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voda 1 november 2018 19:53

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Volkswagen confirms sales revenue and profit target

The Volkswagen Group continued to grow during the first nine months of the fiscal year and is well on track to achieve its sales revenue and profit target. Despite the switch to the new WLTP test procedure, which resulted in the anticipated temporary third-quarter decline in unit sales particularly in Europe, the Group’s key figures for the first nine months are above the prior-year figures. Group sales revenue rose to EUR 174.6 billion, following EUR 170.1 billion in the prior-year period. Amounting to EUR 13.3 billion (previous year: 13.2 billion), operating profit before special items was on a par with the previous year, thus the operating return on sales stood at 7.6 %. In the first nine months, the diesel issue gave rise to special items of EUR 2.4 billion (previous year: EUR 2.6 billion). Profit before tax increased by EUR 2.2 billion to EUR 12.5 billion. Net liquidity in the Automotive Division amounted to EUR 24.8 billion.

Dr. Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, explained that “The development in the first nine months of the current fiscal year is encouraging. We are still facing major challenges, that we and the entire automotive sector have to overcome. As we are currently in the midst of a groundbreaking transformation, we have to continue picking up the pace.”

The positive operations in the first three quarters are borne by the overall continued improvement in vehicle sales. In the first nine months, the Volkswagen Group delivered 8.1 million vehicles to customers throughout the world, thus allowing the company to increase deliveries worldwide by 4.2 percent over the prior-year period. The strong development in the first half of the year and during the summer months was able to compensate for September’s decline in deliveries, which was mainly caused by the WLTP transition.

This was not least due to the continued solid development of business in China. The sales revenue and operating profits of the joint venture companies in China are not included in the figures for the Group. These companies are accounted for using the equity method and recorded a proportionate operating profit of EUR 3.3 billion (previous year: 3.3 billion). The trade dispute between China and the United States dampened business and consumer confidence, among other things, and brought about a significant market decline in the third quarter.

Source : Strategic Research Institute

voda 2 november 2018 17:01

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AUDI AG announces Q3 result

The third quarter of this year featured numerous adverse factors for the Audi Group: As expected, restrictions in the sales portfolio caused by the changeover to WLTP had an increasingly negative effect. At the same time, the densely packed program of phase-outs and ramp-ups in connection with the broadest model initiative in Audi’s history reached its peak with high ramp-up costs in the second half of the year. As a result of an administrative order issued by the Munich II Public Prosecutor’s Office imposing a fine in connection with the diesel issue, AUDI AG reports special items of EUR 800 million at the end of the third quarter. At EUR 44.3 billion, the Audi Group’s revenue for the period from January through September reached the previous year’s level. After special items, operating profit for the first nine months amounted to EUR 2.9 billion; adjusted for special items, it was EUR 3.7 billion and thus moderately below the prior-year figure. This results in an operating return on sales before special items of 8.3 percent. The successful joint venture business in China is not included in this figure and is shown in the significantly increased financial result.

Mr Bram Schot, temporary Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG said that “The current situation is an enormous challenge for Audi. We are resolutely tackling the numerous negative factors and systematically counteracting them. We are working hard to ensure that we can put further model variants back into the range so that we can offer our customers an appropriate lineup in all model series again by the end of the year. In addition, our model initiative will now successively reach the showrooms in more and more markets. We therefore expect that the current fluctuations in our business will noticeably balance out again as of November.”

As announced, the changeover to the WLTP standard in particular led to significant fluctuations in the key figures of the Audi Group. These fluctuations will at first decrease again with regard to production volumes. With regard to deliveries, available stocks deliberately built up in the first half of the year initially led to high growth rates in July and August, before sharp declines started in September as a result of restrictions in the sales portfolio. This applies primarily to Europe, the sales region with the highest volume for AUDI AG. The company delivered 1,407,718 Audi brand cars worldwide in the first three quarters of this year (2017: 1,380,463). While sales in Europe declined, Asia-Pacific and North America reported positive volume developments.

