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In the 1960s, photographer Heinrich Heidersberger had captured the atmosphere in the Wolfsburg region with its people, places and production sites in a number of outstanding and timeless images. Providing different impressions of the young industrial city of Wolfsburg, his series of black and white photography includes “Kraftwerk der Volkswagen AG” which Heidersberger took in 1971. It has become not only an artistic icon but also plays a key role for Heidersberger’s body of work and for Volkswagen.

On the “Way to ZERO”: The new ID.5 does more than just expand the successful ID. family; the new Volkswagen launch moves the electrification of its new car fleet forward and into a new market segment. The elegant, expressive E-SUV coupé is equipped with the new ID. software version 3.0, which includes improved charging performance and voice control among other features. With the use of swarm data and latest-generation driver assistance systems, Volkswagen is also taking the next step towards automated driving.

Despite the ongoing structural shortage of semiconductors throughout the industry, Volkswagen delivered around 3.8 million vehicles to customers worldwide in the first nine months (+3.3% compared with the prior-year period). During the reporting period, sales revenue grew to EUR 55.5 billion (+18%) and the operating profit increased by EUR 2.6 billion year on year to EUR 1.6 billion (operating return on sales: +2.9%). The net operating cash flow before special items stood at EUR -0.7 billion after nine months, due especially to the increased inventories of unfinished vehicles, battery cells, and raw materials, auxiliaries and consumables that resulted from supply issues. As expected, the third quarter was impacted by the difficult semiconductor situation. During this period, Volkswagen delivered around 1.1 million vehicles (-26%). The operating profit in the third quarter was EUR -184 million. The company already anticipates a return to a significantly positive performance in the current fourth quarter.

Volkswagen is taking a further step in the direction of fully networked factories. A local 5G standalone network (“campus network”) is now available at its main plant in Wolfsburg that initially covers the main production development center and the pilot hall. The pilot project will test whether the 5G technology meets the demanding requirements of vehicle production with a view to developing this for industrial series production in the future. A dedicated 5G radio frequency will be used to safeguard secure, delay-free transmission of data. The Transparent Factory in Dresden has also put a so-called “5G island” into operation. Volkswagen undertakes setup and operation of the 5G infrastructure itself in a move designed to build up competitive expertise in using this important technology of the future and ensure data security.

Big award for Volkswagen: today, Thomas Ulbrich, member of Volkswagen brand Board of Management, “Technical Development” division, accepted the 22nd Porsche Prize awarded by the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) for the development of the modular electric drive matrix (MEB). With the MEB, Volkswagen has brought the platform concept into a new era of mobility: through its systematic focus on pure electric drive and usability for vehicles of different classes, the MEB enables huge economies of scale, reduces the cost of e-mobility and accelerates the transition to zero-emission mobility. The internationally renowned “Porsche Prize” has been awarded for pioneering research and development in automotive engineering since 1977.

The new Golf R Estate is Volkswagen’s most powerful and dynamic Golf Estate so far. Sportiness meets everyday practicality. Top performance meets flexibility, with a spacious interior. The 235-kW (320-PS) Golf R Estate remains true to the tradition of its predecessors: a flexible all-rounder, comfortable leisure and family estate, and a sporty companion with impressive dynamics – thanks in part to the 4MOTION all-wheel drive system, including R Performance torque vectoring with wheel-selective torque control on the rear axle.

Volkswagen is taking the next big step towards becoming a software-oriented mobility provider with its ACCELERATE strategy. Effective immediately, all ID. models will receive regular software updates via mobile data transfer. The updates had previously only been available as part of a test phase for customers who had registered with the “ID. First Movers Club”. The “ID. Software 2.3” offers new functions and optimises existing ones. Networking the entire ID. fleet will allow Volkswagen to lay the foundation for new, customer-oriented business models. Thus far, Volkswagen remains the only high-volume manufacturer to provide this technology for its customers.

Volkswagen is once again speeding up the transformation to electric mobility with its ACCELERATE strategy, making sustainable mobility accessible to even more people by 2025, a whole two years earlier than originally planned, Volkswagen will launch an ID. family model for the small car segment. It will cost approximately 20,000 euros. The ID. LIFE concept car, which was presented at the International Motor Show IAA MOBILITY 2021 in Munich, gives an impression of how a vehicle of this type would look.

Volkswagen is making rapid progress in digitalising its sales activities and developing new business models. Today sees the launch of the Volkswagen AutoAbo subscription model in Germany. Customers can take out a monthly subscription for the best-selling all-electric ID.3 and ID.4 models – the ID.3 costs from EUR 499. “This will enable us to achieve a key milestone in our Business Model 2.0. As part of our ACCELERATE strategy, we are continuing our rapid and systematic transformation from car manufacturer to mobility services provider,” explains Klaus Zellmer, Board Member for Sales and Marketing at Volkswagen. In addition, Volkswagen will be launching its online leasing and sales offerings in Germany toward the end of 2021. Initially, to sell models from the ID. family, but the platform will later be made available to dealers to offer combustion engine and hybrid vehicles as well.

Wolfsburg/Chengdu (China) – Volkswagen is intensifying its e-offensive in China as part of its ACCELERATE strategy. The ID.3, one of the best-selling electric vehicles in many European countries, will also be available on the world’s largest market for e-mobility from the fourth quarter. The compact car celebrates its Chinese premiere today at the Chengdu Motor Show. “Volkswagen’s global electrification offensive is rapidly gaining further momentum. After the ID.4 and the ID.6, we are now launching the ID.3 as the third all-electric model series in China within a mere six months. We are thus underscoring our ambition to occupy a leading position in the market for electric vehicles in China as well as Europe,” Volkswagen CEO Ralf Brandstätter said.