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☆ Volkswagen stumbles in China as Germany's auto giants struggle to compete in the EV race
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Experts told BI that all three companies face slumping EV sales and brutal competition in China. BMW and Mercedes-Benz have issued profit warnings in recent weeks amid slumping EV sales in Europe and brutal competition in China, while Volkswagen is also facing a reckoning. German carmakers are losing out to Chinese EV makers such as BYD. She added that Mercedes, BMW, and Volkswagen offer comparatively few hybrid and extended-range vehicles — categories that have proven extremely popular in China. Slow sales in EuropeAt the same time, Germany's automakers are also dealing with a slowdown in EV sales in Europe.

Persons: —, Arno Antlitz, Mercedes, Hendrik Schmidt, Daniel Pier, Getty Images Helena Wisbert, Wisbert, Matthias Schmidt, Tesla, JENS SCHLUETER, that's Organizations: BMW, Mercedes, Benz, Service, Volkswagen, Wednesday VW, VW, dpa, China Passenger Car Association, Getty Images, Ostfalia University, Getty, European Union, Volkswagen Group, UBS Locations: Germany, China, Europe, North America, South America, China —, AFP

☆ Volkswagen profit plunges 42% in third quarter amid sweeping overhaul plans
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

German automaker Volkswagen on Wednesday reported a 42% drop in operating profit in the third quarter. Operating profit fell to 2.86 billion euros ($3.1 billion), while third quarter sales revenues slipped 0.5% year on year to around 78.5 billion euros. Vehicle sales fell 8.3% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same time period a year earlier, Volkswagen said. Net liquidity across the Volkswagen Group stood at negative 160.6 billion euros at the end of September 2024, it said. Operating profit between January and September of this year was 21% lower on an annual basis.

Persons: Arno Antlitz Organizations: Volkswagen, Volkswagen Group Locations: Germany

☆ Glory days for automakers like Ford, General Motors in China are over
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-03 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

London CNN —Foreign automakers have dominated China’s car market for decades, selling millions of vehicles and raking in enormous profits. Ford (F) and General Motors (GM) are also among firms seeing sales and market share vanish in China as local consumers spurn overseas brands to buy Chinese instead. The American automaker’s sales in China have halved from a peak of above 4 million in 2017 to 2.1 million last year. Last year, BYD sold a record 3.02 million vehicles globally, including plug-in hybrids, up 62% from 2022. Months later, Stellantis (STLA), which makes Citroen, Fiat, and Peugeot cars, bought a 20% stake in Chinese EV maker Leapmotor for about €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion).

Persons: Arno Antlitz, GM’s, Mary Barra, ”, Michael Dunne, Dunne, Xi Jinping’s, Tesla, Yilei Sun, Reuters Tesla, Li, Tu Le, Le, BYD, ” Dunne, Raul Bravo, Stellantis, “ Organizations: London CNN — Foreign, Volkswagen, Wolfsburg, Toyota, General Motors, China Passenger Car Association, Foreign, Japan’s Mitsubishi Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Ford, GM, EV, Tesla, Yilei, Reuters, International Energy Agency, “, CNN, Visitors, Automotive, Xinhua, Shutterstock, Auto, “ Global, UBS, Port, Citroen, Fiat, Peugeot, Leapmotor, Hedin Locations: China, London, Germany, Europe, American, Shanghai, Tesla's Shanghai, Beijing, EVs, Japan, North America, San Antonio, Chile, Chilean, AFP, Xpeng, Thailand, Hungary

☆ Volkswagen in concrete discussions over car partnerships in India
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of German car giant Volkswagen (VW) is seen on a Volkswagen ID Buzz van during the company's annual press conference to present the business report, on March 14, 2023 in Berlin. Volkswagen is in concrete talks about partnering up on passenger car production in India, the group's finance chief said on Thursday, adding it was tough to earn money in the market that still presents a "clear" opportunity. "We are in very good discussions," Arno Antlitz told the Reuters Events Automotive Europe conference in Munich, "it's very, very concrete," he added, without specifying. "I think we shouldn't underestimate the potential in India in terms of a market ... and in terms of regulatory uncertainty between the U.S. and China. At 101,553 delivered vehicles, India is so far a small market for Volkswagen, accounting for little more than 1% of deliveries across the whole group in 2023.

