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Press Releases
This section contains all current press releases on topics and news items concerning Volkswagen.
Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG re-assigns responsibility for China Board of Management Division
The Supervisory Board of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft has assigned responsibility for the China Board of Management Division to Dr. Herbert Diess, the Chairman of the Board of Management, in addition to his other duties. At the same time, the Volkswagen Group is reordering its management structure for the China region.
Volkswagen redefines plant assignment and focuses more closely on multi-brand plants
At its meeting today, the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft approved the new plant assignment plans. The strategic plant assignment reflects the challenges of the next five years and lays the necessary foundations. The plants in Emden and Hanover will be converted to build electric vehicles: models from the ID. family will begin rolling off the assembly lines there from 2022. In order to serve growth in Europe going forward, the Group will be expanding its production capacity post-2022 with an additional plant in Eastern Europe.
Volkswagen is investing in the future
The Volkswagen Group is investing heavily in its future. Over the coming five years to the end of 2023, the Company will be spending almost €44 billion alone on the future issues of e-mobility, autonomous driving, new mobility services and digitalization in its vehicles and at its plants. This represents approximately one-third of total expenditure for the 2019-2023 planning period and is the outcome of the Group’s planning round, which has now been completed and was discussed and endorsed by the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft at its meeting today.
New Faces of Mobility: Volkswagen Group China drives forth rapid electrification and digitalization
Under the headline “New Faces of Mobility”, Volkswagen Group China presented today at its Media Workshop an all-encompassing plan for e-mobility, advanced mobility solutions, autonomous driving, and a raft of exciting new products. On the eve of Guangzhou Auto Show the Group impressively demonstrated to nearly 300 media and business partners how it is shaping the new era of mobility. “When it comes to the future of mobility, Volkswagen Group China again wants to take the pioneering role as we did from the very start together with our Chinese partners,” said Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft as well as President and CEO of Volkswagen Group China.
Volkswagen brand drives SUV strategy in China further forward and creates complete offer for all classes
As a run-up to this year’s Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition, the Volkswagen brand presented its SUV model series for the Chinese market. Auto-China Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition is one of China’s largest international auto shows. As part of its Chinese “Move Forward” brand initiative, Volkswagen is energising not only its brand, but also its products. The current Chinese SUV family, consisting of six models, is a good example of this: The currently available models Tiguan and Teramont and the new generation of the top-of-the-line Touareg will be joined this year on the Chinese market by three completely new SUV models: T-Roc, Tayron and Tharu.
Volkswagen to make Zwickau vehicle plant Europe’s top-performing electric car factory
The Volkswagen brand is moving forward with its electric offensive and gradually creating the production capacity needed for building more than 1 million electric cars per year throughout the world from 2025. The Group’s largest and highest-performance electric car plant is currently being created in Zwickau: in future, up to 330,000 electric models per year are to roll off the production line there – more than at any other plant of the Volkswagen Group. As the first high-volume automaker in the world, Volkswagen is therefore converting an entire plant from the internal combustion engine to e-mobility. Currently, the Golf and Golf Estate are produced at Zwickau. At the end of 2019, in slightly more than a year, the production of the ID., Volkswagen’s first electric model based on the new modular electric toolkit (MEB), is due to start at Zwickau. In the final stage of development, six electric models of three Group brands are to be produced at the plant from 2021 onwards.
Volkswagen AG Supervisory Board Meeting 2018
The Press Conference about the Supervisory Board Meeting of the Volkswagen AG will be broadcasted live on Friday, November 16th 2018, from 12.30 pm until 13.00 pm CET (11.30 am – 12.00 pm UTC):
Volkswagen implements electric strategy consistently
Following Zwickau, Volkswagen intends to change its plants at Emden and Hanover in Germany over to the production of electric vehicles. After Zwickau, Volkswagen is there-fore establishing its second e-mobility center in Germany in Lower Saxony. CEO Dr. Her-bert Diess: “Volkswagen is implementing its electric offensive consistently. We are orient-ing the company towards clean mobility. This way, we are also ensuring sustainable pro-spects for the future of the two plants.” At a works meeting held on Wednesday in Emden, HR Board Member Gunnar Kilian outlined the principles of the project to employees. In Hanover, the Chairman of the Brand Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Dr. Thomas Sedran, presented the plans. The orientation towards the production of innovative electric vehicles is part of the plant allocation plans on which the Supervisory Board will decide in Wolfsburg on Friday.
Volkswagen nominates further battery cell supplier
With the South Korean battery cell manufacturer SK Innovation (SKI), the Volkswagen Group has named a further strategic supplier for electric vehicles based on the Modular Electric Toolkit (MEB). SKI will supply the batteries for North America and a share of the batteries for the production of Volkswagen Group full-electric vehicles in Europe. The most important strategic suppliers of battery cells for the equipment of the Group’s rapidly glowing electric fleet in the major regions of the world have therefore been nominated.
Volkswagen deliveries are down in October
At 516,900 vehicles, worldwide deliveries by the Volkswagen brand in October were 6.2 percent below the figure for October 2017. This development was mainly due to the continuing reluctance of purchasers in China as a result of the trade dispute with the USA. In Europe, as expected, deliveries continued to be affected by the WLTP changeover, although the impact was significantly less marked than in September. Strong positive impetus came from Brazil (+61.8 percent) and Russia (+23.9 percent). In the year to date, Volkswagen has handed over a total of 5.14 million vehicles to customers, a record figure for January to October. Volkswagen Brand Board Member for Sales Jürgen Stackmann: “We are making good progress with the WLTP changeover of our model range and deliveries in Europe were affected much less severely in October than in September. We expect this recovery to continue in November and December. All in all, we face a challenging market environment throughout the world. It is therefore all the more gratifying to note that our deliveries from January to October were almost two percent higher than the record figure reported by the brand for the corresponding period in 2017.“
Volkswagen Fellow explores KW Institute for Contemporary Art’s archive in Berlin
Volkswagen Group and KW Institute for Contemporary Art have granted a VW Fellowship with a focus on archival research. Following the longstanding tradition of VW Fellows, Jenny Dirksen took up work as the new VW Fellow in Berlin.
The new season begins for Volkswagen Sunday Sessions at MoMA PS1 in New York
MoMA PS1 kicked off the new season of VW Sunday Sessions with the performance "Pendulum Music: An Arrangement for Four Performers and Geodesic Dome" by Jeremy Toussaint-Baptiste on 21 October. This series supported by Volkswagen Group of America will now be entering its seventh year and offers a variety of encounters with contemporary performance and media art.
New pick-up concept: World première of the Tarok Concept in São Paulo
Volkswagen is today unveiling the Tarok Concept to the world at the São Paulo International Motor Show (6 to 18 November). The all-wheel drive all-rounder combines the progressive features of the latest generation of digitally networked SUVs with the versatility of a cleverly designed five-metre pick-up. Its innovative new features include a large variable loading area, which can be extended thanks to the folding rear panel in the spacious four-door double cab. As with the technical layout, the Tarok Concept has been designed from scratch down to the very last millimetre.
