in early October. The Volkswagen Group's only production plant on the British Isles is thus making an important contribution to the decarbonisation of the Volkswagen Group by 2050.
Volkswagen electric car ID.3 communicates using light
The ID.3, the first model from the new all-electric ID. family stands for the future of the Volkswagen brand – with a large range, impressive driving dynamics, pioneering design and the innovative ID. Light concept. The intelligent light concept in the interior supports the driver visually and makes communication with the ID.3 more emotional.
The new T-Roc R: outstanding performance and sporty lifestyle
Powerful like a genuine sports car, casual like a versatile CUV – the new T-Roc R is the new star of the T-Roc family. Generating a mighty 221 kW/300 PS, the compact Volkswagen R powerhouse accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. The vehicle reaches a top speed of 250 km/h before the electronics limit the forward thrust of the new top-of-the-range T-Roc version.
70 years ago, the United Kingdom handed over trusteeship of Volkswagen to the Federal Republic of Germany
70 years ago, on October 8, 1949, the British Military Government handed over trusteeship of Volkswagenwerk GmbH to the Federal Republic of Germany. The young West German state, which had only been founded shortly before with the promulgation of the Basic Law on May 23, 1949, assigned responsibility for the administration of the company to the state of Lower Saxony.
New Volkswagen R
Lap times on Saturday and school runs during the week: The performance brand Volkswagen R represents the sportiest models in the Volkswagen portfolio. Since 2002, the R models have been at home on race tracks throughout the world and, in addition to high-performance engines, have offered their owners the combination of everyday usability and stylish understatement. Along with the Golf R in four generations, the portfolio includes the Passat R36, the Touareg R50, the Scirocco R and the Golf R Convertible. Aside from the Golf R and the Golf R Variant, the new T-Roc R is also currently available.
Volkswagen brand launches new global website
Following the world premiere of its new brand design at the IAA International Motor Show, the Volkswagen brand has now launched its new global website. In future, this website will present all the content and offerings with respect to models, services, configuration, test drives, financing, used cars and many other items on a single platform. It will therefore be the central point of call for all customers of the brands Volkswagen Passenger Cars and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles throughout the world. The content is clearly structured and the highly simplified navigation system functions intuitively. The offering is highly personalized. With the new configurator, customers can now reach their personal vehicle with significantly fewer clicks. The website has already gone live in 24 markets and rollout in a total of 120 markets is to be completed by mid-2020.
Becoming a Global Champion through creation, courage, and collaboration
At its Innovation Day in Sweden, the TRATON GROUP showcased a broad range of innovations, from new commercial vehicles to new ways of working together. “Innovation,” says CEO Andreas Renschler, “is a state of mind. Innovation means always striving to be better — to offer our customers and their customers added value.”
TRATON CEO Renschler: “In the next ten to 15 years every third of our trucks and buses can have an alternative drivetrain, most of them fully electric”
The TRATON brands MAN, Scania, and Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus have committed themselves to an electro mobility offensive aimed at creating a complementing solution to the combustion engine. “Our goal is to become the leading provider of e-trucks and e-buses,” said Andreas Renschler, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG and CEO of TRATON SE at the Group’s Innovation Day in Södertälje, Sweden. This is why an increasing share of the R&D budget is flowing into this technology and common brand platforms. “By 2025, we plan to have spent a total of more than €1 billion in electro mobility,” Renschler said.
TRATON GROUP plans R&D expenditures of more than €1 billion within the next five years
The TRATON GROUP is making strides with networked vehicles, logistics, and autonomous driving. Towards this effort, the MAN, Scania, and Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus (VWCO) brands are developing common platforms to be more agile and to reduce costs. TRATON’s research and development (R&D) is therefore focused on digitalization: By the end of 2024, more than €1 billion in R&D expenditure is to flow into this area. At the TRATON Innovation Day, Andreas Renschler, TRATON CEO and member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, said: “We want to move into the digital fast lane and are continuing to evolve from a hardware supplier to a provider of software and services.” This is also evident from the almost 2,000 software engineers that already work for the brands today - making up nearly 30% of all engineers employed at TRATON GROUP
RIO digitizes Volkswagen Group Logistics
RIO, the digital brand of the TRATON GROUP, plans to support Group Logistics of the Volkswagen Group in digitizing their processes. The collaboration aims to make significant savings with more transparent and efficient processes.
Dirk Große-Loheide appointed new Board member for Procurement at Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand
Dirk Große-Loheide (55), latterly Head of Group Operations Procurement, has been appointed member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand responsible for Procurement effective October 1, 2019. In his new function, Große-Loheide succeeds Dr. Stefan Sommer, who was previously in charge of this brand function in addition to his responsibilities as Group Board member for Components and Procurement. As a result of Große-Loheide’s appointment, Sommer can now concentrate fully on his extensive tasks as a member of the Group Board.