Persons: Arno Antlitz, Antlitz Organizations: Volkswagen, Reuters, Automotive, U.S, India's Mahindra, SKODA, Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini Locations: Berlin, India, Munich, China, Washington, Beijing, Aurangabad, Pune

☆ Volkswagen’s electric car orders double in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —Volkswagen’s orders for electric vehicles shot up in Europe in the first quarter of 2024 compared with a year ago, countering suggestions that drivers may be losing interest in EVs. New orders for electric cars more than doubled in Europe, Volkswagen said in an earnings statement Tuesday. He acknowledged, however, that the pace of EV sales growth in Europe and the United States had been slower than the German carmaker had originally anticipated. As for Volkswagen’s EV deliveries, they declined 16% in Europe in the first quarter compared with the same period in 2023. “With these actions and our highly profitable combustion engine car business, we are well-prepared to continue to play a leading role in China,” Antlitz said.

Persons: London CNN —, Arno Antlitz, carmaker, ”, Antlitz, ” Antlitz Organizations: London CNN, Volkswagen, Europe’s, CNN, EV, ” Locations: Europe, EVs ., United States, China

☆ Volkswagen CFO: We have a 'very strong position' in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailVolkswagen CFO: We have a 'very strong position' in EuropeArno Antlitz, chief financial officer of Volkswagen, says the company takes its Chinese competitors seriously.

Persons: Europe Arno Antlitz Organizations: Volkswagen Locations: Europe

☆ Volkswagen says tough market to weigh on car sales growth in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A Volkswagen logo is seen during the New York International Auto Show, in New York City, April 5, 2023. Volkswagen expects a 3% rise in its car sales this year, down sharply from 2023 amid a gloomy economic outlook and growing competition. Presenting the German automaker's 2023 results, finance chief Arno Antlitz said the "general economic situation remains challenging," but added "we are confident about 2024, despite the muted economic outlook and intense competition". When Stellantis reported results last month, it predicted a "turbulent" 2024. Volkswagen shares were down 0.65% to 120.16 euros at 1000 GMT, within a flat German market.

Persons: Arno Antlitz, Stellantis, Mercedes, Benz, Oliver Blume Organizations: New York, Volkswagen, EV, EVs, Ford, General Motors, VW Locations: New York City, Western Europe

☆ Volkswagen says commodity markets still uncertain after Q3 hedge hit
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Volkswagen AG FollowBERLIN, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Europe's largest automaker Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) on Thursday warned the outlook for commodity markets remained uncertain after confirming it took a major hit to its third-quarter profit from raw materials hedges. Like many other industrial firms, automakers hedge against commodity price swings, potentially leading to non-cash gains or losses, usually at the end of each quarter. This led to a 2.5 billion euro ($2.64 billion) non-cash loss in the third quarter that it will be unable to offset by the end of the year. "The further development of the commodity markets remains unpredictable," Volkswagen said. Volkswagen on Thursday confirmed it posted 78.8 billion euros in third-quarter sales and a 14% rise in operating profit to 4.9 billion euros.

Persons: Angelika Warmuth, Arno Antlitz, Victoria Waldersee, Nick Carey, Rachel More, Jamie Freed Organizations: Volkswagen, REUTERS, BERLIN, Thomson Locations: Munich, Germany

Volkswagen has said that cost-cutting plans would include focusing on fewer high-volume models as well as streamlining production of VW passenger cars, SEAT/CUPRA and Skoda. The Volkswagen brand has the company's highest sales volume by far, but margins traditionally lag behind luxury Audi and Porsche vehicles. A Volkswagen brand spokesperson confirmed that talks began with workers in early October and that it would not comment further on the timeline or content of discussions. Labour representatives, including the head of Volkswagen works council Daniela Cavallo, make up half of the company's supervisory board per German corporate governance law for large firms. A works council spokesperson confirmed a first meeting had taken place but declined to comment further on the timeline.