Mr Alexander Seitz, Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG for Finance, China, Compliance and Integrity said that “We can master this exceptional phase entrepreneurially because Audi has a strong, resilient financial base The Audi Transformation Plan is also taking effect: We anticipate positive earnings effects of €1 billion already in its start-up year. This means that our cash generation remains strong even in challenging times. We continue to finance the massive upfront expenditure for our future course from our own resources.”

At EUR 44,257 million, the Audi Group’s revenue for the period from January through September was at the prior-year level (2017: EUR 44,028 million). Before special items, operating profit of EUR 3,671 million was moderately down on the previous year (2017: EUR 3,941 million); operating return on sales before special items was 8.3 percent (2017: 9.0 percent). The effects of the changeover to WLTP in particular had a negative impact on operating profit. On the other hand, there were positive effects from the gradual launch of the new Q5 generation in major markets and the start of the new Q8, as well as from the company’s currency management.

The fine of EUR 800 million imposed on October 16, 2018 by the Munich II Public Prosecutor’s Office concluding regulatory offences proceedings related to the diesel issue affected earnings in the third quarter. After these negative special items, operating profit for the first three quarters decreased to EUR 2,871 million and the corresponding operating return on sales was 6.5 percent.

Profit before tax for the Audi Group amounted to EUR 3,458 million (2017: EUR 3,974 million) for the first three quarters of this year. This figure, which was impacted by the negative special items, includes the significantly increased financial result: In the first nine months of the year, it rose to EUR 586 million (2017: EUR 33 million), partly as a result of the successful business in China.

Net cash flow of EUR 3,116 million for the first three quarters was also significantly higher than in the previous year (2017: EUR 2,552 million). At times of high advance expenditures for new models, technologies and production facilities, the tighter spending and investment discipline as part of the Audi Transformation Plan had a positive effect. Improved working-capital management and lower cash outflows resulting from the diesel crisis than in the previous year also contributed to the increase in net cash flow.

On a quarterly basis, the brand with the Four Rings delivered 458,448 cars from July through September, fewer than in the previous year (2017: 471,780). Revenue decreased to EUR 13,074 million (2017: EUR 14,017). Operating profit before special items of EUR 910 million (2017: EUR 1,261 million) also reflects the burden from the WLTP changeover, which was especially pronounced in the third quarter. The operating return on sales before special items was 7.0 percent (2017: 9.0 percent). After the negative special items resulting from the fine imposed by the Munich II Public Prosecutor’s Office, operating profit for the third quarter was EUR 110 million and the respective operating return on sales was 0.8 percent.

Source : Strategic Research Institute

voda 2 november 2018 18:01

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Broadcom beschuldigt Volkswagen van patentschending - media

(ABM FN) Broadcom heeft een claim van meer dan 1 miljard dollar neergelegd bij het Duitse Volkswagen. Dit meldde Der Spiegel vrijdag.

Volgens de Amerikaanse chipfabrikant schendt de automaker patenten en moet het vrezen dat de productie van bepaalde modellen wordt stilgelegd.

In totaal zou het volgens Der Spiegel gaan om het schenden van 18 patenten.

Volgens het blad zou Broadcom in Amerika ook acties zijn gestart tegen Toyota en Panasonic.

Door: ABM Financial News.
pers@abmfn.be
Redactie: +32(0)78 486 481

© Copyright ABM Financial News B.V. All rights reserved.

voda 6 november 2018 19:37

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Volkswagen Group may sideline Audi in new 10 year plan - Report

Automotive News reported that Volkswagen Group CEO Mr Herbert Diess will outline a 10 year plan on Nov. 16 to slash research costs by working with rivals, a step which would sideline Audi as the group's leading development center. Mr Diess will present his plan at a meeting of the automaker's supervisory board. It will explore potential alliances with Ford and others to develop autonomous and electric vehicles. If approved by the board, it would signal a major departure from VW's standalone efforts to build them and diminish Audi's importance as an engineering hub.

Automakers globally are considering teaming up to save money on development, which cost VW USD 13.1 billion in 2017, in the race to get EVs and self-driving cars on the road.

