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☆ Opinion | Relax, Electric Vehicles Really Are the Best Choice for the Climate
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Stephen Porder | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

It has been a bumpy few weeks for carmakers who sell electric vehicles, which are moving more slowly off the lot than they were earlier this year. The electric Volkswagen ID. But I think something else may explain why so many Americans, including those who consider themselves climate conscious, have been hesitant to buy an electric vehicle. Electric vehicles are like digital cameras in their early iterations. And while there are environmental concerns with them, they are dwarfed by the benefit they provide regarding climate change — the biggest environmental threat to human well-being in the 21st century.

Persons: carmakers, What’s Organizations: Volkswagen Locations: American

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — The Slovak government signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday with Chinese electric vehicle battery maker Gotion High-Tech and its local partner, InoBat, to build a car battery plant in Slovakia. The two companies formed Gotion InoBat Batteries, a Chinese-Slovak venture to build the plant in the town of Surany, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) east of Bratislava. German car giant Volkswagen is the largest shareholder in Gotion High-Tech with a 24.77% stake. Volkswagen has a car plant in Slovakia. Gotion High-Tech began production in its first European plant in Gottingen, Germany, in September.

Organizations: Tech, Volkswagen Locations: BRATISLAVA, Slovakia, Surany, Bratislava, Gotion, Gottingen, Germany

☆ Solid state batteries promise to radically change EVs. But they may not be the only answer
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Car companies including Stellantis, Hyundai and Volkswagen have also teamed up with firms working on solid state batteries. But solid state technology has its own challenges, and it’s not the only way automakers could achieve lighter, cheaper and faster charging electric vehicles. In a solid state battery, the electrolyte is, well, a solid. That solid electrolyte is one reason that solid state batteries might be safer than lithium-ion batteries. Ultimately, there probably will never be one battery technology used in all EVs, GM spokesperson Phil Lienert said.

Persons: it’s, William Kephart, Kephart, ”, Siyu Huang, Quantumscape, That’s what’s, Phil Lienert Organizations: CNN, Toyota, Stellantis, Hyundai, Volkswagen, P3, OneD, Sciences, GM

Breton also is co-chair of a government working group on charging infrastructure. "People seem to forget that the backbone of the infrastructure is not public charging, it's home charging," Breton said. 'SERIOUS CHALLENGE'Breton said that 30% of the cost of installing a home EV charging station in the U.S. is covered by a federal tax credit, while California residents can receive rebates for upgrading charging stations and electric panels. Most Canadians drive short distances to work, meaning that public charging is mainly necessary for longer-haul travellers, Breton said. Canada had 19 EVs per public charging point in 2022, while the number was 24 in the U.S., according to the Paris-based International Energy Agency.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Justin Trudeau's, Canada's, Daniel Breton, Breton, Brian Kingston, Kingston, Joanna Kyriazis, Rod Nickel, Denny Thomas, Paul Simao Organizations: Volkswagen, Canadian, REUTERS, Companies Parkland Corp, Justin Trudeau's Liberal, Infrastructure Bank, Parkland Corp, EV, Electric Mobility Canada, Natural Resources, International Energy Agency, Clean Energy Canada, Simon Fraser University, Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers ' Association, Thomson Locations: Toronto , Ontario, Canada, WINNIPEG , Manitoba, British Columbia, Canadian, Parkland, Breton, U.S, California, Natural Resources Canada, Paris, Vancouver, Ottawa, Winnipeg , Manitoba

Their options include drawing up a supplementary budget for 2023 and suspending Germany's self-imposed debt brake before reinstating it for next year. "Our goal is to discuss the budget quickly but with due care," said a joint statement of ruling party lawmakers. The delay has heightened uncertainty about spending in all areas of the German economy and meant the 2024 budget might not be concluded before the end of the year. "I firmly assume that the commitments for Intel and TSMC will remain," a government source said, adding: "This is very important to the chancellor, as well as to the economy minister." This will happen in the course of next early 2024 and we will see how far hydrogen is available," CEO Miguel Lopez said.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Christian Lindner, Robert Habeck, Olaf Scholz's, Scholz's, Siegfried Russwurm, TSMC, Scholz, Miguel Lopez, Holger Hansen, Christian Kraemer, Victoria Waldersee, Andreas Rinke, Madeline Chambers, Matthias Williams, Miranda Murray, Alex Richardson, Christina Fincher Organizations: Finance, Climate, Government, Ukraine Industry, Intel, TSMC, Wednesday, Social Democrat, Greens, Free Democrats, Fund, Eurasia Group, U.S, BMW, Volkswagen, Thomson Locations: TSMC BERLIN, Germany's, Ukraine, EU, Saxony, Anhalt, Berlin, Germany