Persons: Matthias Rietschel, carmaker, Arno Antlitz, Brand, Thomas Schaefer, Daniela Cavallo, Cavallo, Victoria Waldersee, Christoph Steitz, Rod Nickel Organizations: Volkswagen Group, REUTERS, BERLIN, Volkswagen, VW, SEAT, Skoda, Porsche, Labour, Thomson Locations: Zwickau, Germany

☆ VW cuts 2023 deliveries outlook, aims to boost cash flow
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Supply of key components such as semiconductors had improved but transport and logistics delays weighed on the first half, Volkswagen said. Still, it expected significantly shorter waiting times in the second half and said demand was stable with order books full at 1.65 million vehicles. Reuters GraphicsWorldwide, the Volkswagen Group delivered 2.3 million vehicles in the period from April to June, 18% more than in the same period last year. The focus for the second half is now on strengthening net cash flow," said Chief Financial Officer Arno Antlitz. In May, Volkswagen said it had sold its shares in Volkswagen Group Rus to Art-Finance, which is supported by autodealer group Avilon.

Persons: DAX, Arno Antlitz, Cupra, Miranda Murray, Rachel More, David Goodman Organizations: VW, BERLIN, Volkswagen, Benz, Renault, Graphics Worldwide, Volkswagen Group, VW Commercial Vehicles, Skoda, Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley, Ducati, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Rus, Art, Finance, Victoria, Thomson Locations: Kaluga

☆ Volkswagen CFO says the automaker is sat on strong net liquidity
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailVolkswagen CFO says the automaker is sat on strong net liquidityArno Antlitz, CFO of Volkswagen Group, discusses the automaker's results and says it will focus on improved net cash flow in the second half.

Persons: Arno Antlitz Organizations: Volkswagen Group

June 16 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) will face investors hungry for answers at its capital markets day next Wednesday on how it will achieve high cost-cutting targets and whether it will heed their calls for an independent audit of its co-owned Xinjiang plant. "The 21 June CMD is an opportunity to reset a fraught relationship with investors, a challenging exercise," Jefferies wrote in a note on Friday. Investors also demanded that Volkswagen conduct an independent audit of the Urumqi plant, which executives have is only possible with the agreement of joint venture partner SAIC (600104.SS). Alongside targets, investors needed details on how the carmaker expects to make its EV production more cost-effective, Daniel Roeska of Bernstein Research wrote in a note on Thursday. "The risk is that instead we see more punchy earnings and volume targets, with little to support them," he added.

Persons: CMD, Jefferies, carmaker, Oliver Blume, Arno Antlitz, Blume, Daniel Roeska, Jan Schwartz, Victoria Waldersee, Conor Humphries Organizations: Porsche, Volkswagen, Investors, SAIC, Bernstein Research, Thomson Locations: Xinjiang, Urumqi, Germany

☆ Volkswagen: battery unit PowerCo will be 'investor-ready' early next year
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BERLIN, June 16 (Reuters) - Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) battery unit PowerCo will be ready for investors at the beginning of next year, battery chief Thomas Schmall said at a roundtable in Berlin on Friday. Schmall's statement followed comments made last month by Chief Financial Officer Arno Antlitz that onlookers "shouldn’t be surprised if in 2024 there might be a first step taken with a strategic investor" in the unit. The battery chief declined to give further information on Friday, stating more would be disclosed at Volkswagen's capital markets day next Wednesday. Antlitz said in May that interest in the unit was high but the carmaker was evaluating how long to keep it on its books. Reporting by Victoria Waldersee, Jan Schwartz Editing by Miranda MurrayOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Thomas Schmall, Arno Antlitz, shouldn’t, Antlitz, Victoria Waldersee, Jan Schwartz, Miranda Murray Organizations: Thomson Locations: BERLIN, Berlin

☆ Volkswagen passenger cars targets 10 billion euros of efficiency gains
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BERLIN, June 14 (Reuters) - Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) passenger car brand will implement savings and cost-cutting measures amounting to 10 billion euros ($10.83 billion) by 2026 to hit a return on sales target of 6.5%, a spokesperson said on Wednesday. "The Volkswagen Group is focusing even more strongly on profitability and cash flow," Antlitz said in his post. Antlitz's statement came after Volkswagen brand chief Thomas Schaefer told workers in an internal memo in mid-May it was planning an overhaul at its core brand to put it on more solid footing. Volkswagen is due to present new financial targets and an updated corporate strategy for the entire group at a capital markets day next Wednesday. The carmaker's supervisory board was due to discuss on Tuesday cost-cutting measures across the Volkswagen, Seat, Skoda and Cupra brands to achieve that goal, a source told Reuters.

