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☆ A protestor threw a cake-like pastry at a board member's head during a Volkswagen meeting that descended into chaos
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

About a dozen protestors reportedly created chaos at Volkswagen Groups annual meeting on Wednesday. One protestor threw what appeared to be a cake at a board member's head. The Associated Press reported that the pastry was thrown in the direction of Wolfgang Porsche, the chairman of Volkswagen Group's majority shareholder, Porsche SE. But recordings of the moment, uploaded to YouTube from news outlets including The Guardian, show VW Group chairman Hans Dieter Poetsch dodging remnants of the pastry that flew in his direction. A Reuters video from the event shows the protestors being led out of the meeting by security.

☆ Russian carmaker files third lawsuit against Volkswagen
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies Volkswagen AG FollowGaz PAO FollowMay 6 (Reuters) - Russian carmaker GAZ (GAZA.MM) has filed a lawsuit worth 15.6 billion roubles ($200.5 million) against Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), court records show, adding to two others filed earlier this year. The lawsuit, details of which have not been published, was filed with the Nizhny Novgorod Regional Arbitration Court on Friday. Earlier this year, GAZ filed two lawsuits against the German carmaker seeking a total of around $545 million in losses and damages, saying VW's moves to exit the Russian market had put its interests at risk. It initially persuaded a court to freeze Volkswagen's assets in Russia pending court proceedings - a decision the court reversed in April. Volkswagen is preparing to sell its Russian assets, including its flagship plant in the city of Kaluga that has annual production capacity of 225,000 vehicles, but no decision has been made and Russian government approval is pending.

☆ VW's Skoda aims for six electric vehicle models by 2026
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PRAGUE, April 26 (Reuters) - Czech carmaker Skoda Auto, part of German group Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE), wants to expand its electric vehicle range to six models by 2026, the company said, further boosting its ambitions in the shift to e-mobility. The company had previously aimed to launch three new electric models but said in a Tuesday evening release it will launch four new e-vehicles and two updated models in the coming years. The launches fall under Skoda's 5.6 billion euro ($6.16 billion) investment plan into e-mobility by 2027. ($1 = 0.9086 euros)Reporting by Jason Hovet, Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Amid risk of stalling in EV race, Spain's rebooted aid scheme gets warm reception
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Joan Faus | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Madrid will launch a new, more flexible version of the PERTE scheme around July, worth 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion) after last year's initial funding round flopped, with only 27% of an earmarked 2.9 billion euros allocated. Stellantis already manufactures EVs in Spain and received 67 million euros from the first PERTE, but could request more funds to boost production. Griffiths said using the EU funds is "essential" for Spain's future as some investments would otherwise be non-viable. Unlike Germany, Europe's leading car producer, Spain lacks a domestic manufacturer to champion the EV cause. In last year's PERTE round, VW-SEAT received the highest payout, of 357 million euros, but had hoped for more.

☆ VW aims to produce 3 mln small EV cars in 2025-2030 in Spain, SEAT chief says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Imelda MedinaBARCELONA, March 22 (Reuters) - German carmaker Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) plans to produce 3 million small electric vehicles at its two plants in Spain between 2025 and 2030, Wayne Griffiths, the chairman of VW's Spanish unit SEAT, said on Wednesday. The German car maker is pushing the electrification of its production and plans to build a battery plant in Spain. Griffiths said SEAT aims to assemble 500,000 electric cars a year in the medium-term at SEAT’s plant in Martorell, outside Barcelona. Not cutting jobs at the plant is SEAT's priority, he added. Reporting by Joan Faus and Inti Landauro; editing by Emma Pinedo and Jason Neely, Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ How Ford and VW's multibillion-dollar self-driving car project failed
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Robert Ferris | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ford Motor bet a billion dollars on a startup called Argo AI to catch up to flashy tech companies like Google , Uber and Tesla . Volkswagen , the second-largest automaker in the world, signed on as a backer in 2019, investing $2.6 billion Argo AI at a valuation of more than $7 billion. By 2021, Argo AI was valued at $12.4 billion and counted 2,000 employees, with offices on two continents and self-driving tests underway in seven cities. There were plans to bring a self-driving taxi service to market by 2021, rivaling those by Waymo and Ford's larger Detroit rival, General Motors . But in October 2022, Argo AI shut down.