Savings are particularly important for VW as it tries to get its business back on track after an emissions scandal. It faces a big bill to make its combustion engines comply with new anti-pollution rules.

One of the sources said that "The strategy plan doesn't only cover the next five years, but looks a decade ahead.”

A VW spokesman declined to comment on the agenda of the company's next supervisory board meeting.

Mr Diess also aims to cut duplicate efforts on technology development among VW's different brands, and to seek greater economies of scale by partnering with software companies, carmakers and battery cell manufacturers.

Source : Automotive News

voda 9 november 2018 14:51

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Volkswagen plans to convert its Emden plant to build electric cars

Reuters reported that Volkswagen will consider plans to convert its factories in Emden, and Hannover, Germany to build electric cars during a strategy review on November 16. German daily Handelsblatt said that the carmaker is preparing to ramp up sales of electric cars as it struggles to make its combustion-engined vehicles comply with more stringent emissions rules introduced in the wake of a diesel-emissions cheating scandal.

Volkswagen currently builds the VW Passat passenger car in Emden but the sedan segment has suffered from sagging demand as customers flock to buy sports utility vehicles, prompting a review of the factory's future.

Source : Reuters

voda 9 november 2018 14:58

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Volkswagen remains on track for growth despite a challenging environment

In the first three quarters of the current fiscal year 2018, the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand continued to develop well in a challenging market environment. Following the first nine months of the year, the deliveries and sales revenue of the Volkswagen Group’s lead brand remain above the prior-year level. With 4.6 million vehicles handed over to customers (+2.9 percent), these were the most successful first nine months that the brand has ever experienced. Driven by higher sales and an improved product mix, the Volkswagen brand was able to boost sales revenue by 7.3 percent to EUR 62.5 billion. At EUR 2.3 billion, the operating profit before special items was slightly below the prior-year level (EUR 2.5 billion) as a result of factors including the expected impact of the WLTP changeover and higher distribution expenses in connection with the environmental incentive. Operating return on sales was 3.7 percent, compared with the figure of 4.3 percent for the prior-year period. The diesel issue gave rise to special items of EUR -1.6 billion (2017: EUR -2.6 billion).

Ralf Brandstätter, Chief Operating Officer of the Volkswagen brand, says: “The development in sales and growth over the first nine months has been gratifying. We still need to improve our operating return. We continue to work in a highly disciplined way to make Volkswagen even more competitive.”

Within the framework of its TRANSFORM 2025+ strategy, the Volkswagen brand is forging ahead with a fundamental transformation to further accelerate the electrification and digitalization of the model range. In order to make the necessary investments in the future from Volkswagen’s own resources, the brand Board of Management has set a return on sales target of more than 6 percent by 2025.

Board Member for Finance Dr Arno Antlitz said that “Since the beginning of our transformation, we have made considerable progress. The WLTP changeover has had a temporary negative impact but the underlying structural improvement of our earnings power has continued unabated. At the same time, the challenges we face call for further sustained improvements in the brand’s earnings power. This will be essential if we are to reach our long-term goal of making Volkswagen fit for the future and actively shaping the mobility of the future.”

Especially in production, the brand sees considerable potential for further improvements in operating performance. On the basis of the new production strategy announced by Volkswagen in September 2018, the brand intends to improve the productivity of its plants throughout the world by 30 percent by 2025.

In addition, Volkswagen is strengthening its core business with the largest SUV offensive in the company’s history. By 2025, the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand alone intends to expand its SUV portfolio from the current figure of 11 to more than 30 models. By then, every second Volkswagen sold will probably be an SUV – with a conventional or electric powertrain. Volkswagen will therefore continue to benefit from the strong market growth in this segment in many regions of the world.

Sales revenue and return targets confirmed
In a market environment that remains challenging, the brand still expects to continue the positive developments of the first nine months in the fourth quarter. The forecasts for the current fiscal year have been confirmed. The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand expects sales revenue to grow by up to 10 percent compared with the previous year – buoyed by new products and further recovery in the regions.