☆ Volkswagen becomes the latest automaker to hike wages for U.S. factory workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A Volkswagen logo is seen during the New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 5, 2023. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 22 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG.DE) said on Wednesday that it would hike salaries for production workers at its Tennessee-based Chattanooga assembly plant by 11%, weeks after the United Auto Workers union won significant pay and benefit hikes from the Detroit Three automakers. Japanese automakers Honda Motor (7267.T) and Toyota (7203.T) have raised wages for non-union U.S. factory workers in recent weeks amid signs that the union is turning its attention to organizing the workforce at foreign-owned and Tesla auto plants. Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) has also announced a 25% increase over the next four years for non-union production workers in Alabama and Georgia. UAW President Shawn Fain told Reuters last week that the union was getting expressions of interest in organizing from many Tesla (TSLA.O) workers.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Shawn Fain, Elon, Mehr Bedi, Tasim Zahid Organizations: New York, REUTERS, United Auto Workers, Detroit Three automakers, UAW, Honda, Toyota, U.S, Hyundai, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Tennessee, Chattanooga, Alabama, Georgia, Bengaluru

☆ Rivian is the real winner in Elon Musk's latest drama
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Nora Naughton | Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Some Tesla owners said they'd ditch his car company in favor of Rivian as a result. AdvertisementAs Tesla CEO Elon Musk once again courts controversy on his social media platform X, rival EV startup Rivian stands to gain from the fallout. Other angry Tesla owners we spoke with also mentioned considering legacy brands like Ford's Mustang Mach-E or Volkswagen's ID.4. AdvertisementIn response, earlier this year some Tesla owners began putting bumper stickers on their EVs denouncing the CEO . In January, a handful of Tesla owners told Business Insider they'd ditched Tesla over Musk's antics .

Persons: Elon Musk, Tesla, —, Musk, Ross Gerber, Robert Kuhn, Kuhn, I've, Rivian, Joe Biden, they'd, Dan Ives, Ives, – Organizations: Rivian, Service, EV, Business, Tesla, Bloomberg, Twitter

☆ EU October car sales up 14.6%, EV sales jump more than 36%
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Abdul Saboor/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - New car sales in the European Union rose 14.6% in October, boosted in part by a big jump in sales of fully electric cars, while hybrid electric vehicles accounted for nearly three of every 10 vehicles sold in the economic bloc. Sales of fully electric cars rose 36.3% from a year earlier and full hybrid sales were up nearly 39% as the EU recorded its 15th consecutive month of sales growth, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) said on Tuesday. The ACEA said fully electric cars made up 14.2% of sales in October, overtaking sales of diesel cars for the third time. For the ten months through October, sales of fully electric cars were up 53.1%. Reuters GraphicsTesla's (TSLA.O) sales rose nearly 150%, accounting for nearly 12% of fully electric car sales in the EU.

Persons: Abdul Saboor, Nick Carey, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Citroen, REUTERS, Union, EU, European Automobile Manufacturers Association, Reuters Graphics, Volkswagen, Europe's, Renault, European Free Trade Association, Thomson Locations: Meudon, Paris, France, EU, Britain, London

☆ Volkswagen begins operating first wholly owned battery pack plant in China - local govt
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A Volkswagen logo is seen during the New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 5, 2023. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) has begun operating its first wholly owned battery pack production plant in China in eastern Anhui province's capital Hefei city, the local Hefei government said on Tuesday. Volkswagen Anhui will also begin mass-production of pure electric models based on the MEB platform by the end of 2023, the government said. Total investment in the battery pack plant amounts to 1.5 billion yuan ($208.01 million), it added. ($1 = 7.2111 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Muralikumar AnantharamanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Muralikumar Organizations: New York, REUTERS, Rights, Volkswagen, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Rights BEIJING, China, Anhui, Hefei, Volkswagen Anhui

