VW: the Supervisory Board intends to set the course of

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So far, the car giant VW and Ford cooperate on small commercial vehicles and Pick-ups. Soon, Wolfsburg, and Detroit also in the case of E could work-mobility and Autonomous Driving – if the Supervisory Board agrees.

Volkswagen wants to bring its cooperation for Autonomous Driving and electric mobility, with the US carmaker Ford under one roof. For this purpose, the Supervisory Board is to come in the afternoon to decide on the in the past few months with the Americans, negotiated the Details.

For the group chief Herbert Diess this would be an important stage victory in the conversion of Volkswagen, a leading provider of electric cars. Because of the high investments in the new Trends in the car industry, the manufacturers are increasingly reliant on partnerships to share the cost.

Together save money
Currently the world’s largest car maker Volkswagen, and the number two of the US car industry had announced their global collaboration in January at the Detroit auto show. The areas of light commercial vehicles and Pick-ups. The group heads Herbert Diess and Jim Hackett had left the possibility open in the field of electric mobility and the Autonomous forces To bundle.

Since then, the negotiations were going. Sticking point was the involvement of VW to the Ford, a subsidiary of Argo, which develops systems for robot cars. In return, Ford will be developed by Volkswagen electric modular MDBs against a license fee to use. Both auto companies have to increase in the coming years, the share of battery-powered vehicles in their fleets, in order to meet the more stringent climate targets.

A stumbling block removed

For Ford, the VW-developed platform could be the MEB of interest, which provides a technical basis for the construction of electric cars. The crisis-ridden Europe, a subsidiary of Ford, such a System is missing so far. Due to stricter CO2 emission rules in the European Union from 2021 could be threatened, therefore, penalties.

Hand percussion: Ford-boss Jim Hackett and VW boss autumn Diess at this year’s Detroit Motor Show.

Volkswagen could participate in Ford’s Autonomous subsidiary of Argo AI. Questionable would be then, how Argo should be integrated into the VW activities around Autonomous Driving. The cooperation with the US Start-up, Aurora had capped VW chief Diess recently, and as a stumbling stone for the Alliance with Ford out of the way cleared.

Controversial Investment

Another point on the agenda of the VW Supervisory Board is expected to be the establishment of a new plant, to be built according to the wishes of the Board in a low-wage country. To choose from most recently Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Turkey had stood.

The “Handelsblatt” had recently reported that it had fallen in the group, already a preliminary decision in favor of Turkey. Crucial plus point for an investment in Turkey is likely to be the money: With a planned Investment of 1.3 billion Euro participation in the “three-digit million amount” on the part of the Turkish government, the paper reports would be a strong Argument for a commitment in the Turkey.

At the request of the DW, it was from Volkswagen, it was “still in a result of open selection process.” In the last months we have reviewed a number of different location options for a new plant. “There is now a Shortlist with your favorites. After the investigation phase, the negotiation phase follows, with the remaining candidates.” You will communicate a decision in due course.

“Friends of democracy”

However, a commitment in the Turkey would be associated with certain risks. Particularly, the President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is highly controversial. Therefore, a lot of fear in Wolfsburg damage the reputation of the group, he would invest right now in Turkey.

VW Supervisory Board Stephan to have to Because, Prime Minister of the Federal state of lower Saxony, in the unwanted Position of Turkey to defend sees. According to the “Handelsblatt” defended the SPD politician of the investment with the words: “friends of democracy in Turkey, ask us in this intense time, not of the Turkey away.”

dk/hb (dpa, rtr, Handelsblatt)