For the year as a whole, the Volkswagen brand expects positive cash flow from operations before special effects. The brand also confirms its return target and continues to expect an operating return before special effects of 4 to 5 percent for the current fiscal year. However, in view of the negative impact of the WLTP changeover, higher distribution expenses and investments made in new products – especially for the implementation of the electric offensive, the operating return will probably be at the lower end of the corridor stated.

The quarterly figures of the Volkswagen brand at a glance:

Zie pdf

Source : Strategic Research Institute

Bijlage:

ff_relativeren 11 november 2018 09:12

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www.tijd.be/ondernemen/auto/vw-dealer... .

voda 12 november 2018 17:02

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'VW klaar voor 50 miljoen elektrische auto's'

Gepubliceerd op 12 nov 2018 om 14:30 | Views: 2.541

FRANKFURT (AFN/RTR) - Volkswagen is van plan groots uit te pakken met elektrische auto's. Het Duitse autoconcern is voorbereid op de productie van 50 miljoen elektrisch aangedreven voertuigen, zei topman Herbert Diess in het blad Automobilwoche.

Zowel de inkoopprocessen voor accu's als de productielijnen voor elektrische auto's worden volgens Diess klaargestoomd om de miljoenen e-auto's te kunnen produceren. Eerder kondigde de autofabrikant al aan eind 2022 zestien fabrieken te willen voor elektrische auto's.

De eerste volledig elektrische auto's moeten in 2019 van de band rollen. Onlangs meldden bronnen aan persbureau DPA dat Volkswagen ook een e-auto van minder dan 20.000 euro op de markt wil zetten. Dit instapmodel zou in 2022 te koop zijn.

Voor Duitse automakers is het zaak op tijd met auto's te komen die minder vervuilend zijn. Steeds meer steden in Duitsland willen dieselvoertuigen verbieden om luchtvervuiling tegen te gaan.

voda 12 november 2018 21:45

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Volkswagen Global deliveries in October are down

At 516,900 vehicles, worldwide deliveries by the Volkswagen brand in October were 6.2 percent below the figure for October 2017. This development was mainly due to the continuing reluctance of purchasers in China as a result of the trade dispute with the USA. In Europe, as expected, deliveries continued to be affected by the WLTP changeover, although the impact was significantly less marked than in September. Strong positive impetus came from Brazil (+61.8 percent) and Russia (+23.9 percent). In the year to date, Volkswagen has handed over a total of 5.14 million vehicles to customers, a record figure for January to October. Volkswagen Brand Board Member for Sales Jürgen Stackmann: “We are making good progress with the WLTP changeover of our model range and deliveries in Europe were affected much less severely in October than in September. We expect this recovery to continue in November and December. All in all, we face a challenging market environment throughout the world. It is therefore all the more gratifying to note that our deliveries from January to October were almost two percent higher than the record figure reported by the brand for the corresponding period in 2017.“

Deliveries in the regions and markets in October developed as follows:

122,000 vehicles were handed over to customers in Europe, 7.1 percent fewer than in October 2017. As announced, this was mainly due to the introduction of the new WLTP type approval procedure with effect from September 1. As many of the high-volume model variants have already been certified to WLTP, the effect on deliveries in October was significantly less pronounced than in September. In the year to date, the Volkswagen brand has achieved a rise of 4.7 percent compared with 2017 and handed over 1,475,200 vehicles to customers.

In Germany, 37,000 vehicles were delivered to customers. At 11.7 percent, the fall in deliveries compared with the prior-year month as a result of WLTP was also considerably less pronounced than in September. The e-Golf1 was very popular, recording the highest new registrations of all electric vehicles in Germany in October. Deliveries by the Volkswagen brand from January to October, at 456,300 vehicles, were 3.3 percent above the prior-year figure.

In Central and Eastern Europe, 23,000 vehicles were delivered to customers, a rise of 3.7 percent compared with the previous year. Positive impetus came especially from Russia, where 9,900 vehicles were handed over to customers. This is a significant increase of 23.9 percent compared with October 2017. The SUV Tiguan and the notchback version of the Polo were especially popular with customers.