New IT center in Lisbon for the Volkswagen Group
The Volkswagen Group continues to expand its software competence and is forging ahead with its digital transformation. On Tuesday in the Portuguese capital Lisbon, Volkswagen inaugurated the “Software Development Center Lisbon” (SDC Lisbon) in the presence of the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. In Lissabon, 300 IT specialists are to develop software mainly for the digital ecosystems and internal corporate processes of the Group. 100 of these specialists are to work on cloud-based services specifically for the commercial vehicle sector for MAN Truck & Bus.
Volkswagen and Autostadt host 9th Global Social Business Summit
Mobility solutions that are both democratic and sustainable, measures to strengthen solidarity amidst growing worldwide insecurity, ways of understanding sports as a socially connective force – these and other aspects are the key issues of this year’s Global Social Business Summit (GSBS), which will be taking place in the Autostadt Wolfsburg this week. Since its inception in 2009, Volkswagen Group supports the conference for the third time. “I am sure that the Global Social Business Summit will not only inspire the Volkswagen Group in an important phase of its trans-formation, but also signal far beyond Wolfsburg for a global shift in thinking towards socially and ethically responsible business models.", says HR board member Gunnar Kilian. The Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg alone already obtains components and pre-assembly services from almost 40 social institutions in the region, such as deaconries, counseling and social welfare organisations.
Volkswagen remains on track for growth despite a challenging environment
In the first three quarters of the current fiscal year 2018, the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand continued to develop well in a challenging market environment. Following the first nine months of the year, the deliveries and sales revenue of the Volkswagen Group’s lead brand remain above the prior-year level. With 4.6 million vehicles handed over to customers (+2.9 percent), these were the most successful first nine months that the brand has ever experienced. Driven by higher sales and an improved product mix, the Volkswagen brand was able to boost sales revenue by 7.3 percent to €62.5 billion. At €2.3 billion, the operating profit before special items was slightly below the prior-year level (€2.5 billion) as a result of factors including the expected impact of the WLTP changeover and higher distribution expenses in connection with the environmental incentive. Operating return on sales was 3.7 percent, compared with the figure of 4.3 percent for the prior-year period. The diesel issue gave rise to special items of €-1.6 billion (2017: €-2.6 billion).
Volkswagen ensures intelligent traffic management with quantum computers
The Volkswagen Group is making further progress with its work with quantum computers. For the first time, Volkswagen experts have succeeded in using a quantum computer to develop a traffic management system that will replace forecasting for urban traffic volumes, transport demand and travel times with precise calculations. As a result, public transportation organizations, taxi companies, and transport service providers will be able to deploy their fleets considerably more efficiently while minimizing waiting times for passengers. Volkswagen and quantum computing company D-Wave are presenting the project at the WebSummit technology conference in Lisbon.
Volkswagen confirms sales revenue and profit target
The Volkswagen Group continued to grow during the first nine months of the fiscal year and is well on track to achieve its sales revenue and profit target. Despite the switch to the new WLTP test procedure, which resulted in the anticipated temporary third-quarter decline in unit sales particularly in Europe, the Group’s key figures for the first nine months are above the prior-year figures. Group sales revenue rose to EUR 174.6 billion, following EUR 170.1 billion in the prior-year period. Amounting to EUR 13.3 billion (previous year: 13.2 billion), operating profit before special items was on a par with the previous year, thus the operating return on sales stood at 7.6 percent. In the first nine months, the diesel issue gave rise to special items of EUR 2.4 billion (previous year: EUR 2.6 billion). Profit before tax increased by EUR 2.2 billion to EUR 12.5 billion. Net liquidity in the Automotive Divi-sion amounted to EUR 24.8 billion.
Premiere in Brazil: Volkswagen presents its pioneering pickup concept vehicle in São Paulo
At the São Paulo International Motor Show on 6 November, Volkswagen will celebrate the world premiere of an extraordinary pickup concept, which fuses the features of a digitally networked SUV and the versatility of a consistently well-thought-out pickup to form a new, urban-oriented vehicle. One of the especially noteworthy innovations of this concept is the multivariable loading area: in just a couple of simple steps it can be significantly extended thanks to the folding rear panel of the double cab.
Volkswagen, Mobileye and Champion Motors to Invest in Israel and Deploy First Autonomous EV Ride-Hailing Service
The Volkswagen Group, Mobileye, an Intel Company, and Champion Motors announced plans to deploy Israel’s first self-driving ride hailing service – or Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) starting next year. For this, the partners are planning to establish a Joint Venture. The planned cooperation is subject to approval by the responsible authorities and bod-ies. Operating as “New Mobility in Israel,” the group’s proposal was formally accepted by the Israeli government during a private ceremony at the Smart Mobility Summit 2018 in Tel Aviv earlier today.
Dr. Oliver Draf to head Volkswagen Group’s Data Protection Unit
Dr. Oliver Draf, formerly Corporate Privacy Officer at Allianz Deutschland AG, is to lead the Group Data Protection Unit at Volkswagen AG effective November 1, 2018. He succeeds Dr. Christoph Alt, who is taking up a position of responsibility in IT strategy at the Group’s ŠKODA brand.
World Premiere of the all-new T-Cross: Volkswagen expands its family of SUVs
World premiere in Amsterdam, Shanghai and São Paulo: Volkswagen presents its new T-Cross, the company’s first small car SUV, and thereby resolutely continues the offensive it began in 2015. This completely new model will soon be captivating hearts in the markets of three continents with its combination of style, practicality, flexibility, connectivity and economy, and it sets new standards for its class in many respects. The urban crossover model thus reveals itself to be an ideal companion in everyday life and beyond.
Volkswagen subsidiary TRATON refines portfolio
In the context of achieving capital market readiness of TRATON AG, Volkswagen AG and TRATON AG with consent of their respective corporate bodies today have agreed on the sale of the 76 % stake of MAN SE in listed Renk Aktiengesellschaft as well as the 100 % stake of MAN SE in MAN Energy Solutions SE to a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG. The purchase price shall correspond to the expected IFRS equity book value of these participations as of 31 December 2018 in the range of approx. EUR 1.85 bn. to approx. EUR 2.05 bn. In addition, the indirect 100% participation of MAN SE in MAN Energy Solutions USA, Inc., will be sold and transferred to a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG for a purchase price of approx. USD 99 m. The transferred entities form MAN group’s business area Power Engineering. The sale is intended to be completed by year-end 2018. As a result of this transaction, TRATON AG will become the lead company of a pure truck & bus group.
Exhibition “The world of Volkswagen classics” to open at the Designer Outlets Wolfsburg
On Sunday, October 28, when outlet stores will be open for business, Volkswagen Classic is opening its pop-up gallery at the Designer Outlets Wolfsburg and will be showing a selection of eight historic vehicles spanning the period from 1958 to 1985. The special exhibition in the new Ellipse includes rare prototypes and record-breaking vehicles as well as the filmstar “Herbie” and is to continue until April 4, 2019.