☆ VW's Skoda would cut 3,000 jobs if 'Euro 7' implemented in current form
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PRAGUE, March 19 (Reuters) - Czech carmaker Skoda would have to cut 3,000 jobs and axe some models if the European Union's "Euro 7" emissions scheme is implemented in its current form, a Skoda board member warned in a TV debate on Sunday. Daimler Trucks (DTGGe.DE) chief Martin Daum for instance said on March 10 it would cost the industry "billions". Overall, more than 10,000 jobs would be at risk in the Czech Republic, including at Skoda's suppliers, Jahn said. The three smaller models represented nearly a third of Skoda's deliveries to customers in 2022. Transport ministers from the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia met on Monday to discuss their efforts to change the Euro 7 proposal.

SummarySummary Companies Move comes shortly after Scout plant announcementPlant in Canada can also qualify for IRA subsidiesBASF also picked Canada for EV battery materials plantWOLFSBURG, Germany, March 13 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) chose Canada to build its first battery cell plant outside Europe, granting its cars access to both Canadian and U.S. subsidies as it works to localise electric vehicle production chain in the region. Canada, home to a large mining sector for minerals including lithium, nickel and cobalt, is trying to woo companies involved in all levels of the EV supply chain via a multi-billion-dollar green technology fund as the world seeks to cut carbon emissions. The Canadian federal innovation minister, Francois-Philippe Champagne, called the VW battery plant a "home run for Canada" and said it was "the largest single investment in the auto sector in the history of Canada", without giving details. "I think all the big manufacturers understand that if you need to green the supply chain, Canada is the place to do that," said Champagne. Chemicals giant BASF (BASFn.DE) a year ago also secured land in Canada for a planned battery materials facility to better serve electric vehicle markets in the U.S. and Mexico.

SummarySummary Companies Move comes shortly after Scout plant announcementPlant in Canada can also qualify for IRA subsidiesBASF also picked Canada for EV battery materials plantWOLFSBURG, March 13 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) chose Canada to build its first battery cell plant outside Europe, granting its cars access to both Canadian and U.S. subsidies as it works to localise electric vehicle production chain in the region. He said Volkswagen would be making "the largest single investment in the auto sector in the history of Canada" but did not give details. The plant will be based in the city of St. Thomas, around 195 km (120 miles) northeast of Detroit. "I think all the big manufacturers understand that if you need to green the supply chain, Canada is the place to do that," said Champagne. Chemicals giant BASF (BASFn.DE) a year ago also secured land in Canada for a planned battery materials facility to better serve electric vehicle markets in the U.S. and Mexico.