Persons: Arno Antlitz, Antlitz, Thomas Schaefer, Schaefer, Victoria Waldersee, Jan Schwartz, Miranda Murray, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Skoda, SEAT, Volkswagen, Reuters, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, Spain

☆ Volkswagen supervisory board to discuss savings programme on Tuesday
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, June 12 (Reuters) - Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) supervisory board will meet on Tuesday to discuss a planned savings programme ahead of its capital markets day on June 21, two sources close to the company said on Monday. The board will discuss cost-cutting measures amounting to at least 3 billion euros ($3.22 billion) across the Volkswagen, Seat, Skoda and Cupra brands, said one source. Germany daily Handelsblatt, which first reported on the savings programme, reported that Chief Executive Oliver Blume wants to curb duplicate development work and better utilise German plants, particularly at Audi and Volkswagen. Volkswagen brand chief Thomas Schaefer said in an internal memo in May that the brand was targeting a 6.5% return on sales, compared to 3% achieved in the first quarter of this year. The Volkswagen brand must act," he wrote at the time.

Persons: Oliver Blume, Arno Antlitz, Thomas Schaefer, Jan Schwartz, Miranda Murray, Victoria Waldersee, Susan Fenton Organizations: Volkswagen, Skoda, Audi, Group, Reuters, Thomson Locations: BERLIN, Germany

☆ Volkswagen sees growing competition ahead as revenue jumps on Europe, US
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Victoria Waldersee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Next is debuted at an event ahead of the Shanghai Auto Show, in Shanghai, China April 17, 2023. "Competition will intensify with more chips and more availability," Antlitz said on a media call after the results. Volkswagen's revenue for the quarter was 76 billion euros ($84.22 billion). Operating profit fell to 5.7 billion euros from 8 billion last year, but still beat expectations of five analysts polled by Refinitiv SmartEstimate for 5.48 billion. Excluding the valuation effect from commodity hedging, operating profit rose by 35% to 7.1 billion euros, yielding a margin of 9.3%.

☆ Volkswagen posts drop in quarterly profit, says it must speed up to catch Chinese EV market rivals
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

First-quarter sales revenue rose by 22% to 76 billion euros, Volkswagen said, primarily driven by a recovery in sales volumes in Europe and North America. Volkswagen said operating profit fell 31% to 5.7 billion euros ($6.3 billion) through the first three months of 2023, down from 8.3 billion euros over the same period last year. Europe's biggest carmaker said operating profit before valuation effects from commodity hedging, however, increased by 35% to 7.1 billion euros. First-quarter sales revenue rose by 22% to 76 billion euros, Volkswagen said, primarily driven by a recovery in sales volumes in Europe and North America. Asked about the sliding first-quarter sales in China, Volkswagen's replied Antlitz, "We had a slow start in China."

☆ Volkswagen’s EV sales surge 42% despite slump in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —Volkswagen says it won’t cut prices to hold onto market share in China, where sales of its electric vehicles plunged in the first quarter amid intensifying competition. Europe’s largest carmaker said Thursday that it delivered 141,000 electric vehicles in the first quarter — a 42% increase on the same period last year and accounting for 7% of total deliveries. The automaker’s earnings were helped by a recovery in sales volumes in Europe and North America, which offset a decline in China. Volkswagen’s first-quarter revenue climbed 22% on the previous year to €76 billion ($84 billion). Operating profit declined to €5.7 billion ($6.3 billion), from €8.3 billion ($9.2 billion) in the prior period, as a result of the effects of commodity hedging.

☆ Volkswagen invests in batteries, raw materials in race for affordable EV
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Victoria Waldersee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Over two-thirds of the company's five-year investment budget announced on Tuesday is allocated to electrification and digitalisation, including up to 15 billion for batteries and raw materials. Volkswagen, Europe's top carmaker, is striving to close a gap with electric vehicle (EV) pioneer Tesla (TSLA.O) by expanding its slice of the growing market for battery-powered cars. Buzz EV car, on the day of the annual news conference of the Volkswagen Group at DRIVE.Volkswagen Group Forum, in Berlin, Germany March 14, 2023. Volkswagen met analysts' expectations in 2022 on revenues but missed the consensus estimate for earnings before interest and taxes by 3%. The most likely actual stock market candidate is battery unit PowerCo.