Volkswagen expects an SUV share of 50% by 2025
Volkswagen continues with the largest SUV offensive in the company’s history. By 2025, every second Volkswagen passenger cars sold throughout the world will probably be an SUV. This already applies to every fifth car sold now. The brand expects especially strong growth in SUV sales in North and South America, as well as in China. By 2025, Volkswagen will be offering more than 30 SUV models throughout the world. With the new Polo-sized T-Cross, the brand is rounding off its SUV product portfolio at the bottom in the smallest segment. This Thursday the T-Cross is to make its world debut and will be unveiled at the same time in Europe, China and South America.
That feeling of freedom included as standard: the Tiguan OFFROAD has just become the newest addition to the successful compact SUV range
Volkswagen has just added the new Tiguan OFFROAD to its range of successful compact SUVs. When it comes to the Tiguan OFFROAD, the name and visual lines say it all: The characteristically designed front not only looks stylish and robust, but also stands out with a larger ramp angle and integrated engine skid plate. In addition, the 4Motion four-wheel drive with 4Motion Active Control fitted as standard ensures good traction at all times. The Tiguan OFFROAD is available to order now.
xStarters challenge for digital social ideas from teens
The xStarters challenge of the Volkswagen Group only started a few days ago and 300 young people have already registered. With its xStarters challenge, the Volkswagen Group is support-ing 14-19-year-olds who wants to develop apps for volunteering, digital campaigns for social purposes or digital social challenges together with other young people. With the xStarters app, the participants will work on three tasks in small teams and collect initial experience on how idea and product development works. The teams are being supported by Volkswagen mentors.
Volkswagen Group China builds first factory specifically designed for MEB production
The electrification strategy of the Volkswagen Group China is rapidly gaining pace in the world’s biggest market for e-mobility. The Group’s first factory specifically designed for the MEB platform is now commencing construction in Anting. The first model that will be produced in the factory of SAIC VOLKSWAGEN is a Volkswagen Brand SUV in 2020. Together with the FAW-Volkswagen factory in Foshan, which opened this summer, SAIC VOLKSWAGEN’s plant will begin to produce e-cars on the MEB platform directly after the first worldwide MEB-production starts in Zwickau, Germany.
Volkswagen brand launches diesel swapping program throughout Germany
The Volkswagen brand today launched a comprehensive diesel swapping program. The successful environmental incentive is again being offered throughout Germany. It is valid for Euro-1 to Euro-4 diesel vehicle keepers who scrap the vehicle of any make and switch to a modern Volkswagen. The environmental incentive for new vehicles ranges between €1,500 and €8,000, depending on the model. Furthermore, there is a new exchange premium for keepers of any make of diesel vehicle in the 14 cities classified by the federal government as the most heavily polluted and the surrounding areas. This premium will be paid in addition to the residual value of the old vehicle when trading in a Euro-4 or Euro-5 diesel. The exchange premium for new vehicles ranges from €500 to €7,000, depending on the model. Board Member for Sales, Jürgen Stackmann: “The environmental incentives and exchange premiums are powerful financial incentives for switching to the latest generation of cleaner vehicles. Volkswagen is thus making a further significant contribution to improving air quality and preventing possible driving bans in German cities.” The environmental incentive and the exchange premium are available now from participating Volkswagen partners in Germany and are valid until further notice. Anyone interested in further details can call the hotline on +49 (0)5361-83 89 99 60.
Volkswagen Group rolls out diesel swapping program throughout Germany
The Volkswagen Group today rolled out a comprehensive package of measures to improve air quality in Germany through fleet renewal. The successful environmental incentives for scrappage of Euro-1 to Euro-4 diesel vehicles of any make are again being offered by some of the Group’s brands throughout Germany. Vehicle keepers in the 14 cities classified by the federal government as having the highest levels of pollution and in the surrounding areas will be entitled to the new exchange premiums. These premiums will be paid in addition to the vehicle’s residual value when trading in a Euro-4 or Euro-5 diesel vehicle of any make. The environmental incentives and exchange premiums come into immediate effect and are valid until further notice. The Group’s Audi, SEAT, ŠKODA, Volkswagen and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brands will be announcing details of their brand-specific programs.
TRATON remains on growth path in the first nine months of 2018
TRATON AG achieved a significant increase in deliveries of commercial vehicle in the first three quarters of 2018*. Between January and September, the Group delivered some 15% more vehicles than in the prior-year period. In total, this amounted to 166,330 vehicles of the MAN Truck & Bus, Scania and Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus brands. “Our entire team did a good job in the first nine months,“ says Andreas Renschler, CEO of TRATON AG and member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG. “However, the very strong sales performance of the first half of the year tapered off slightly in the third quarter.”
SEAT Tarraco production starts in Wolfsburg
For the first time in about 20 years, Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg plant is producing a model of another Group brand: the SEAT Tarraco. The Spanish SUV, which was designed and developed in Barcelona, exploits the synergy effects of the MQB production platform. In Wolfsburg, the Spanish model will roll off the production line together with the Volkswagen models Tiguan and Touran. The step towards multi-brand production will boost the capacity deployment of Volkswagen’s main plant. The production of the Tarraco in Wolfsburg is part of the Pact for the Future concluded by the company and the Works Council at the end of 2016. The pact is a far-reaching timetable for improving the economic viability of the Volkswagen brand and placing the company on a firm footing for the future
Interactive headlights and tail light clusters help to raise the bar for safety in future
Innovative Volkswagen lighting technology is helping to boost safety. At the same time, it is also opening the door to increasingly personalised vehicle design. At an international workshop, Volkswagen is now showcasing how the lighting systems of the future will communicate and increase safety even further.
Volkswagen digitalizes sales – New era of car buying to start in 2020
Volkswagen is making its sales organization fit for the future. The brand is to fundamentally realign its sales model together with its dealers. The new sales model is to be launched in Europe in April 2020. Today in Berlin, Volkswagen and the European Dealer Council presented their vision for the future world of Volkswagen’s 5,400 dealers and service partners as well as their 54,000 employees in Europe. The objective is to provide seamless individual round-the-clock support for customers going far beyond vehicle sales on the basis of a unique Volkswagen customer ID. Each year, the Volkswagen brand intends to introduce about 5 million customers to the new world of mobility around the globe and to offer them individual services on the basis of their ID. The car buying experience itself will also change. On-line sales are to be massively expanded and direct sales are to become possible. Five new sales and service formats such as city showrooms or pop-up stores are to be added. At the same time, the sales organization is to become more flexible and efficient.