☆ Volkswagen to build first North American battery cell plant in Canada
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WOLFSBURG, March 13 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) said on Monday it will build its first North American battery cell plant in Canada, granting its cars access to both Canadian and U.S. subsidies as it works to localise its electric vehicle production chain in the region. VW's Monday's announcement did not specify the size of the investment or the capacity of the new plant, but board member Thomas Schmall said in August the company was targeting 20 gigawatt hours of capacity at its first North American site. Volkswagen has long said it is working towards setting up regional supply chains in Europe, North America and China for EV production in light of high transport and logistic costs, supply chain risks and geopolitical tensions. It announced last week its Scout brand would build a $2 billion manufacturing plant near Columbia, South Carolina for trucks and SUVs, with production to start in 2026. Reporting by Victoria Waldersee and Jan Schwartz, Editing by Angus MacSwan, Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Factbox: As Tesla prepares a Mexico plant, a look at auto plants in Mexico
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A general view shows the General Motors assembly plant in Ramos Arizpe, in Coahuila state, Mexico February 11, 2021. REUTERS/Daniel BecerrilFeb 28 (Reuters) - Mexico has long been a manufacturing hub in North America for multiple automakers, and the country is trying to position itself for the wave of electric vehicles (EVs) to come. The auto sector is a driver of Mexico's major manufacturing industry, which is heavily integrated into U.S. and Canadian supply chains. Mexican officials on Tuesday said Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) is the latest automaker with plans to build a plant in Mexico. Here are major automakers with plants in Mexico -General Motors Co (GM.N)Silao Plant in the central city in Guanajuato state, produces Chevrolet and GMC full-size pickup trucksRamos Arizpe Plant in the northern city in Coahuila state, builds the Chevrolet Equinox and Blazer SUVs now and will build the 2024 Blazer EV and Equinox EVSan Luis Potosi Plant in the state capital of the central state of San Luis Potosi, produces the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC TerrainFord Motor Co (F.N)Cuautitlan Assembly plant in the central city of Cuautitlan Izcalli, produces Ford Mustang Mach-EHermosillo Assembly Plant in the state capital of the northern state of Sonora, produces Ford Bronco Sport and Ford MaverickToyota Motor Corp (7203.T)Toyota Motor Manufacturing de Baja California in the northern border city of Tijuana, Baja California, produces the Toyota Tacoma pickupToyota Motor Manufacturing de Guanajuato in Apaseo el Grande, Guanajuato, produces the Toyota TacomaStellantis (STLAM.MI)Saltillo Truck Assembly Plant in the state capital of Coahuila, produces Ram light and heavy-duty pickupsSaltillo Van Assembly Plant, makes the Ram ProMaster vanToluca Assembly Plant, produces the Jeep CompassNissan Motor Co (7201.T)Nissan Mexicana (Cuernavaca) in the central city of Jiutepec, produces NP300 pickup truckNissan Mexicana (Aguascalientes 1 Plant) in the central city of Aguascalientes, produces March, Versa, KicksNissan Mexicana (Aguascalientes 2 Plant), produces SentraNissan also has a joint venture plant with Mercedes (MBGn.DE) in Aguascalientes, making the Infinti QX 50 and 55 SUVs, and Mercedes GLB SUVHonda Motor Co (7267.T)Honda de Mexico (HDM) in Celaya, Guanajuato, produces HR-VVolkswagen (VOWG_p.DE)Volkswagen de México in Sanctorum, Puebla, produces Jetta, Tiguan, TaosVW's Audi unit in San José Chiapa, Puebla, produces Audi Q5 premium SUV and plans to start manufacturing EVs by 2027Mazda Motor Corp (7261.T)Mazda de Mexico Vehicle Operation (MMVO) in Salamanca, Guanajuato, produces Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda CX-30Kia AmericaHyundai Motor Co's (005380.KS) Kia has a plant in Pesqueria, Nuevo Leon, produces Kia Forte, RioBMW AGBMW Plant in San Luis Potosi, produces BMW 3 Series, 2 Series and will produce fully electric "Neue Klasse" modelsSOURCES: Carmakers and Auto Forecast SolutionsCompiled by Kannaki Deka in Bengaluru; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

1 EV maker worldwide in 2022, but China's BYD (002594.SZ) and others are closing the gap fast, according to a Reuters analysis of global and regional EV sales data provided by EV-volumes.com. In fact, BYD passed Tesla in EV sales last year in the Asia-Pacific region, while the Volkswagen Group (VOWG_p.DE) has been the EV leader in Europe since 2020. Reuters GraphicsThe most significant challenges to Tesla are coming from established automakers and a group of Chinese EV manufacturers. Tesla's vehicles offered features, such as the ability to navigate into a parking space or make rude sounds, that other vehicles lacked. IDRA, the Italian company that builds huge presses to form large one-piece castings that are the building blocks of Tesla vehicles, said it is now getting orders from other automakers.