☆ Founder and CEO of GM’s self-driving car unit resigns in wake of safety problems
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Kyle Vogt, the head of General Motors’ self-driving car unit Cruise, resigned from the company late Sunday. Despite the myriad of problems and the turnover at the top, GM said Sunday it was sticking with Cruise and its efforts to develop self-driving cars. Besides the safety issues at Cruise, the unit has cost the company $5.9 billion before interest and taxes since the start of 2020. The most serious accident involving Cruise was one on October 2 involving a pedestrian in San Francisco who was critically injured when hit, first by a traditional human-driven car, then by a Cruise driverless car. Two weeks later the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that accident and reports of other accidents involving Cruise vehicles and pedestrians, prompted it to launch a safety probe into Cruise vehicles.

Persons: Kyle Vogt, Cruise, robotaxis, ”, Vogt, ” Vogt, Craig Glidden, Mo Elshenawy, “, ” – CNN’s Peter Valdes, Dapena Organizations: New, New York CNN, General Motors, Honda, GM, Cruise, Ford, Volkswagen, Traffic Safety Administration, Cruisers, Reuters, “ Locations: New York, San Francisco, Japan, California

☆ Explainer: GM-owned Cruise's wrong turn could slow robotaxi push
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Robotaxis are autonomous self-driving cabs which require no human interaction to operate the vehicle. When did driverless cabs become a reality? Cruise followed with its first driverless ride service last year in San Francisco, and slowly expanded to include Phoenix, Arizona, and Austin, Texas. The use of driverless cabs also raises the prospect of job losses and could attract pushback from unions. Regulatory hurdles facing robotaxisCommercializing fully autonomous vehicles, especially robotaxis, has been harder than expected with tough regulations, complicated technology and heavy investments forcing some to cut jobs.

Persons: Elijah Nouvelage, Cruise, Here's, Waymo, Nathan Gomes, Devika Organizations: San, GM Bolt, REUTERS, General Motors, Companies, Technologies, Amazon.com, Ford, Volkswagen, Argo, Thomson Locations: San Francisco, San Francisco , California, U.S, United States, Phoenix , Arizona, Austin , Texas, Bengaluru

The German auto giant isn't alone in its struggles, according to CNBC's analysis of 10 global car brands. While Volkswagen remains by far a giant in China's car market with around 3 million vehicles sold a year, the German brand hasn't gained much traction in the electric car space. In July, the company opted to invest about $700 million into Chinese electric car start-up Xpeng to jointly develop two cars for China. Toyota , which has struggled in the market transition to electric cars, is set for its worst year of overall China sales since 2020 with about 1.8 million vehicle sales, CNBC found. Tough competitionAlthough China's new energy market is growing quickly, competition is fierce, even for domestic brands.

Persons: Evelyn Cheng, Alvin Liu, Liu, Bernstein, BYD, Tesla, Nio Organizations: CNBC, Volkswagen, Nissan, Hyundai, China Passenger Car Association, Toyota, Canalys, Honda, BYD, Tesla's, Plaid — Locations: Europe, China, North America, Evelyn Cheng BEIJING, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing, German

☆ Supply problems set to hit Volkswagen's Skoda unit - Handelsblatt
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

ADAS, AV & Safety category · November 18, 2023 · 1:09 AM UTCDays after General Motors’ Cruise self-driving car unit pulled all of its vehicles off the roads in the U.S. for a safety review, it continues to test them on public roads in Dubai and Japan, Reuters has learned.