At 49,400 vehicles, deliveries In North America were at the prior-year level (+0.3 percent). In the USA, 29,000 vehicles were handed over to customers, 4.6 percent more than in the previous year. The successful SUVs Tiguan und Atlas recorded considerable growth, reaching a share of 43 percent in total deliveries. In Mexico, the general economic situation remained challenging. Here, Volkswagen delivered 13,300 vehicles, 10.3 percent below the figure for October 2017.

South America once again provided impetus for the growth of the Volkswagen brand. In this region, a total of 44,800 vehicles were handed over to customers, corresponding to a rise of 24.7 percent over the prior-year month. This was mainly due to positive developments in Brazil, the largest market in the region. Here, a significant rise of 61.8 percent to 35,600 vehicles was recorded. The new Polo and the Virtus were particularly successful. As a result of difficult conditions in the overall market, deliveries in Argentina fell by 46.6 percent compared with the previous year, to 5,800 vehicles.

In the Asia-Pacific region, the Volkswagen brand delivered 288,300 vehicles, some 9.1 percent fewer than in October 2017. This was mainly due to uncertainty on the part of customers in China as a result of the continuing trade dispute with the USA. The overall market is characterized by a strong reluctance to purchase. In its most important sales market, the Volkswagen brand handed over 274,100 vehicles to customers, a fall of 9.8 percent compared with the previous year. Over the year to date, Volkswagen has delivered 2,550,400 vehicles to customers – a slight rise of 0.4 percent compared with the previous year.

Source : Strategic Research Institute

voda 14 november 2018 20:01

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Volkswagen plans to sell electric Tesla rival for less than USD 23,000 - Report

Reuters quoted a source familiar with the plans as saying that Volkswagen intends to sell electric cars for less than EUR 20,000 (USD 22,836) and protect German jobs by converting three factories to make Tesla rivals. The report quoted a source as saying that ‘Plans for VW's electric car, known as MEB entry and with a production volume of 200,000 vehicles, are due to be discussed at a supervisory board meeting on November 16. Another vehicle, the I.D. Aero, will be built in a plant currently making the VW Passat, a mid-sized sedan.”

VW and other carmakers are struggling to adapt quickly enough to stringent rules introduced after the carmaker was found to have cheated diesel emissions tests, with its chief executive Mr Herbert Diess warning last month that Germany's auto industry faces extinction. The November 16 strategy meeting will discuss Volkswagen's transformation plan to shift from being Europe's largest maker of combustion engine vehicles into a mass producer of electric cars, another source familiar with the deliberations said.

VW's strategy shift comes as cities start to ban diesel engine vehicles, forcing carmakers to think of new ways to safeguard 600,000 German industrial jobs, of which 436,000 are at car companies and their suppliers.

Source : Reuters

voda 14 november 2018 20:02

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VW has put most of its diesel scandal in past - Mr Herbert Diess

Automotive News reported that three years after Volkswagen Group admitted to cheating on diesel emissions testing, one of the most expensive scandals in automotive history still hangs over the company's day-to-day operations. CEO Herbert Diess said that VW has put "most" of the diesel scandal in the past, thanks in part to a global strategy shift to electric vehicles and efforts to clean up its own house after spending more than USD 30 billion to make things right. Mr Diess said in an interview at VW's North American offices in ?Herndon, Virginia? that "We basically bought back and fixed close to 90 percent of the cars globally. I think most of the things we have overcome. We still have legal issues worldwide, in Germany, you're aware of that, and it will take years to solve everything. We just settled with Audi [in late October], with the state attorneys in Germany. There are still legal issues, but technically, we overcame most of the issues."

Mr Diess said that, while law enforcement investigations continue into the company's actions related to development of its "clean diesel" engines including the four-month incarceration in Germany of former Audi CEO Rupert Stadler before he was released in late October the legal problems VW faced in the US were the most perilous globally.

In March 2017, VW pleaded guilty in US District Court in Detroit to three felonies: conspiracy, obstruction of justice and introducing imported merchandise into the US with false statements. The plea agreement settled claims by the EPA and US Customs and Border Protection for VW's importation of almost 590,000 turbodiesel vehicles that violated clean-air regulations.