Further development of opinion barometer — Volkswagen carries out global employee survey
The Volkswagen Group has proceeded to the next round of its Group-wide employee survey. Up to November 11, 2018, employees will have an opportunity to express their opinion on topics such as corporation and leadership, information, the workplace and work procedures, and to suggest improvements. Volkswagen has continued to develop its “Stimmungsbarometer“ (opinion barometer), which has now reached its 10th version. This year, the main focus is on the topics of integrity, compliance and culture as well as the implementation of measures resulting from evaluation and discussion within the teams.
Maximum light for maximum safety: Volkswagen relies on ultra-modern LED headlights
Wet conditions, fog, deer crossing – drivers face particular challenges in autumn and winter. The latest lighting systems which almost perfectly illuminate the road are proving helpful. Volkswagen has been focusing on the evolution of light for decades. The technical highlight of this development is the “IQ.-Light - LED matrix headlights” used on the Touareg.
Let it shine – how Volkswagen brings cars to life with lighting design
Halogen, xenon, LED, laser and OLED – in just two decades, lighting technology and lighting design for vehicles have undergone revolutionary change. In addition to functional aspects such as enhancing visibility in traffic, headlights nowadays also have an emotional component. Lighting design can give a vehicle, like people, a face with its own expression and individual personality. This development will significantly influence the work of Volkswagen designers in the coming years.
Volkswagen Group deliveries in September affected by WLTP changeover, as expected
The Volkswagen Group delivered fewer vehicles in September, as expected, due to the changeover to the new WLTP test procedure: a total of 827,700 vehicles were handed over to customers worldwide, a decrease of 18.1 percent. The drop in Western Europe, where WLTP came into effect in September 1, was 41.5 percent. Dr. Christian Dahlheim, Head of Group Sales, commented: “So far this year, the Volkswagen Group has reported record deliveries. Following the very strong summer months, we expected lower deliveries in September, both in the overall market and for the Volkswagen Group, as a result of the WLTP changeover. That applies in particular to Europe and will continue into October. We expect November and December to be stronger months in this region. The WLTP changeover at all brands will be virtually complete by the end of the year.”
The new T-Cross – “I am safe”: standard Pedestrian Monitoring will make the city safer
Volkswagen is set to unveil the new T-Cross for the first time in a trailer entitled “I am safe”, two weeks ahead of the world première of the new SUV. At the end of the 14-second clip, the most compact of all Volkswagen Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV) automatically activates emergency braking via the City Emergency Braking System, including Pedestrian Monitoring, to protect a distracted smartphone user who walks out into the road. “I am safe” is one of four focus areas that describe the most important properties of the T-Cross. The launch starts in spring 2019.
Scott Keogh named head of Volkswagen Group of America
Scott Keogh, head of Audi of America, was named president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America as well as head of the Volkswagen brand for the North American region. Keogh, who joined Audi in 2006, will succeed Hinrich J. Woebcken, who led the successful transformation of Volkswagen in North America. Woebcken will remain with the company as an adviser. Keogh’s successor as president of Audi of America is Mark Del Rosso, president & CEO of Bentley Motors, Inc., Americas, and former chief operating officer of Audi of America. Scott Keogh and Hinrich J. Woebcken are to take up their new positions effective November 1, 2018 and Mark Del Rosso effective December 1, 2018.
Volkswagen deliveries in September affected by WLTP changeover, as expected
In September, the Volkswagen brand delivered fewer vehicles throughout the world than in the same month of the previous year: in total, 485,000 vehicles were handed over to customers, representing a fall of 18.3 percent compared with September 2017. This development was chiefly due to the effects of the WLTP changeover in Europe and especially in Germany, where deliveries were 42.6 and 47.1 percent respectively below the figures for the same month of the previous year. However, the outstanding figures reported since the beginning of the year have helped to soften the fall experienced in September. In the year to date, some 4,622,900 vehicles have been handed over to customers throughout the world. The brand therefore remains above the figure for the corresponding period of the previous year, with a rise of 2.9 percent. Volkswagen Board Member for Sales Jürgen Stackmann: “The year to date has been the most successful ever for Volkswagen. Developments in September were a setback, but we had been expecting this following the records in the summer. October will also be affected by the changeover to the WLTP test procedure. Currently, we have obtained WLTP approval for high-volume variants of all 14 Volkswagen brand models. By the end of the year, the changeover should have been virtually completed. This is why we expect a return to our old strength. From November, we will be ready for the end-of-the-year sprint in Europe.“
Volkswagen and Siemens make crossroads safer
Volkswagen and Siemens want to further improve road safety especially at crossroads. . To achieve this, new functionalities have been developed for the local exchange of information between vehicles and digital transport infrastructure. The overall system uses the Car2X technology WLANp (ITS-G5) and is currently undergoing tests on Wolfsburg roads.
VW with comprehensive diesel swapping incentives
Volkswagen supports the federal government’s efforts to prevent possible driving bans in German cities by implementing suitable measures. The quickest and most effective path to improved air quality is consistent fleet renewal. Therefore, as soon as possible, Volkswagen Group’s high-volume brands will offer swapping incentives to customers with EU1 to EU5 diesel vehicles who want to change to a modern Volkswagen Group vehicle.
Rupert Stadler leaves Volkswagen AG and AUDI AG boards of management
The supervisory boards of Volkswagen AG and AUDI AG have today consented to the conclu-sion of an agreement with Rupert Stadler on the termination of his offices as a member of the board of management of Volkswagen AG and chairman of the board of management of AUDI AG as well as of his service agreements. Mr. Stadler is leaving the companies with immediate effect and will no longer work for the Volkswagen Group. Mr. Stadler is doing so because, due to his ongoing pretrial detention, he is unable to fulfil his duties as a member of the board of management and wishes to concentrate on his defence. The contractual execution depends on the course and outcome of the criminal proceedings.
FIA World Rallycross Championship Johan Kristoffersson is the 2018 FIA World Rallycross Champion
He has done it again! Johan Kristoffersson (S) has claimed his second title in the FIA World Rallycross Championship at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin (USA). The defending champion was victorious in his Volkswagen Polo R Supercar at the tenth of this season’s twelve rounds, just in front of his team-mate Petter Solberg (N), and now has 281 points to his name. With a lead of 77 points over second-placed Mattias Ekström (S), and a maximum 60 points up for grabs at the remaining two events, the driver of the Team PSRX Volkswagen Sweden can no longer be caught at the top of the overall standings.
Volkswagen and Microsoft announce strategic partnership
Entering into a strategic partnership, Volkswagen and Microsoft Corp. will collaborate to develop the ‘Volkswagen Automotive Cloud’, one of the largest dedicated automotive industry clouds for all future Volkswagen digital services and mobility offerings. The Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG approved the conclusion of an agreement to this effect between Volkswagen and Microsoft on September 28, 2018. Volkswagen therefore continues to forge ahead with its digital transformation at full speed. With Microsoft as its strategic partner, the company is taking a decisive step in its digital transformation into a mobility provider with a fully connected vehicle fleet and the digital ecosystem “Volkswagen We”.