Persons: General Motors ’ Organizations: General Motors, Reuters Locations: U.S, Dubai, Japan

Chinese Yuan and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen in this illustration taken March 10, 2023. The surge in their borrowing from Chinese banks has catapulted the yuan past the euro into becoming the second-biggest currency used in global trade finance, providing a fillip to Beijing's ambitions to internationalize the yuan. "Panda bonds are steadily promoting the renminbi's function as a funding currency", the People's Bank of China (PBOC) said a report last month. German automaker Volkswagen Group (VOWG_p.DE) told Reuters it will use its inaugural 1.5 billion yuan panda bond proceeds only for its onshore China business. ($1 = 7.2421 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Samuel Shen and Rae Wee Editing by Vidya Ranganathan and Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yuan, Dado Ruvic, Fiona Lim, Lim, SWIFT, Mercedes, Yuan internationalisation, Mark Williams, It's, Maybank's Lim, Williams, Samuel Shen, Rae Wee, Vidya Ranganathan, Kim Coghill Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, BMW, Crédit Agricole S.A, National Bank of Canada, People's Bank of China, Standard Chartered Bank, Bank of China's, Volkswagen Group, Reuters, Benz Group, Capital Economics, Thomson Locations: Rights SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE, China, Hong Kong, Asia, Russia, Argentina, Pakistan, Nigeria

☆ Redwood inks long-term EV battery materials supply deal with Toyota
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Paul Lienert | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 16 (Reuters) - Redwood Materials has signed a long-term contract to supply Toyota Motor (7203.T) with recycled materials for the Japanese automaker's $13.9 billion North Carolina electric vehicle battery plant, Redwood said Thursday. The Nevada-based materials specialist said it would remanufacture EV battery components from materials supplied by Toyota and recycled from end-of-life vehicles, mainly hybrid-electric models such as the Prius. Redwood, one of the world's leading battery recyclers, did not disclose details on value or timing of the agreement. Straubel said the company will supply battery components to Toyota from its Sparks, Nevada facility and eventually from a $3.5 billion facility it is building outside Charleston, South Carolina. Redwood also is selling remanufactured battery components to Panasonic, which jointly operates an EV battery plant with Tesla in Nevada.

Persons: Johanna Geron, Redwood, J.B, Tesla, Straubel, they'll, PitchBook, Paul Lienert, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Toyota, REUTERS, Redwood Materials, Carolina, Redwood, of Energy, U.S, Panasonic, Volkswagen, Ford, EV, Thomson Locations: Zaventem, Belgium, Nevada, U.S, Sparks , Nevada, Charleston , South Carolina, Redwood, North America, China, Detroit

☆ Vatican fleet is going all-electric with VW supplying the cars
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

The first two vehicles, both VW ID.3 compact electric cars, have already been delivered to the Vatican, VW said. In a separate announcement, the Holy See also pledged to build a charging network within Vatican City and in other areas it controls. The Vatican referred to VW as its first strategic partner in the process to make its fleet carbon neutral. The electrification of its fleet is among a number of projects Vatican City is undertaking to reduce its overall carbon emissions. Contained within the Italian city of Rome, it gained its independence in 1929 through a treaty signed with the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.

Persons: VW, Pope, Benito Mussolini Organizations: CNN, Vatican, VW, Volkswagen, Catholic Church Locations: Vatican City, Vatican, Italian, Rome

☆ Vatican in deal with Volkswagen for all-electric car fleet by 2030
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Philip Pullella | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Volkswagen AG FollowVATICAN CITY, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The Vatican on Wednesday signed an agreement with German carmaker Volkswagen to replace the city-state's entire car fleet with electric vehicles by 2030. The Vatican's fleet of cars includes dozens of vehicles, most of them dark blue. A pool of drivers take senior Vatican officials to events in Rome and beyond. Many lower-ranking Vatican officials and employees own and drive their own cars into the city-state from Rome. The statement said the Vatican would build a network of electric charging stations inside its walls and at its properties in Rome.