Volkswagen plant Wolfsburg receives environmental "Lean and Green Management Award"
The Volkswagen Wolfsburg plant receives the "Lean & Green Management Award 2019" in the "Automotive OEM" category for its efficient and sustainable production. More than 250 plants from more than ten countries and 20 different industries participated in this competition.
Europe’s largest internet and digital society conference in the U.S.: Volkswagen supports re:publica in Detroit
From discussions to workshops and cultural events, re:publica Detroit offers with the support of Volkswagen many opportunities to explore facets of digital society. Sequencer Tour brings re:publica into five U.S. cities, representing a milestone project of “Wunderbar Together” – “Deutschlandjahr USA”, the Year of German-American friendship.
Volkswagen AG considers the indictment by the Braunschweig Public Prosecutor’s Office to be unfounded
Volkswagen AG considers the indictment of the company for alleged market manipulation as a result of an alleged failure to make an ad hoc disclosure in connection with the diesel issue in the United States in 2015 to be unfounded and strongly rejects the allegations by the Braunschweig Public Prosecutor’s Office.
You can even go caravanning with a Golf
The Autumn break is just around the corner – and with it comes an end to the camping and caravanning season. But before it’s too cold, there is time for one last big trip: Whether you take the caravan all the way to Lake Garda in Italy, or spend a long weekend camping close to your hometown – the Golf, Germany’s most popular compact car, is a great towing vehicle. This is due to its high trailer weight capacity of up to 1,800 kg, which is enough for most large caravans.
Productivity in plants is increasing more than expected
The Volkswagen brand is well on its way to achieving its own goals for more cost-effective vehicle production. Following the launch of the new production strategy TRANSFORM.TOGETHER last year, initial successes are now emerging. Board member for production and logistics Andreas Tostmann commented the interim review with 500 leading managers at an international conference: "The figures demonstrate that our strategy is working. In 2019, our productivity will have improved by more than 6 percent. And for the first time since 2013, we lowered the costs per vehicle in production. The workforce did an extraordinary great job here and I thank them very much for their achievements. We have demonstrated team spirit, and with our new models we managed strong and smooth starts of production. With great competence, our colleagues consistently contribute to increasing production efficiency and productivity. We will continue along our chosen path. Especially in a time of global economic uncertainties, we are well advised to make ourselves crisis-proof. To do what is in our hands so we are prepared for what is not in our hands. "
“Mille Miglia Green”: new e-up! starts at the first e-mobility edition of the famous contest
The Mille Miglia is without doubt one of the most legendary classic car rallies worldwide. The “Mille Miglia Green” is a completely new event that borrows the original idea of long-distance racing – but only electric and hybrid vehicles are permitted to compete. The first edition of the competition starts next weekend (27–29 September). Just like the traditional event for classic models, it starts in Brescia – and the new e-up! with increased range will be taking part, as well as two electrified e-Beetles.
Volkswagen Supervisory Board: Board of Management and Supervisory Board Chairmen to remain in office
The Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Dr. Herbert Diess, and the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Hans Dieter Pötsch, are to remain in office. This was unanimously decided today by the company’s Supervisory Board in an extraordinary meeting.
Works meeting at Wolfsburg main plant: Praise for the workforce, family day, new models
The company and the Works Council thanked the workforce for their commitment in the past months at the works meeting held today (Wednesday) at the main plant in Wolfsburg. At the meeting, Gunnar Kilian, Board Member for Human Resources, and Bernd Osterloh, Group and General Works Council Chairman, also announced a major event at the plant: Tens of thousands are expected to visit the factory in Wolfsburg on the family day to be held on June 20, 2020. Employees are invited to bring their families along. The new Golf will be one of the attractions at the family day.
Statement of the Executive Committee of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG
The Executive Committee of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG declares after today's meeting, which was convened at short notice:
Volkswagen Group Research becomes Volkswagen Group Innovation
International network of ideas, continuous cooperation with all brands and drivers of expertise: Volkswagen Group Research has been an incubator for innovative vehicle and mobility solutions for 50 years now. It has been consistently restructured and positioned to further enhance its technological leadership. An international, comprehensive research approach lies at the core of what is now “Volkswagen Group Innovation” – with shared responsibilities at new Innovation Centers. The future-oriented alignment within the innovation fields of artificial intelligence, augmented reality, solid-state energy systems and autonomous driving drives this turnaround as a transformation initiative within the context of Volkswagen’s TOGETHER 2025+ strategy.
Volkswagen Group starts battery cell development and production in Salzgitter
The Volkswagen Group is setting benchmarks in the development, testing and production of cutting-edge battery cell technology in Germany. In Salzgitter (Lower Saxony) alone, over 1,000 jobs are to be created by 2023/24 for testing and producing battery cells – 300 at Volkswagen’s development center and pilot line, 700 in a joint venture between Northvolt and Volkswagen to build and operate a battery cell factory. Over one billion euros is to be invested in the Volkswagen Group’s battery cell activities over the same period.
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 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.