Volkswagen sets ambitious targets, also for 2018
Full speed ahead
Volkswagen has begun 2018 carrying strong momentum from the previous year. The brand is growing again and even set a new sales record in 2017. A significant part of this was the SUV campaign, which will continue to pick up speed with more models in the coming months.
The company targets for 2018 are ambitious. After all, the industry finds itself facing, in the words of Head of Brand Herbert Diess, an "extremely challenging phase". Volkswagen wants to emerge from this as a world-leading volume manufacturer. The steps necessary to achieve this will continue to be worked on with vigour and energy in the new year. This will include the massive expansion of electric mobility, the preparations for which will continue to make up a large part of the activities at Volkswagen.
New top of the range models for the regions
Impressive new models have already taken centre stage in the first few weeks of the year. The new Jetta is being presented at the auto show in Detroit.
The saloon, which has been very successful in the USA, is being marketed in Mexico and China as the Sagitar. The car is will not be launched on the European market. The model will in future be based on the socalled "modular assembly matrix" (MQB in German), meaning that the Jetta will be equipped with the latest brand technology. It is an important step towards becoming a relevant volume brand in the huge US market as planned.
Also in January, European customers will experience the launch of the Up GTI. This dynamic compact car is the final addition to complete the GTI family.
By 2020 there will be a total of 20 Volkswagen SUV models worldwide. 40 percent of all Volkswagens sold will be from this popular segment.
The expansion is a part of the TRANSFORM 2015+ strategy, according to which the brand is being fundamentally reoriented. By the year 2020, the core business will be strengthened and the brand will become a leading and profitable volume manufacturer. In the next phase, until 2025, the rise to the top of e-mobility is the goal.
Billions for the future of mobility
In order to achieve this, large sums will continue to be invested in Volkswagen factories in 2018. By 2022 €22.8 billion will have been assigned to make our sites fit for the future of mobility. €14 billion will be invested in the Germany factories alone. Through this, the Zwickau factory will become a purely electrical site. In an initial phase, Volkswagen will concentrate the series production of its future electric vehicles there.
They will be manufactured on the basis of the new all-electric architecture (MEB in German). This concept is the central element with the architecture of electric vehicles. The first model of this new generation will be the I.D. in 2020.
Preparations for this phase will also take place at the sites in 2018. In Salzgitter, for example, activities will include the expansion of a test production of battery cells to full production. The lead factory for electric drive motors will continue to be Kassel. €1.5 billion will be invested there for the future production of the MEB powertrain.
First evidence of success from the change in strategy
A further important element of the reorientation is the regionalisation strategy. Volkswagen wants to be the most attractive volume brand in all of the major world regions. As such, central markets will be given more corporate responsibility. Just in the past few weeks, customers in South America, for example, were able to experience a car specifically developed for these countries, the new Virtus.
It has been tailor-made according to the wishes of drivers at the site.
The first successes of the strategy are becoming evident: Volkswagen has gone on the offensive in all core markets. And 2018 promises a portfolio full of further surprises. Jürgen Stackmann, the member of Brand Board of Management responsible for Sales, offered his assurances: "Our product pipeline for the coming year is full to the brim." Volkswagen therefore also intends to increase earnings power. We will continue in 2018 to work towards the goal set by the Board of Management. The member of Brand Board of Management for Finance, Arno Antlitz, has calculated an operating return on sales of 2.5 to 3.5 percent for the year 2017. On the basis of this, the target for the year 2020 will be four to five percent.
Motorsport – traditional and progressive
Motorsport continues to be a topic for the future at Volkswagen – at least in the case of electric motorsport. The famous mountain race at Pikes Peak held in June in the US state of Colorado will witness a first: an electrically powered race-car from Volkswagen.
Heading for the finish line at an altitude of 4,300 meters it will set a new record for electric vehicles. Of course this comes with a lot of prestige, but it also provides a lot of new insights for our engineers. Member of Brand Board of Management for Development, Frank Welsch, praises the ambitious project: "The project will provide important findings for further development."
But fans of traditional engine technology don't need to worry: they too will get their money's worth in 2018. For example at the Wörthersee Meet in May, where the worldwide GTI community will present models that are their pride and joy. And, naturally, in August, when the Sachsen Classic will entice fans of vintage with its unique atmosphere.
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2NEFZ: Polo GTI DSG (147 kW/200 PS) Fuel consumption in l/100 km: short distance 7.7 / long distance 4.9 / combined 5.9, CO2 emissions (combined) in g/km: 134; efficiency class: C.