Persons: Pope Francis, Benoit Tessier, Mercedes, Francis, Philip Pullella, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Prado, REUTERS, AG, VATICAN, German, Volkswagen, Skoda, Volkswagen Group, Vatican, Fiat, Thomson Locations: Marseille, France, Rome, St

A Volkswagen logo is seen on a Volkswagen ID.5 electric car on display at a showroom of a car dealer in Reze near Nantes, France, November 13, 2023. The main lever to reduce prices of electric cars is reducing battery costs, Blume said at the Sueddeutsche Zeitung Wirtschaftsgipfel conference in Berlin, pointing to the company's plans to produce a unified battery cell that it says will reduce battery costs by half. The company had said at the time it was working on a 20,000-euro vehicle, but did not provide further information. "We have a responsibility to bring the right products at the right price onto the market," Blume said. The pressure of inflation, a lack of charging infrastructure and the removal of subsidies were also holding back electric car demand, Blume said.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, Oliver Blume, Blume, Victoria Waldersee, Miranda Murray Organizations: Volkswagen, REUTERS, Rights, Victoria, Thomson Locations: Reze, Nantes, France, Berlin

☆ German economy, auto sector face risks from exposure to China, fund manager says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Christoph Steitz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A view shows the flags of China and Germany at a booth of a German automaker at the Auto Shanghai show, in Shanghai, China, April 19, 2023. That poses a dilemma for the German government, which is actively trying to get companies to derisk from China, the world's second-largest economy. The fund manager said it was striking that German companies are also increasingly relocating research and development activities to China, while others did the opposite for security reasons. Union Investment holds stakes in virtually all German blue-chip companies, including German carmakers Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), BMW (BMWG.DE) and Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE) as well as BASF (BASFn.DE), which all have major ties and exposure to the Chinese economy. The exposure means that German carmakers are facing risks such as being squeezed out of the Chinese market as well as seeing increased Asian competition in Europe, the fund manager said.

Persons: Aly, Christoph Steitz, Paul Simao Organizations: Auto, REUTERS, Rights, Union Investment, Reuters, Investment, Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes, Benz, BASF, Thomson Locations: China, Germany, Auto Shanghai, Shanghai, Japan, South Korea, United States, derisk, German, Europe, Berlin, Beijing

☆ A Czech Reporter Saw San Francisco’s Highlights. Then He Was Robbed.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Heather Knight | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Bohumil Vostal, a correspondent for a Czech public television station, spent Sunday reporting on the best parts of San Francisco. He toured an art gallery, visited Chinatown and even hired a guide with a vintage Volkswagen bus to drive him to the Golden Gate Bridge. But that’s when San Francisco’s dark side came into full view. Suddenly, Mr. Vostal found himself victimized in the exact high-profile way that city leaders had hoped to avoid during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference this week that is drawing President Biden, other world leaders and legions of international journalists. Image Bohumil Vostal, right, talked with a guide he hired to tour the city in a Volkswagen van.

Persons: Bohumil, Vostal, Biden, Bohumil Vostal, Milan Nosek Organizations: Volkswagen, Economic Cooperation Locations: Czech, San Francisco, Chinatown, Asia

☆ Global EV sales stay strong, China hits record despite end of subsidies
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 14 (Reuters) - Electric-vehicle sales are seeing continued strength globally with China reporting record monthly sales in October despite the end of subsidies, according to market research firm Rho Motion. EV sales in China, the world's largest auto market, increased 29% year-to-date in September. The global EV market showed 34% growth in the same period. "This (subsidies) is an important factor in the German market as nearly two-thirds of passenger car registrations are commercial," the market research firm said. EV sales in North America were up 78% so far this year.

Persons: Edgar Su, Tesla, Mercedes Benz, Arsheeya, Paul Lienert, Shounak Dasgupta Organizations: REUTERS, Rho Motion, EV, Rho, Volkswagen, Cox Automotive, Thomson Locations: Singapore, China, Germany, North America, American, Bengaluru, Detroit

☆ The automakers and suppliers pushing to cut rare earths from EVs
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

1 U.S. automaker says it is "exploring options to limit or potentially eliminate rare earth materials in EV motors." BORGWARNER (BWA.N)The U.S. supplier already has an EV motor in production that has reduced heavy rare earth content. ZF (ZFF.UL)German supplier ZF has developed an EESM EV motor that could be in production in two years. The German premium automaker says it aims to remove heavy rare earth content entirely. EuroGroup Laminations (EGLA.MI) Electric motor component maker EuroGroup Laminations is working on both rare earth free permanent magnet motors and motors with limited rare earth content for automaker customers.