☆ VW's China JV with SAIC names Jia Jianxu as its new head
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] People visit the Volkswagen booth during a media day for the Auto Shanghai show in Shanghai, China April 19, 2021. REUTERS/Aly SongSHANGHAI, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Volkswagen's joint venture with China's SAIC Motor (600104.SS) said on Monday it had appointed Jia Jianxu, a veteran executive at the state-owned Chinese automaker, as its new general manager. Since 2018, Jia has been the general manager at Yanfeng Automotive Interiors, a SAIC-owned vehicle seat maker, and helped develop its intelligent cockpit products. Jia's appointment comes as Volkswagen is ramping up its efforts in electric vehicles (EVs) in China, with its I.D. Reporting by Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh Editing by Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ VW's Skoda Auto cuts production due to chip shortage - trade unions
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

PRAGUE, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) Czech subsidiary Skoda Auto is cutting production this week due to chip shortages, trade unions at the carmaker said. Some shifts will be cancelled in the production of the Octavia, Enyaq, Fabia, Scala and Kamiq models, the unions said. "After optimistic first weeks of the year, the production situation has been worsening again," the unions said in weekly bulletin Skodovacky Odborar. Reporting by Robert Muller; Editing by Jan HarveyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ VW's CARIAD software chief promises progress one jump at a time
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Joseph White | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A technician works on the final inspection of an electric Volkswagen ID. REUTERS/Matthias Rietschel/DETROIT, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Volkswagen’s software division, CARIAD, has emerged from a review ordered by VW's new chief executive with a plan to work toward a unified software architecture for future vehicles one jump at a time, according to CARIAD chief Dirk Hilgenberg. “I call our program 'triple jump',” Hilgenberg told Reuters at the CES technology trade show in Las Vegas. “You do one jump after another.”The next key step will be the launch of the Porsche Macan SUV in 2024, which will have VW’s new premium software architecture. Volkswagen's current status is in-between: Software now deployed allows its "ID" electric vehicles to be updated remotely, with a fix for what Hilgenberg called “teething problems”.

☆ Volkswagen is set to reveal its next electric car at CES — here's what we know so far
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Volkswagen will unveil its next electric car on Tuesday. VW sells five electric models around the globe. Last summer, the brand revealed the ID.Aero show car, a concept version of its first fully electric sedan. Volkswagen unveiled the ID.Buzz electric minivan to much acclaim in 2022. Volkswagen has pursued an aggressive EV strategy in recent years and it currently sells the ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, ID.6, and ID.Buzz models globally.

☆ Volkswagen CEO to present software 'reality check' to board on Dec 15
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Jan Schwartz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HAMBURG, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) CEO will outline a new software and vehicle platform strategy to the carmaker's supervisory board on Dec. 15 as he tries to turn his predecessor's vision into deliverable goals, three company sources told Reuters. But he was also criticised for sometimes erratic leadership, and in particular for delays and cost overruns at software arm Cariad. "First up is the software and the reality check in that area. Handelsblatt, which first reported the Dec. 15 board meeting, has said keeping software competitive to the end of the decade under Blume's new plans would cost 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion). ($1 = 0.9511 euros)Reporting by Jan Schwartz Writing by Victoria Waldersee Editing by Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ The wild history of Volkswagen: From Nazi Germany to hippie vans to one of Elon Musk's top electric vehicle rivals
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Following Tesla CEO Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter, actress Alyssa Milano said she traded in her Tesla for an all-electric Volkswagen due to the rise in hate speech on the social media platform, renewing discussion on VW's third reich past. Alyssa Milano says she has traded in her Tesla for a Volkswagen, while challenging advertisers to address "hate and white supremacy" on Twitter. Phillip Faraone//Taylor Hill/Getty Images

☆ Goldman Sachs names the global automakers exposed to a China slowdown
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Many global companies are heavily exposed to China, including some of the world's biggest automakers, which generate between 20% and 40% of their worldwide sales in the country, according to Goldman Sachs. Goldman Sachs has a $305 price target on Tesla, giving it potential upside of around 66% from its current share price of around $182. Mercedes-Benz Goldman Sachs estimates that Mercedes will sell 734,000 cars this year in China. Meanwhile, Volkswagen's joint-venture partner SAIC is sell-rated by Goldman Sachs, which gives it downside potential of 9%. General Motors Goldman Sachs estimates that nearly half of all cars GM sells worldwide will be in China between 2022 and 2024.

