Volkswagen model CEO Thomas Schafer mentioned throughout a current inside assembly with the corporate’s managers that “the roof is on hearth,” suggesting that “all is at stake” for the German carmaker because it seeks to grow to be a number one producer of EVs whereas additionally supplying international markets with inside combustion engine automobiles, in keeping with Wards Auto.
The assembly comes after combined outcomes for the agency’s all-electric enterprise. In the US, gross sales of the ID.4 crossover quadrupled within the second quarter in comparison with final yr, with 6,690 automobiles bought, whereas a bit of the European Emden plant in Germany, particularly the one the place the ID.4 is assembled, has been closed for six weeks on the finish of final month resulting from weak demand.
With this in thoughts, Schafer indicated to the over 2,000 managers that the following weeks and months will likely be “very powerful” and leaned on them to make “small wins.” He additionally plans to introduce a brand new collection of so-called “efficiency applications” which have the purpose of saving the corporate an enormous $11.2 billion in spending over the following three years.
“We’re letting the prices run too excessive in lots of areas,” VW’s CEO mentioned, calling for an instantaneous freeze on spending because the model continues to speculate closely in new EV know-how and manufacturing infrastructure, Wards Auto notes.
Moreover, gross sales in China have been underwhelming and the German model has been compelled to decrease the worth of its most worthwhile fashions to stay aggressive, however that additionally means decrease revenue margins. For instance, the all-electric ID.3 hatchback’s value has been slashed to only $17,500 in China, making it half as costly as in Europe, the place it begins at roughly $36,000 with out tax.
“Our constructions and processes are nonetheless too complicated, sluggish, and rigid,” Schafer added.
The German automobile model is making ready to begin manufacturing of the all-new ID.7 electrical sedan, in addition to new generations of the gasoline-powered Tiguan and Passat fashions. Quickly, VW additionally desires to launch a collection of extra inexpensive EVs that may very well be priced as little as $22,000 to compete with proposed choices from rivals akin to Citroen and Renault.
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