Volkswagen Supports the Kaiserring Award Winner Exhibition in Goslar for the Fourth Year
This Saturday, the artist Wolfgang Tillmans is going to be awarded with the Kaiserring at the Kaiserpfalz in Goslar. In its statement, the international award jury emphasizes the quality of Tillmans’ body of work and his ability to creatively address social challenges. The ceremony further kicks off the award winner exhibition featuring many of Tillmans’ worldwide acclaimed artworks and supported by Volkswagen.
Volkswagen targeting further boost in factory productivity
The Volkswagen brand’s TRANSFORM.TOGETHER production strategy targets a 30 percent increase in productivity worldwide by 2025 compared to 2018. Production is therefore making a major contribution to achieving the profitability target of over 6 percent for the brand. “We want to rank among the best for productivity. We need to generate competitive returns to enable us to make key investments in the future and thus safeguard today’s jobs tomorrow and beyond. Together, we are ushering in a new era in Production for the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand. This is about nothing less than a paradigm shift: from a product-oriented company to a production-and process-oriented company. For Prodution, that means our department will be more important than ever going forward”, Dr. Andreas Tostmann, the Volkswagen Brand Board Member for Production, commented at an event held at the Berlin Motorwerk location attended by 500 managers from Volkswagen’s 17 vehicle manufacturing plants.
Hillclimb heaven for vintage car fans: Volkswagen Classic at the 2018 Rossfeld Race
Volkswagen Classic is the main partner of the “Internationaler Edelweiß Bergpreis Rossfeld” for the second time. The hill climb takes place from 28 to 30 September 2018 on the Rossfeldhöhenringstraße road in the Berchtesgaden Alps and is steeped in tradition. The 650-PS Golf Mk2 “Pikes Peak” from the Volkswagen Classic collection will take on the challenge with rally driver Jochi Kleint at the wheel. Racing driver and brand ambassador Benjamin Leuchter will drive the latest Golf GTI TCR. Other highlights include the three modified Beetles and the rare Volkswagen SP2, which was manufactured in Brazil.
First Major Retrospective: Volkswagen Presents "Victor Papanek: The Politics of Design" in the Vitra Design Museum
The Vitra Design Museum one of the leading design institutions of the world will open the exhibition "Victor Papanek: The Politics of Design" next Saturday. Supported by Volkswagen Group, the museum will for the first time be hosting a retrospective offering an in-depth look at the ideas and visions of a design pioneer driven by sustainability and social en-gagement. The exhibition will be on display through March 10, 2019.
Volkswagen and US elite Stanford University develop a fuel cell for the future
The fuel cell is regarded as a serious alternative to the classic electric car with battery cells. However, the biggest problem is the comparatively high cost of the technology. A partnership between Volkswagen and the prestigious Stanford University in the US has now significantly reduced this disadvantage thanks to a newly developed process.
Prevention and care: TRATON hosts Drivers’ Health Day at the IAA
Christina Scheib knows just how hot it can get in a truck. She can often be found driving her 40-ton dump truck around her home state of Bavaria transporting the grim, bubbling mixture of bitumen and grainy stones that will later be used to pave the road. And as a woman behind the wheel of a truck, she has found that “it is not enough to give 100%, you have to give 200% to be recognized.” The “trucker princess,” as she has been dubbed by the media, is a trained medical assistant. This makes Christina Scheib an ideal guest at the Drivers’ Health Day hosted by TRATON in Hall 12 at the IAA.
Volkswagen Classic honoured for successful electromobility campaign
Cause for celebration at Volkswagen Classic: The heritage division of the Wolfsburg-based group was named the winner of the “Campaign” category of the 2018 Automotive Brand Contest. The multifaceted history of electromobility at Volkswagen was successfully interpreted in a cross-media campaign and was honoured by the international jury of independent experts. The awards will be presented at the Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris at the start of October.
TRATON launches career event at IAA 2018: “The right people for our mission”
TRATON AG, formerly known as Volkswagen Truck & Bus AG, launches talent event at this year’s IAA Commercial Vehicles in Hanover. For the first time, the Group and its strong brands MAN, Scania, Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus and RIO will be presented together in the same hall. This new set-up will be the platform for the all-day TRATON Talk, a new career event for about 100 selected students, graduates and professionals focusing especially on engineering, digitization and business administration. The talk features the motto “The right people for our mission”.
Volkswagen to use virtual test drives to make new assistance systems production-ready
In future, Volkswagen intends to make new driver assistance systems production-ready even faster, also using virtual validation. The assistance systems of the next generation will then learn from virtually generated driving and traffic situations. The brand expects this approach to make development processes even faster and more efficient. In the long term, it is conceivable that millions of test kilometers required for validating automated driving could be completed in virtual environments. Experts from Volkswagen are already testing software developed in-house to simulate such driving in traffic situations. This software is to be used for teaching assistance systems for the ID. model family.
TRATON Talk “Future of the Driver” at IAA: Transportation trapped: where are drivers headed?
The shortage of professional drivers in the transportation industry is more and more becoming a problem. This has a negative impact on business in Germany and Europe. The lack of drivers increasingly impedes the smooth transportation and timely delivery of raw materials and goods. The progress in vehicle technology in assistance systems and in the digital network of the logistics chain furthermore requires a more qualified training of drivers. The TRATON GROUP, formerly Volkswagen Truck & Bus, addressed this issue in a Forum "Future of the driver" at the IAA on the weekend.
Volkswagen places software developers in pole position with its “Faculty 73“ project
Volkswagen is transforming itself from an automaker into a mobility provider and is now forcing the pace with the implementation of its strategy: in future, the company will be training hundreds of software developers itself. This is the objective of the innovative “Faculty 73” program which the Volkswagen Group Academy has developed specifi-cally for this purpose. Training for the first group of participants is to start in the spring of 2019 and the application and selection phase will start in October 2018. The program will prepare trainees for work as a software developer with Volkswagen and is intended for people who have completed their vocational training and have IT skills as well as internal and external applicants with appropriate qualifications. A de-gree is not required.
Volkswagen receives awards from auto motor und sport magazine for exceptional design and interconnected technology
Readers of auto motor und sport magazine have selected the Volkswagen up! GTI to receive the ‘autonis’ award for design excellence, with the model coming top of its category. Volkswagen tasted further success with the We Park parking app, which received the Car Connectivity Award during the event.
The new ID. chassis: unveiling the world’s most innovative electric vehicle family
The veil has been lifted: Volkswagen has presented the chassis of its new electric model family ID.* for the first time – and offered an initial look at its unique platform strategy for electric cars that the brand will use to turn its vision “ELECTRIC FOR ALL” into a reality. The modular electric drive matrix (MEB) that serves as the foundation of the ID. chassis is a totally unique selling proposition for Volkswagen. It also clearly demonstrates the commitment that the Wolfsburg-based company has made to electromobility.