Source : Automotive News

ff_relativeren 15 november 2018 09:33

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Volkswagen ziet de verkoop in China verder afnemen :
boerse.ard.de/aktien/vw-hat-probleme-... .

voda 15 november 2018 19:26

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Volkswagen wil tot dertig geëlektrificeerde modellen introduceren in China

ANP 8 uur geleden

Volkswagen pakt ook in China uit met elektrisch rijden. De Duitse automaker wil de komende twee jaar tot wel dertig elektrische en plug-inhybride modellen in de Chinese markt zetten. De helft van de betreffende modellen zal in China worden geproduceerd.

Volkswagen kampt net als branchegenoten met een tanende groei in de grootste automarkt ter wereld. Dat komt mede door de oplopende handelsspanningen en mindere economische prestaties van het Aziatische land.

Om de Chinese groei aan te jagen, wordt door de Duitsers volgend jaar, samen met partners, 4 miljard euro geïnvesteerd in het land. Dit jaar rekent Volkswagen in China op stabiele verkoopcijfers. Vanaf 2020 gaat de automaker weer uit van groei.

Met de schonere modellen voldoet Volkswagen ook aan de strengere productie-eisen die gaan gelden voor auto's in China. Eerder zei Volkswagen al wereldwijd 20 miljard euro te gaan investeren in het elektrificeren van al zijn modellen.

Bijlage:

voda 15 november 2018 20:09

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VW said to be open to joining German battery cell consortium

Automotive News quoted person familiar with the matter said as saying that Volkswagen is open to joining a German consortium exploring the production of electric-car battery cells and will discuss the matter at a supervisory board meeting on Friday.

VW has already awarded multibillion-euro battery cell supply contracts to LG Chem and China's Contemporary Amperex Technology, but CEO Herbert Diess has said Germany should wean itself off a dependence on Asian suppliers.

The German government is coordinating efforts to form a multi-company consortium designed to do just that as the demand for batteries rises in Europe in response by a push by automakers to launch full-electric vehicles.

Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said that the government has earmarked 1 billion euros (USD 1.2 billion) to support the consortium in producing battery cells and establishing a research facility to develop next-generation solid-state batteries. Germany aims to have 30 percent of such production coming from Germany and Europe by 2030.

Mr Altmaier said Germany wanted to work with other European countries, adding that he was already in contact with France, Poland and Austria on the issue.

There have been big developments in lithium ion technology over the past few years, but the power packs have drawbacks and companies are looking to develop more stable batteries that use less raw materials and pack more power.

Source : Automotive News

voda 15 november 2018 20:11

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VW, Daimler, BMW brace for US tariffs as truce nears end

Auto News reported that Volkswagen Group, Daimler and BMW are bracing themselves after the US circulated a draft report on tariffs and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said a looming trade war between Europe and the US may soon come to an end.

The report is part of the US Commerce Department's probe into whether to impose levies on automobiles, vans and light trucks as well as car parts. Commerce has until February to hand its findings to President Donald Trump, who previously threatened a 25 percent tariff on imported cars.

European automakers, despite exemptions for their output from US and Mexican factories, will be hardest hit, alongside imports from Japan and South Korea, RBC Capital Markets analysts said on Tuesday.

Suppliers will have even more difficulties from a similar levy on parts imports, according to the bank, citing an estimate from the American Automotive Policy Council pointing to a USD 2,000 increase in the cost of a US manufactured vehicle and a USD 2,400 rise when tariffs on steel and aluminum are added.

The European Union last year shipped 1.1 million cars to the US, led by VW Group brands Audi, and Porsche, and BMW. The planned US tariffs would hit autos and parts worth 58 billion euros (USD 65 billion), the Commission said in June, adding about 10,000 euros to the price of a European-built car.

voda 16 november 2018 15:22

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VW schakelt tandje bij met elektrisch rijden

Gepubliceerd op 16 nov 2018 om 15:13 | Views: 13

FRANKFURT (AFN/BLOOMBERG) - Volkswagen gaat flink dieper in de buidel tasten voor een overstap naar volledig elektrische en zelfrijdende auto's. Dat blijkt uit de nieuwe investeringsplannen die het bestuur van het Duitse autoconcern vrijdag heeft goedgekeurd.

