This topic is a continuation of the news posted previously on our Discord channel.
History of the Volkswagen News Channel to be imported here:
To be added
This text will be hidden
43 posts were split to a new topic: Volkswagen Analysts Opinions
SI=0%, I=5
- Volkswagen has started purchasing semiconductor materials it believes will be in short supply directly from 10 manufacturers.
1 Like
SI=0%, I=3
- Volkswagen will stop production in its Autoeuropa, Portugal for several weeks due to lack of parts caused by flooding in Slovenia.
- The plant has around 5,000 employees and produced 231,100 vehicles in 2022.
SI=0%, I=6
-
In August, SAIC Volkswagen offered incentives of up to RMB 60,000 on its sport models in China.
-
The price cuts seems to be paying off.
“Customer traffic has increased because we cut prices. Sales have been strong, too,” siad one sales associate at a SAIC Volkswagen dealership.
1 Like
SI=0%, I=5
-
Volkswagen expects production losses in Germany due to floods in Slovenia.
“However, in the course of September it is to be expected that not all component and vehicle plants will be able to receive sufficient supplies, so production losses are to be expected," said a Volkswagen spokesperson.
1 Like
SI=0%, I=3
- Volkswagen said that talks are in advance stage with Mahindra to allow it use its key MEB components, including e-drive and unified cells.
- The company also said that its Volkswagen Financial Services plans to invest in Bike Mobility Services (BMS), a subsidiary of Pon with the aim of becoming “Europe’s largest manufacturer-owned two-wheeler financier”.
- It added that after successful pilot project in Vienna, Europcar will now roll out in Germany and Europe.
SI=0%, I=7
-
Speaking at the IAA Mobility Conference, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Thomas Schaefer, described the recent decline in EVs popularity, particularly in Germany, as an “intermediate low”.
“We assume that the share of electric cars in Europe will increase significantly in the coming years.” “Since May we have seen an upward trend in incoming orders again,” he noted.
-
Schaefer reiterated that they don’t take part in price wars initiated by Tesla.
“We don’t take part in price wars,” he said. “In my experience, buying market share through price is not sustainable.”
-
He rejected claims by dealers that said Volkswagen increased prices in September 1st.
“The prices of our electric cars were not increased as of September 1st, only those of some selected combustion engine models," he pointed out.
1 Like
I=6
-
From September 11th, Volkswagen will reduce production in its Wolfsburg plant due to lack of engine parts as a result of flooding in Slovenia.
-
A spokesperson for the works council said the situation is annoying given that the order situation was starting to recover.
“The situation is of course annoying because the order situation, especially for the combustion engine models at the main plant, recently looked so good that we were even heading for special shifts,” said a spokesman for the works council. “Unfortunately, the new bottleneck now prevents processing.”
-
The Wolfsburg plant has a production capacity of 750,000-800,000 vehicles a year.
https://www.automobilwoche.de/agenturmeldungen/vw-drosselt-wegen-teilemangels-produktion-wolfsburg
1 Like
I=4
-
CEO of Volkswagen, Oliver Blume, said Chinese EV manufacturers are not a threat in Europe because their models in Europe will be more expensive than in China due to regulatory and set up costs.
“On the market, we see that the Chinese are offering their vehicles at twice the price in our country than in China,” he pointed out.
1 Like
I=6
-
Wolfgang Porsche, grandson of Porsche founder and head of Porsche SE and Porsche AG supervisory boards said that Volkswagen’s declining share price is not a result of its ownership structure.
“The major shareholders are certainly not the reason for the poor valuation of the share,” he said.
-
He added that Volkswagen has to reduce costs.
-
He went ahead to brush aside complaints about Oliver Blume’s dual roles as CEO of Volkswagen and Porsche AG.
“Oliver Blume hasn’t been there that long, and he runs two DAX companies. And he does it very well,” he pointed out.
-
On succession plans, he said that his nephew, Ferdinand Oliver Porsche, will be a natural successor when he steps down since he is experienced enough.
1 Like
I=4
-
Ralf Brandstaetter, head of Volkswagen China business said the discounts offered in China were temporary and only meant for marketing purposes.
-
He added that the cost savings from its MEB platform enabled them to cut prices.
“The first results are now materialising. We have passed these benefits directly on to our customers, for example with regard to the ID.3,” he told Reuters at the IAA conference.
1 Like
I=3
- From 2030, there will be no more newly produced SEAT vehicles, that’s according to Thomas Schaefer, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger car.
- Cupra will continue as a fully electric brand from 2030.
- However, SEAT will continue as a mobility service provider.
- SEAT was established in mid-1980 but has suffered losses for a long time.
1 Like
I=5
- The low demand for electric vehicles threatens Zwickau plant with job cuts.
- Around 2,500 temporary employees in the plant are likely to be affected by job cuts.
- The ID vehicles including Audi Q4-etron and Cupra Born are manufactured in the plant under the MEB platform.
- A works council meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow to discuss the situation.
- Zwickau plant has an annual capacity of more than 200,000 electric vehicles and employs 10,700 staff.
1 Like
I=3
-
Zwickau plant will not extend contract of 269 employees due to current market conditions.
-
Volkswagen had initially planned to give permanent employement to 540 staff it hired in recent years.
“Volkswagen continues to be 100% convinced of the path to electromobility … however, in light of the current market conditions we can not extend 269 contracts which will run out shortly after a 12-month duration,” its spokesperson said.
36 posts were merged into an existing topic: Volkswagen Cost-Cut Measures
I=3
- CFO Arno Antlitz said Volkswagen could turn one of its major clients as a strategic investor for its PowerCo business.
- Antlitz reiterated his previous comments that an investor might be found next year and that interest is high.
- Powercore currently has Ford as its major client and is in advance talks with Mahindra for the use of its MEB platform.
1 Like
I=5
- Ralf Brandstaetter, Volkswagen China CEO said Volkswagen’s electric plant in Hefei, Anhui Province will start production soon.
- A maximum annual capacity of 350,000 vehicles will be produced in the plant.
- The plant will integrate R&D and procurement functions; hence reducing the time to market for new products by 30%.
1 Like
I=4
- Volkswagen spokesperson said the company will suspend production of ID.3 and Cupra Born electric cars at its Zwickau and Dresden plant due to reduced demand.
- Production at Zwickau plant will be reduced from October 2 to October 13 while production of ID.3 will be suspended on October 2 and will start production on October 16.
- Volkswagen declined to state the number of employees affected.
I=4
-
Volkswagen is negotiating a new production deal with workers at its Zwickau plant after terminating its long-standing three-shift agreement.
“The aim is to reach a new agreement, jointly supported by the company and the employees, which takes into account the current market situation and ensures the economic viability of the site,” Volkswagen said.
-
The three-shift deal currently in place will run until the end of 2023.
-
Volkswagen produced 218,000 vehicles in 2022 at the Zwickau plant, below the 360,000 capacity.
1 Like