Volkswagen has unveiled its new TOGETHER – Strategy 2025, which outlines the direction the company for the next decade. Presenting the transformation programme to shareholders, VW CEO Matthias Müller said that the company will be investing billions over the coming years in a major “electrification initiative second to none in the industry.” It will also be pouring in money to develop autonomous driving, digitalisation and new business fields such as mobility services.
The automaker said that while the combustion engine will remain an integral part of its business, accounting for around two-thirds of the new vehicles market volumes in 2030, EVs are set to grow in focus and scope, with the company set to launch over 30 fully electric new vehicles by 2025.
“We expect that by then we will be selling about two to three million pure-electric automobiles a year. This will account for a significant share of our total sales volume,” Müller said.
He added that the company will be investing heavily in new autonomous mobility solutions, with fully autonomous vehicles with a self-driving system developed in-house scheduled to enter the market by the beginning of the next decade. The automaker is also looking to make battery technology one of its core competencies, stating this would be the key to e-mobility.
“We will need 150 gigawatt hours of battery capacity by 2025 for our own e-fleet alone – which would make for a massive procurement volume. We will examine in detail all strategic options for developing battery technology as a new core competency for the Volkswagen Group. In doing so, we will be scrutinising the entire process chain – from raw material right through to battery production,” he explained.
The transformation programme is also set to introduce a new element to the internal combustion engine, with the equipping of new TSI and TFSI engines with gasoline particulate filters from next year.
“This initiative will begin with the 1.4 litre TSI engine in the new VW Tiguan and the Audi A5 in June 2017. This will reduce particulate emissions by up to 90%, and up to seven million Volkswagen vehicles could be equipped with this technology each year by 2022,” Müller stated.
Despite the paramount importance of regaining credibility and trust in the group’s brands and products in the wake of its dieselgate scandal, the automaker said it hasn’t buried its ambition, as the 60 or so vehicles that the group will be launching on the market in 2016 shows. The list includes the new VW Tiguan, the Audi Q2, the new SEAT Ateca and the upcoming Porsche Panamera.
The automaker says it will also be realigning and bundling its components business across the group to improve transparency, while boosting internal competition. It will also be paying very close attention to its costs, saying that its ongoing efficiency programmes are in full swing throughout the group.
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VW AG should have a strategy to compensate all Malaysian customers too. I hear, their cars are still having DSG problems and owners cannot even sell their cars. No used car dealer wants to buy any VW cars in Malaysia.
Can VW AG lease be responsible and compensate all VGM customers in Malaysia please? You promise German quality but customers are in the SC every month.
You hear? Means you’re not VW owner la.
I never sit at the SC every month and I’m driving it everyday.
What so special? Proton has been working on this for long. It is just the testing car was left on Mars, Matt Damon didn’t bring it back.
Are you from mars?
You must forgot to take meds today
Which bus are u taking? The bankrupt metro? Or riding kapcai? Or the prestigious myvi? A 3 wheels vw is better than p1 or p2. Yup i rather park it than drive the double Ps.
Then you keep quiet when it sits at SC more than a year compared to p1 or p2
VW build solid good vehicles.
However, for autonomous driving, I am still skeptical; not before Volvo builds an extremely reliable one.
VW builds junky cars with rubbish DSG