Volkswagen sets 1m electric vehicle target as it outlines cost-cutting plan March 16, 2021 Volkswagen today said it aims to sell 1m electric or hybrid vehicles this year as the German car giant outlined plans to return to profitability through a cost-cutting plan. Sales of electric vehicles grew sharply last year, but the company is now targeting a rapid expansion that would see its deliveries more than double in [...]
VW strategy chief quits to pursue smart boats March 10, 2021 Volkswagen strategy chief Michael Jost is set to quit his role to pursue smart boat building with his family, a statement on his website said today. “Since 1996 I am leading a weekend marriage and family. Now corona has brought me home and we’ve realised that we can live together. I want to stay here. [...]
Volkswagen warns manufacturing costs set to rise as car demand collapses May 5, 2020 Volkswagen has warned that the car industry is likely to come under even more pressure as parts makers increase the prices of crucial components due to the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking to the Financial Times, Volkswagen’s board member for procurement Stefan Sommer said that some suppliers were raising prices to offset the fact that they are [...]
Volkswagen fitted cars with emissions test ‘defeat devices’, High Court rules April 7, 2020 The High Court has ruled today in favour of thousands of consumers that Volkswagen used a “defeat device” on some of its diesel cars which was able to cheat emissions tests. The vehicles affected were sold under Volkswagen, Audi, Seat and Skoda brands and were fitted with an EA 189 diesel engine. The ruling by [...]
Coronavirus:Volkswagen to cease production at European plants March 17, 2020 Car giant VW will stop its European factory production. This move, due to the impact of coronavirus, comes despite the company posting strong results for 2019. Shares in the firm are up slightly, hovering at €97.65. VW boss Herbert Diess, said: “the coronavirus pandemic presents us with unknown operational and financial challenges. He added 2020 [...]
Volkswagen signs three year electric vehicle home charging partnership with Centrica March 4, 2020 Volkswagen has agreed a three-year partnership with energy supplier Centrica to roll out electric vehicle home charging hardware across the UK. The deal comes after Volkswagen’s commitment to introduce 80 electric and plug-in hybrid models by 2025, with estimated sales of up to 3m a year by that date. In the summer the firm will [...]
Volkswagen hit with largest environmental fine in Canadian history January 23, 2020 Volkswagen has been hit with the largest environmental fine in Canada’s history after the automobile giant pleaded guilty to dozens of diesel emissions violations. In December the carmaker was charged with importing 128,000 vehicles into the country which breached emissions standards. As a result, the firm will be forced to pay CA$196.5m (£113.7m) for 60 [...]
Dieselgate: Six Volkswagen executives charged with fraud in Germany January 14, 2020 Six Volkswagen executives have been charged with fraud, after they were accused of “deliberately misleading” authorities and customers in the months leading up to the diesel emissions scandal in 2015 by failing to tell authorities about cheating devices. The 876-page document does not name the people accused, but says three of them “knowingly and willingly [...]
Porsche enjoys record sales despite industry struggles January 13, 2020 Porsche has powered ahead of an industry-wide sales slowdown for car makers, reporting record deliveries for 2019. The German luxury manufacturer said global deliveries rose 10 per cent to 280,000 cars in 2019, driven by demand for the Macan and Cayenne SUV models. Read more: Carmaker Porsche facing German tax investigation Meanwhile, it predicted that [...]
The best and worst ads of 2019 December 16, 2019 It has been a year of highs and lows for adland. PRs, creative agencies, and brands will be examining their advertising efforts this month, and while some will be pleased with their work, others will be looking to improve next year. To help with this process, I asked members of the marketing industry and other [...]