Persons: Darrin Zammit Lupi, Tesla, Stellantis, Zoe, Mercedes, Nick Carey, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, BMW, GENERAL MOTORS, Volvo, ROVER, Tata Motors, Renault, RENAULT Renault, NISSAN, Nissan, MERCEDES, BENZ, TOYOTA, Toyota, Volkswagen, U.S, KKR, Thomson Locations: Malta, China, U.S, Niron Magnetics, Niron

☆ Truck maker Scania to switch to zero-carbon steel by 2030
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The sky reflects on the window of a Scania truck at the IAA Transportation fair, which will open its doors to the public on September 20, 2022, in Hanover, Germany, September 19, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer Acquire Licensing RightsOSLO, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Swedish truck maker Scania will switch to using steel made without carbon emissions in its heavy-duty vehicles before the end of the decade, it said on Monday. "Scania's purpose is to drive the shift towards a sustainable transport system," CEO Christian Levin said in a statement, adding that the truck maker was taking action across its value chain to cut emissions. SSAB is investing heavily in new production methods to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions from its steel production, such as replacing traditional coking coal with zero-carbon electricity and hydrogen. The metal has the same quality and technical properties as traditional steel, including when recycled, according to SSAB.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Christian Levin, Terje Solsvik, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: IAA Transportation, REUTERS, Rights, Scania, Volkswagen's, Thomson Locations: Scania, Hanover, Germany, Rights OSLO, Swedish

☆ Volkswagen to cut administrative personnel costs 20% in savings drive -Handelsblatt
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBERLIN, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) plans to cut administrative personnel costs by a fifth as part of a cost-cutting package to save 10 billion euros ($10.8 billion) by 2026, the Handelsblatt daily reported on Monday, citing an internal company podcast. Gunnar Kilian, Volkswagen's board member for human resources, said in conversation with VW brand chief Thomas Schaefer that the cuts would focus on cost reduction rather than headcount, according to the Handelsblatt report. The specific details of the drive at Volkswagen's passenger car brand, announced in June and currently being defined in talks between management and the workers council, are due to be set by December. Volkswagen has signed an agreement with the workers council to secure jobs until 2029, and the council has repeatedly said it will not allow changes to that agreement. Reporting by Victoria Waldersee, Christina Amann; Writing by Victoria Waldersee, Miranda Murray; Editing by Stephen Coates and Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Gunnar Kilian, Volkswagen's, Thomas Schaefer, Victoria Waldersee, Christina Amann, Miranda Murray, Stephen Coates, Bernadette Baum Organizations: VW, REUTERS, Rights, Volkswagen, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Wolfsburg, Germany

[1/2] A Tesla electric vehicle is plugged to a charger in a parking lot in Teia, north of Barcelona, Spain, October 31, 2023. High interest rates and a subdued market are putting customers off, they warned, with Volkswagen's EV order intake half what it was last year. Reuters GraphicsFALLING BEHINDCritics have long warned that a lack of affordable EVs would eventually stall the steep sales growth boosted by early adopters and corporate fleets. A weaker performance in September, consumer sentiment surveys and bleak commentary from carmakers and dealers indicates that low growth era may have arrived. "We call it the valley of death, which we will be going through in 2024 to 2027: low residual values, high supply, and low demand," Nothard added.

Persons: Albert Gea, EVs, Thomas Niedermayer, Flavia Garcia, Tom Carvell, Martina, AutoTrader, Garcia, We'll, Critics, Felipe Munoz, Alistair Bedwell, Langston, Ben DuCharme, Philip Nothard, Nothard, Victoria Waldersee, Nick Carey, Giulio Piovaccari, Paul Lienert, Sumanta Sen, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Tesla, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Benz, Reuters Graphics Dealers, Toyota, HK, Reuters Graphics, Ford, GM, United Auto Worker, JATO Dynamics, Langston, Cox Automotive, Thomson Locations: Barcelona, Spain, LONDON, Europe, Germany, Italy, Bavarian, Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain, BYD, Nio, U.S, Rome, Detroit

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