From now on, every third Euro in the E-mobility: In the next five years, Volkswagen intends to invest 44 billion euros in electric mobility, Autonomous Driving, mobility services and digitization.
Production hall for the E-Golf in Dresden
The Supervisory Board decided on Friday. For the last five years of the planning period to 2022, VW had set an investment volume of € 34 billion for these areas. The new sum is equivalent to about a third of the for the period total planned expenditure. “We are focusing our investments on the future fields of Mobility continue to implement our strategy,” said group Executive Board, Herbert Diess in Wolfsburg.
The money will Fund work VW itself – in plain text by the billions-saving programs for several brands. VW Board member Oliver Blume confirmed that three works for the E-car production to be retrofitted. In addition, the group wants to build a new factory in Eastern Europe.
VW works Council chief Bernd Osterloh said: “I am particularly proud that we have managed to establish electric mobility, large Parts of this country in our factories.” In addition to China and the United States, Western Europe will be a pioneer in the introduction of E-cars.
An E-Golf in the “Gläserne Manufaktur” in Dresden.
Immediately with profit
Electric cars are supposed to yield to the Volkswagen group from the beginning to profit. Volkswagen will be because of its sheer size, the most profitable manufacturer of electric cars in the world, said Herbert Diess. On average, Volkswagen wanted to hold over the period of the transition to E-cars to the middle of the next decade, an operating return on sales of seven per cent, to a large extent.
E-cars by 2025, a fifth of the West European production. VW currently produces six models with battery-drive, should it be by 2025 more than 50. A total of approximately 30 of the 44 billion Euro will be invested in E-mobility. To not want to invest in a European battery production VW set.
Ten Years Of Protection Against Dismissal
The increased investment volume, in particular, works in Zwickau, Emden and Hanover are to benefit. While in Zwickau already in 2020, the Volkswagen ID as the first E-car of the new model offensive from the tape roll, the car in Emden, starting in 2022 battery powered small and limos for several of the group’s brands are built. In Hanover is to be installed, starting in 2022, the electric Bulli-the successor of ID Buzz. The employees in Emden and Hannover get dismissal protection until 2028.
The Passat production shifted VW way from Germany to the Czech Skoda plant in Kvasiny. For a new factory in Eastern Europe, the Skoda and Seat to be produced, Volkswagen is currently still in a suitable location.
Job losses are inevitable
The transition to the less complex electric motors will cost jobs. Therefore, Volkswagen in Emden and Hannover will take on the temporary workers, but offer them to other locations of the group to relocate, as the company announced. The core workforce is to be reduced by an early retirement plan. To the extent not want to comment on the Supervisory Board.
The “Bulli”-a successor to The I. D. Buzz is one of the hopefuls for the E-mobility at Volkswagen.
The Supervisory Board strengthens Diess
The Supervisory Board also decided that the company’s CEO does This get in the future, even more Power: He takes over in mid-January 2019 the control over the most important market in China. In daily business it is to be from the Manager Stephan wöllenstein supported. The current China chief Jochem Heizmann will retire.
The Ford Alliance in the E-Revolution
The Alliance of Volkswagen and Ford in light-duty vehicles to bring significant cost savings for both car maker and perhaps even expanded. “We expect significant synergy effects,” said VW chief Diess. Several models should be produced on common platforms.
In the case of the cooperation, which should be brought to the end of the year, it is important to several models, such as the Transporter. Outside of the commercial vehicle Alliance, there is potential for cooperation, and VW would try to further synergies together with Ford, said Diess. In corporate circles, it was said, it was a matter of electro-mobility and Autonomous Driving as the fields of enhanced cooperation.
Ford CEO Jim Hackett had spoken to this week, compared with Reuters more careful and of a tightrope walk because Ford and VW are also competitors. “Of course we will remain competitors,” said Diess. Therefore, should stay with the partnership, Marketing or price strategy.
dk/st (afp, dpa, rtr)