WRC comeback with Volkswagen: Petter Solberg to drive the new Polo GTI R5 in Spain
He’s back! 2003 champion Petter Solberg (N) returns to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) with the Volkswagen Polo GTI R5. Solberg and co-driver Veronica Engan (N) will compete in the WRC 2 class at the Rally Spain in Catalonia from 25 to 28 October. Six years after his last rally in 2012, the Norwegian will make his comeback in precisely the same place, at which he called time on his rally career. Solberg, who drives a Polo for his PSRX Volkswagen Sweden team in the FIA World Rallycross Championship (WRX), will briefly change fields. The Polo GTI R5 will make its competitive debut at the Rally Spain, which will be the car’s only outing with the Volkswagen works team. The R5 rally car will then be run by customer teams in national and international championships.
New Touareg receives five-star top rating in Euro NCAP
Top marks for Volkswagen's Touareg: the European consumer protection organisation Euro NCAP has awarded the new luxury class model the maximum possible rating of five stars. In the eyes of the independent crash test experts, the SUV performed excellently in all categories.
Modified Jetta breaks the speed record in its class in the USA with 338 km/h
Volkswagen of America has demonstrated the potential of the new Jetta at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the USA. Here a specially equipped Jetta broke the previous world speed record of its class for land vehicles with 338 km/h. Only a few weeks after the success of the electrically powered I.D R Pikes Peak at the “Race To The Clouds” in the Rocky Mountains and at Goodwood Hill Climb in the UK, Volkswagen has secured its third record.
TRATON GROUP and Solera launch strategic partnership to shape the digital world in transportation and logistics
Today, at the IAA Commercial Vehicles in Hanover, Germany, TRATON AG (“TRATON”) and Solera Holdings, Inc. (“Solera”) announced a strategic partnership aimed to shape the future digital landscape of global transportation and logistics. This collaboration includes fleet management, driver services and digital sales solutions for participants in the global commercial vehicle ecosystem.
TRATON and Chinese Sinotruk significantly expand strategic partnership
TRATON GROUP and Chinese CNHTC Group announced a further expansion of their long-term partnership today. MAN and Sinotruk have been working together highly successfully since 2009 and have agreed to broaden this cooperation by establishing a joint venture to localize a MAN heavy-duty truck in China and evaluating and intensifying technology and procurement cooperation. Since the beginning of the partnership, MAN has held a 25% stake plus one share in Sinotruk, one of the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturers in China.
Uncompromising e-mobility: World premiere of the modular electric drive matrix – Volkswagen launches ELECTRIC FOR ALL campaign
Volkswagen is driving the transition to e-mobility with a consistency and commitment unlike that of virtually any other automaker. As part of the ELECTRIC FOR ALL campaign launched today, the brand will be putting attractive models at affordable prices on the road, paving the way for the breakthrough of electric vehicles. The electric offensive is based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB), a technology platform developed specifically for electric vehicles. Production of the Volkswagen ID., the world’s first series vehicle based on the MEB, will begin in Zwickau at the end of 2019. At the launch of the ELECTRIC FOR ALL campaign, media representatives from all over the world are being given their first deep insight into the technological basis of the ID. at a media workshop in the Gläserne Manufaktur in Dresden, where Volkswagen is demonstrating the centerpiece of the MEB – the rolling chassis without the bodywork and interior – exactly as it will be used in series models. Volkswagen is also seizing the initiative when it comes to charging infrastructure: a design prototype of the “Volks-Wallbox” is also being premiered in Dresden. This Wallbox is an affordable home system that makes charging the ID. family easy and convenient.
TRATON AG and Hino join forces in e-mobility and plan to establish procurement joint venture
TRATON AG and Hino Motors Ltd. (“Hino”) today announced new details on their strategic partnership. Both partners have agreed on two strategic initiatives: to join forces in e-mobility and the plan to establish a procurement joint venture.
Volkswagen is pushing forward preparations for potential IPO of TRATON GROUP
Volkswagen is pushing forward preparations for a potential Initial Public Offering (IPO) of TRATON GROUP. Further steps to this end were decided by the Volkswagen AG Supervisory Board in today’s meeting. TRATON GROUP will now strengthen the team preparing a potential IPO with external experts. For this purpose, investment banks and legal advisors will be mandated in a timely manner.
Volkswagen Group expands its activities for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)
The Volkswagen Group is presenting its activities in the intelligent transport of people and goods at the 25th ITS World Congress in Copenhagen (17 – 21 September 2018). As a member of ERTICO – ITS Europe, a network of more than 100 partners, the Group and its brands are partnering actively with cities to implement concrete projects shaping urban mobility – from Järfälla near Stockholm through Hamburg and Barcelona to Somerville in the USA. E-mobility, autonomous driving, digitalisation and connectivity of all transport systems and new mobility services are important levers to make the mobility of people and goods in cities more sustainable, more efficient, cleaner and safer.
Holger B. Santel to head Sales and Marketing Germany at Volkswagen brand passenger cars
Holger B. Santel, currently Executive Vice President of SAIC Volkswagen in China, is to head Sales and Marketing Germany at the Volkswagen brand passenger cars. In this function he succeeds Thomas Zahn, who is getting ready for other assignments in the Volkswagen Group. Santel will assume responsibility for the Volkswagen brand’s business in Germany effective Nobember 1st, 2018.
Business for the benefit of society: Volkswagen and Autostadt to co-host the “Friends of Social Business Lab”
Inspired by concepts of the renowned economist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Prof. Muhammad Yunus, the “Friends of Social Business Lab” is set to celebrate its premiere Wolfsburg. The cultural center Hallenbad is being turned into a think tank focusing on new business models which are built around social problems.
Volkswagen expands production in China
With the opening of three new FAW-Volkswagen vehicle plants at three locations – in Qingdao, Foshan and Tianjin – as well as the Volkswagen FAW Platform Tianjin Branch component plant, the Volkswagen Group is strengthening its localisation strategy in China. With the opening of a second vehicle production plant in Foshan, a mega plant has been built at the South Chinese location. In addition, vehicle and component plants in Tianjin, northern China, were bundled at a single location. Together with the existing gearbox plant, further synergies will be used there to increase production efficiency. All four new factories significantly increase the flexibility of Volkswagen Group China to react more quickly to customer needs. At the recently opened FAW-Volkswagen factory in Tianjin alone, over 300,000 SUVs will roll off the assembly line each year, thus forming the basis for Volkswagen Group China's SUV campaign. With an annual production capacity now of 600,000 vehicles per year, the Foshan plant plays a pioneering role in the Volkswagen Group's electrification strategy ("Roadmap E"). In Qingdao, too, electrified vehicles will be able to roll off the assembly line alongside cars with combustion engines in future.