☆ Chinese carmakers target more European sales with five-star EVs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

"All Chinese EV makers want to achieve Euro NCAP five-star ratings in order to be more competitive in the European market," said Brian Gu, president of Chinese EV maker Xpeng (9868.HK). Perhaps more importantly for sales, high safety ratings also open up the potentially huge corporate car fleet market for Chinese EV makers. European carmakers are also pursuing five-star ratings for their EVs and hybrids, from BMW's (BMWG.DE) iX to Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) ID.4 and ID.5. But almost half the Chinese cars sold were EVs, according to Inovev, giving them a 5.8% share of Europe's fully-electric vehicle market. Inovev vice-president Jamel Taganza said all Chinese cars sold in Europe would be EVs within a few years, with more lower-cost models on the way.

☆ VW's SEAT says Spain's subsidy for battery plant, EV production 'not sufficient'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Corina Pons | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MADRID, Nov 3 (Reuters) - The chief of Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) Spanish unit SEAT said on Thursday the subsidies offered by Spanish authorities for a battery factory construction and electric vehicle production "is not sufficient", but voiced optimism about finding a solution. Speaking at a panel in Madrid, SEAT Chairman Wayne Griffiths said the solution, which he did not specify, has to be found within 10 days. "Spain is capable of making one of the best cars in the world," Griffiths said, highlighting the country's renewable energy capacity. However, he lamented the fact that the country had also one of the lowest shares of electric vehicles in Europe. Reporting by Corina Pons, writing by Joan Faus, editing by David Latona and Tomasz JanowskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Volkswagen to work with Mobileye on automated driving after Argo exit - sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Jan Schwartz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Shannon StapletonBERLIN, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) plans to expand its cooperation with Intel's Mobileye (MBLY.O) to include its automated driving program after Wednesday's decision to no longer invest in self-driving startup Argo AI, two sources familiar with the plan told Reuters on Thursday. Mobileye, which develops autonomous driving technologies, already cooperates with VW's software unit Cariad. Volkswagen's and Ford Motor's F.N exit from Argo came after three years of joint efforts on the development of automated driving systems and investments of more than $3 billion, highlighting the cost pressure automakers face in that field. Israel-based Mobileye went public this week, being valued at more than $20 billion. Chief Communications Officer Dan Galves said earlier this week that based on its design wins with automakers, the company's assisted driving systems would be deployed in 270 million cars by 2030.

☆ Analysis: Ford, VW pop the automated-vehicle bubble with Argo AI exit
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Paul Lienert | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

DETROIT, Oct 26 (Reuters) - The road map to fully self-driving vehicles is being rewritten once again, this time by Ford Motor Co (F.N) and Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE). VW also bought Argo shares from Ford for $500 million. Ford previously injected $1 billion into Argo when it bought control of the company in 2017. Before it acquired the stake in Argo, VW flirted with at least two other U.S.-based self-driving startups: Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Waymo and Aurora Innovation (AUR.O). VW reportedly considered a $13.7 billion investment in 2018 in Waymo for a 10% stake that would have valued Waymo at $137 billion.

☆ We got a close-up look at the Volkswagen ID.Buzz — see inside VW's nostalgic electric minivan
▼ + stars: | 2022-04-16 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

If you're a fan of all this cuteness and you live in the US, you'll have to wait a while. Commercial and passenger ID.Buzz models go on sale in Europe later this year, but it only hits US shores in 2024. The Volkswagen ID.Buzz. Tim Levin/Insider

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