☆ Volkswagen: still targeting an affordable EV by 2025
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A model of a Volkswagen Bus is seen before the annual news conference of the Volkswagen Group at DRIVE.Volkswagen Group Forum, in Berlin, Germany March 14, 2023. REUTERS/Annegret HilseBERLIN, March 14 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) still wants to bring an affordable electric vehicle - costing around 25,000 euros ($26,790.00) in today's prices - to market by 2025, the carmaker said on Tuesday, describing it as a model below the ID.3. "We will have significant scale by then... our Valencia plant cell factory gives us additional improvement on the cell side. By then we (will) hopefully have also made significant progress in attaining a significant supply (of) raw materials," Chief Financial Officer Arno Antlitz said on an analyst call. ($1 = 0.9332 euros)Reporting by Victoria Waldersee Editing by Madeline ChambersOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Volkswagen to invest $193 billion over 5 years to hit EV target
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Victoria Waldersee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] The logo of carmaker Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is pictured at the IAA Transportation fair, which opened its doors to the public on September 20, 2022, in Hanover, Germany, September 19, 2022. The investments come as Volkswagen, Europe's top carmaker, tries to close a gap with electric vehicle (EV) pioneer Tesla (TSLA.O) by expanding its slice of the growing market for battery-powered cars. In the latest investment plan, up to 15 billion euros is ringfenced for battery plants and raw materials. VW outperforms EU rivalsThe investment decisions are targeted towards fulfilling a 10-point plan developed by Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume after he took the helm in September. The most likely actual stock market candidate is battery unit PowerCo.

☆ Volkswagen: to share results of mock listing exercise in June
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BERLIN, March 14 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) will share the outcome of a mock listing exercise for its brands and Volkswagen Group instigated by Chief Executive Oliver Blume at a capital markets day on June 21, Blume said on Tuesday. The carmaker intended to keep its combustion engine models competitive for as long as they are on the market but was shifting to being a technology and mobility company, Chief Financial Officer Arno Antlitz added. Blume also said the carmaker was finalising a high-performance software for luxury and premium brands, which would be brought into a software architecture for the whole company in the medium term. Reporting by Victoria Waldersee; editing by Matthias WilliamsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Volkswagen to invest $193 billion to hit EV target, picks Canada for battery cell plant
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Volkswagen plans to invest 180 billion euros ($193 billion) over five years in areas including battery production and the sourcing of raw materials in a bid to cut electric vehicle costs and protect its market share, it said Tuesday. Over two-thirds of the company’s five-year investment budget is allocated to electrification and digitalization, including up to 15 billion ($16 billion) for batteries and raw materials. Volkswagen board member Thomas Schmall Ronny Hartmann/AFP/Getty Images/FileOn Monday, board member Thomas Schmall also announced that Volkswagen’s first North American battery cell factory would be in Canada, with production starting in 2027. The carmaker is still aiming to bring an affordable EV — costing around 25,000 euros ($26,795) at today’s prices — to market by 2025. The most likely actual stock market candidate is battery unit PowerCo.

☆ Volkswagen announces five-year $193 billion investment plan as electrification gathers pace
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

People look at the Volkswagen id buzz electric car during the press day at the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, California, November 17, 2022. Volkswagen on Tuesday announced plans to invest 180 billion euros ($192.6 billion) between 2023 and 2027, with more than two thirds targeting "electrification and digitalization." The BEV expansion was driven by a 68% spike in China, while the company also completed the landmark electrification of its plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. However, overall delivery numbers declined by 7% to 8.3 million vehicles in 2022 and the automotive division's net cash flows decreased to 4.8 billion euros from 8.6 billion euros in 2021. Volkswagen Group CFO & COO Arno Antlitz said the strong financial position should enable the company to "continue investing in electrification and digitalization" even in a "challenging economic environment."

☆ Volkswagen focuses on productivity in challenging year
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies Volkswagen AG FollowMarch 8 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) needs to focus on productivity at its mass-market brands to cope with a step up in competition this year as supply chains improve, car production rises and consumers remain under pressure, executives said on Wednesday. "2023 must be the year of productivity," finance chief Arno Antlitz told staff newspaper 360 Grad (360 Degrees). Antlitz and VW brand chief Thomas Schaeffer said supply chain snags would continue to affect output this year, but Antlitz said chip supply was improving. Volkswagen said last week it expected sales to rise by up to 331 billion euros ($350 billion) this year and forecast a 14% increase in vehicle deliveries from 2022. ($1 = 0.9454 euros)Reporting by Jan Schwartz and Victoria Waldersee Editing by Riham Alkousaa and Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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