August was successful month for Volkswagen Group: 6.8 percent increase in worldwide deliveries
August was a successful month for the Volkswagen Group: Group brands delivered a total of 875,300 vehicles to customers, a rise of 6.8 percent. Europe was the region with the strongest growth: 327,700 vehicles were handed over to customers there, an increase of 21.0 percent compared with August 2017. The strong performance in August continued the Volkswagen Group’s dynamic development since the beginning of the year. However, Head of Group Sales Fred Kappler expects deliveries in September and October to be lower as a result of the changeover from the NEDC to the WLTP test procedure. “We are doing everything we can to catch up on delivery delays as fast as possible”, Fred Kappler said. “Positive business so far this year will help us cushion the effects of the WLTP changeover.”
Volkswagen Group’s new importer contracts pave the way for digitalization
The Audi, ŠKODA, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Volkswagen Passenger Cars brands, together with their partners from ten European importers, signed the new importer contracts in Wolfsburg this week. Contracts with the Group’s own companies in a further 15 markets were also exchanged. As a result, the Volkswagen Group has agreed new contracts for almost all European markets. Some 4.1 million vehicles were delivered in these markets, including the home market of Germany, in 2017. The contracts are an important strategic milestone for the Volkswagen Group and define a new joint business model that is shaped in particular by ongoing digitalization. Going forward, manufacturer, importer and dealer will jointly communicate with customers, speaking with one voice across all contact points. The contracts are also an important prerequisite for marketing the Volkswagen Group’s new all-electric, fully-connected vehicles and come into effect starting in April 2020 in good time for the market launch of these models.
This is what the future sounds like: Volkswagen conducts the "Art x Tech" Panel in Beijing
Well-known experts from the worlds of music, science and technology have come together today on the invitation of Volkswagen Group China at the "Art x Tech" Panel to discuss music, artificial intelligence and the future of mobility. A series of panel discussions will explore questions such as how new interactive encounters with music will affect future mobility in fully autonomous vehicles. As part of the program, potential applications will demonstrate how cultural experiences in a progressively technology-driven environment can be optimized and enriched.
Volkswagen closes QuantumScape transaction
The Volkswagen Group has concluded the planned increase in its stake in the California technology company QuantumScape. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) had no objection to the transaction. Volkswagen is investing 100 million USD in the battery specialist, thus becoming its largest automotive shareholder. Volkswagen will now take a seat on the board of directors of QuantumScape. Furthermore, Volkswagen and QuantumScape have formed a joint venture to enable an industrial level of production of solid-state batteries.
PhD Event focuses on e-mobility and digitalization
Some 700 specialist visitors found out more about the latest research projects at the Volkswagen Group’s 2018 PhD Event. The motto of this, the 13th Group-wide PhD Event, was “Researching Towards Tomorrow”. A total of 345 young scientists are currently working on their doctoral theses in the Volkswagen Group, and 94 of them presented their work today at the MobileLifeCampus in Wolfsburg. The focus topics were e-mobility, digitalization, lightweight design, environmental and resource efficiency.
Volkswagen’s success continues in August
The Volkswagen brand handed over 513,300 vehicles to customers worldwide in August, representing an increase of 3.7 percent compared with the same month of the previous year and a new record for the month of August. All in all, 4,137,900 vehicles were delivered from January to August, a rise of 6.2 percent compared with the corresponding period of the previous year, and a further record. Jürgen Stackmann, Volkswagen Brand Board Member for Sales, commented: “August was another strong month for the Volkswagen brand in many markets: we posted record deliveries for the month of August and for the period January-August. We will be able to deliver far fewer vehicles in Europe in September due to the changeover to the WLTP test procedure. October will also get off to a subdued start, but we are expecting a strong performance from the Volkswagen brand in November and December in particular.”
Works meeting in Wolfsburg: team praised for improving efficiency and productivity
At today’s works meeting held at the Wolfsburg plant, Board Member for Human Resources Gunnar Kilian, Group and General Works Council Chairman Bernd Osterloh and Group Board of Management Member Oliver Blume thanked employees for their commitment in the first half of 2018. 34 special shifts were worked at the Wolfsburg plant in the first two quarters alone, and several thousand vehicles were produced and stored on an interim basis due to the WLTP test procedure ready for delivery once approvals have been issued by the authorities. Kilian underscored that Volkswagen will not let up in its efficiency efforts. Osterloh called for clarity for the workforce about plant operation in the 4th quarter. Blume emphasized that Group Production sees itself as a driver for efficiency, and gives the Group a clear competitive edge.
Andreas Mühe in Beijing: Volkswagen supports the first solo exhibition of the photographer in China
The famous photographer Andreas Mühe opened his first solo exhibition at the Red Brick Art Museum in Beijing today. The realization of this comprehensive show was made possible through the support of the Volkswagen Group and Volkswagen Group China. The exhibition, lasting until October 21, will provide the Chinese public another opportunity to experience influential and contemporary German art.
Ready for mass production: Volkswagen uses the latest 3D printing process for production
Volkswagen is the first automotive manufacturer using the latest 3D printing technology: the “HP Metal Jet” process simplifies and speeds up metallic 3D printing. The biggest advantage: productivity improves fifty times compared to other 3D printing methods and depending on the component. Hence, for the first time, three-dimensional printing is mass production ready in automotive industry. Together with printer manufacturer HP and component manufacturer GKN Powder Metallurgy, Volkswagen is therefore pressing ahead with the development of the technology for mass production. The partners presented the new process for the first time at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago.
"2018 Beetle Sunshine Tour to Wolfsburg": Thousands are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the New Beetle
"2018 Beetle Sunshine Tour to Wolfsburg" – this was the motto on this Saturday for the 14th great Beetle, New Beetle and Beetle Community gathering. This year's event centred around the 20th anniversary of the New Beetle. A contemporary classic on the way to becoming a genuine classic. Like the original Beetle. Beetle, New Beetle and original Beetle – three generations of a compact, timeless Volkswagen with friends in all four corners of the world. Thousands of these aficionados flocked to Wolfsburg on saturday to celebrate one of the most likeable icons of automotive history.
Volkswagen sends out a clear signal in Chemnitz against xenophobia, discrimination, exclusion
Volkswagen Board members, Works Council members and employees sent out a clear signal against discrimination, xenophobia and exclusion at an information event at the Chemnitz engine plant on Friday. At the same time, they spoke up clearly respectful in favor of diversity and a respectful partnership with one another. For Volkswagen, these are unshakeable principles.
Dr. Christian Dahlheim to head Group Sales
Dr. Christian Dahlheim, currently Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Financial Services AG with responsibility for Sales, has been appointed Head of Group Sales effective October 1, 2018. He succeeds Fred Kappler, who is taking retirement. The Chairman of Volkswagen Financial Services AG, Lars Henner Santelmann, will assume responsibility for Dahlheim’s current function in addition to his own duties.
Volkswagen's incubator program goes international: six new start-ups move into the Gläserne Manufaktur
The start-up program in the "Future Mobility Incubator" at the Gläserne Manufaktur is striking out in new directions. For the first time, Volkswagen has only selected international start-ups, at pitch competitions held in Tel Aviv, Prague, London, Riga, and Hanover: CarPay-Diem comes from Luxembourg, Zouzoucar from France, carVertical from Lithuania, ToporAuto from Russia, Make My Day from Israel, and Go To-U from Ukraine. They are now working at the Gläserne Manufaktur where they are able to develop their ideas to market readiness with support from Volkswagen and the city of Dresden’s business development team.
Addition to the SUV family in the Middle East: Volkswagen launches new seven-seater Teramont
Volkswagen will launch its new Teramont SUV in the Middle East. As a seven-seater, it is the first Volkswagen of its kind in this region. Its American counterpart – named Volkswagen Atlas – has already won several awards. Since 2017, the large SUV has also stirred great interest among customers in China. This titan of the road is now forging ahead as part of Volkswagen's SUV success story.
Stylish and high-quality: R-Line exterior package now also available for the up!
Even more self-confident, even more striking, even more dynamic: Volkswagen has now started the advance sale of the up! R-Line exterior package, which gives the popular small car a clearly sportier look.
Curriculum vitae: Dr. Stefan Sommer
Group Board Member for Components and Procurement.
Volkswagen expands its engagement in Africa: memorandums of understanding signed with Ghana and Nigeria
During German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to Africa, Volkswagen signed two memorandums of understanding with the governments of Ghana and Nigeria. The stated goal is to build plants in both countries and to explore the development of new mobility solutions in Ghana. The document was signed in Ghana in the presence of Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia. The Nigerian Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okey Enelamah attended the signing ceremony in Abuja. The Head of the Volkswagen Sub-Saharan Region, Thomas Schaefer, signed both agreements on behalf of Volkswagen.
Volkswagen Group has redesigned its website for fleet customers
The Volkswagen Group has redesigned, www.volkswagenag.com/en/group/fleet-customer.html the website for national and international fleet managers, and integrated this theme in the Group’s overall online presence. The aim is to network information on fleet business with general information about the Group, thus offering fleet customers even more added value.
Volkswagen Classic at GTI Coming Home 2018 in Wolfsburg: Seven icons with three letters
For the second time, Wolfsburg is hosting a full day devoted to the legendary Volkswagen sports car, which, since 1976, has been more synonymous with power, driving pleasure and attitude than virtually any other car – the Golf GTI. Volkswagen Classic is represented by all seven generations of the GTI family on 1 September. The powerful Golf Mk2 Pikes Peak and rally ace Jochi Kleint will also be attending the GTI meet in Wolfsburg.
The new T-Cross trailer – "I am cool": Volkswagen designers survey the world of compact SUVs
The countdown for the launch of the new T-Cross has started: The world première of the most compact Volkswagen SUV ever will be celebrated in autumn. The slogan "I am more" will accompany the launch in spring 2019. It stands for the four property fields "I am practical", "I am cool", "I am intuitive" and "I am safe". With a trailer for "I am cool", Volkswagen is now showing how the T-Cross designers have surveyed the world again and developed a new, urban generation of the Sport Utility Vehicle.
Transforming Transportation: Volkswagen Truck & Bus is now TRATON GROUP
As of today, one of the world’s leading transportation groups has a new brand identity: Volkswagen Truck & Bus AG has become TRATON AG.
Beetle Sunshine Tour to Wolfsburg 2018: Community celebrates the 20th birthday of the New Beetle
The Beetle Sunshine Tour is the largest meeting of the Beetle, New Beetle and Käfer community in Europe. For the first time, the festival in 2018 will not take place in Lübeck, but in Wolfsburg and thereby in the heart of the Volkswagen world. For good reason, because the New Beetle presented in 1998 is celebrating its 20th birthday and because it was the impetus for the first Beetle Sunshine Tour in 2004. The organisers have therefore moved the meeting to the Autostadt without further ado. That's why the motto is "Beetle Sunshine Tour to Wolfsburg". It starts on 8 September at 10:00 a.m. Highlight: a convoy of all participating Beetles, New Beetles and Käfer right through the centre of the Volkswagen plant.
Volkswagen reinforces competences in highly automated driving
The Volkswagen Group has acquired a minority stake in the technology development com-pany FDTech GmbH. The company, which has its headquarters in Chemnitz and was estab-lished in 2017, currently employs about 30 experts and develops algorithms for systems in the field of automated and autonomous driving.
Dr. Frank Welsch: “The success on Pikes Peak is of long-term importance”
The Volkswagen ID. R Pikes Peak made history with its record-breaking run at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on 24 June: the first fully-electric racing car from Wolfsburg conquered the 19.99-kilometre route in 7:57.148 minutes. However, the 500-kW (680-PS) ID. R Pikes Peak is far more than just a record holder – it is the sporty ambassador for the ID. family, Volkswagen’s range of fully-electric production vehicles, which will hit the market from 2020 onwards. In an interview, Dr. Frank Welsch, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand with responsibility for Technical Development, speaks about what this means for the future, the challenges faced when developing the ID. R Pikes Peak, and the strategy behind competing at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
Volkswagen’s digital transformation gathers speed
Volkswagen in transition: the company is speeding up the development of its ecosystem with its own software know-how and the strength of external partners. The automobile will evolve into a central hub in the Internet of Things.
Volkswagen starts “We Share” e-mobility car sharing in Berlin
The Volkswagen brand is to launch an extensive all-electric car sharing offering in selected major cities under its “We Share” sub-brand. The first fleet of vehicles will be rolled out in the German capital Berlin, and will comprise 1,500 e-Golf when the service begins operating in the second quarter of 2019, with an additional 500 e-up! following later. These vehicles will gradually be replaced by the first models from the new Volkswagen ID. family from 2020. Jürgen Stackmann, Volkswagen Brand Board Member for Sales, commented: “We want to motivate young, urban users to engage with e-mobility. The people of Berlin will be the first to enjoy the electrifying experience of our ’We Share’ car sharing offering.”
Monterey Car Week: Volkswagen showcases Atlas Cross Sport and Atlas Tanoak Concept in California
At Monterey Car Week (21 – 26 August) in California Volkswagen will be showcasing two German/US American studies on the basis of the Atlas SUV: the Atlas Tanoak Concept pick-up and the dynamic SUV Atlas Cross Sport. The progressively designed and developed all-wheel drive models illustrate the potential that lies within the Atlas range. Klaus Bischoff, Head Designer at Volkswagen: "Thanks to the Atlas Cross Sport we are introducing a high design standard to the full-size SUV category. The Atlas Tanoak is our version of the American dream – a genuine pick-up with clear-cut Volkswagen elements and a futuristic, digital vehicle interior architecture."
Volkswagen Truck & Bus AG resolves extraordinary termination of the domination and profit transfer agreement (BGAV) with MAN SE
In today’s meeting, the management of Volkswagen Truck & Bus AG (soon transforming into TRATON AG) has resolved the extraordinary termination of the domination and profit transfer agreement (BGAV) with MAN SE, dated April 26, 2013, with effect from January 1, 2019.