In de periode tot en met 2023 wil Volkswagen in totaal 44 miljard euro steken in nieuwe technologieën, fabrieken en materieel voor de bouw van elektrische auto's. Dat is 10 miljard euro meer dan de Duitsers aanvankelijk hadden begroot.

Het geld voor de investeringen moet onder meer met behulp van herstructureringen en kostenbesparingen worden vrijgemaakt. Onder de dit voorjaar aangetreden topman Herbert Diess staat Volkswagen ook meer open voor samenwerkingen die de kosten drukken.

Volkswagen zet volgend jaar de eerste volledig elektrische modellen van zijn duurdere merken Porsche en Audi op de markt. Vanaf 2020 willen de Duitsers ook goedkopere elektrisch aangedreven auto's aanbieden.

voda 16 november 2018 15:31

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VW plans Passat production to Skoda plant in Czech Republic

Auto News reported that Volkswagen Group may move production of the VW Passat to a Skoda plant in the Czech Republic as part of a wider factory shake-up to accommodate electric cars. Handelsblatt citing company sources reported that production of the Passat would shift to Skoda’s Kvasiny factory, where the related Skoda Superb is built.

VW Group is looking for a site for a third Skoda plant in Europe because the brand's two Czech plants are already running at close to capacity. Bulgaria and Turkey are possible locations, Handelsblatt said.

VW builds the Passat alongside the Arteon in Emden, Germany. Both are midsized models. Passat sales have been hit by a customer shift to SUVs and crossovers and a slump in sales of diesel cars.

European sales of the Passat fell 5.6% to 127,325 in the first nine months, according to JATO Dynamics market researchers. Sales of the Arteon, a new addition to VW’s portfolio, were 17,751 in the same period, a year-on-year gain of 12,770 units.

Source : Auto News

voda 16 november 2018 15:34

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Volkswagen implements electric strategy consistently

Following Zwickau, Volkswagen intends to change its plants at Emden and Hanover in Germany over to the production of electric vehicles. After Zwickau, Volkswagen is therefore establishing its second e-mobility center in Germany in Lower Saxony. CEO Dr Herbert Diess said that “Volkswagen is implementing its electric offensive consistently. We are orienting the company towards clean mobility. This way, we are also ensuring sustainable prospects for the future of the two plants.” At a works meeting held on Wednesday in Emden, HR Board Member Gunnar Kilian outlined the principles of the project to employees. In Hanover, the Chairman of the Brand Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Dr. Thomas Sedran, presented the plans. The orientation towards the production of innovative electric vehicles is part of the plant allocation plans on which the Supervisory Board will decide in Wolfsburg on Friday.

Mr Gunnar Kilian said that “We are moving at full speed into the production of electric vehicles. Emden and Hanover are to be further model plants in Germany. Together with Zwickau, they will form the largest network for the production of electric vehicles in Europe.”

On the basis of these plans, Emden will already produce electric vehicles from 2022. In Hanover, models of the electrically powered ID.Buzz1 family will probably be produced from 2022 together with conventionally powered vehicles. Mr Thomas Sedran said that “This way, we are safeguarding the future of the Hanover plant and employment. All in all, we are making Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles fit for the transformation of our industry.”

Production of the models currently manufactured at Emden and Hanover is to be transferred step-by step to other Group plants against the backdrop of the reinforcement of the electric offensive. Details of plant allocation are to be decided on by the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen on Friday.

For the Emden and Hanover plants, an employment guarantee up to 2028 was agreed for the transformation phase. Gunnar Kilian: “This offers security for the employees during the transformation. However, fewer production steps are involved in making an electric vehicle, we will need fewer employees in the final resort. We have therefore agreed with the Works Councils that the current employment volume will be adapted in a socially compatible way along the demographic curve via the attractive partial early retirement scheme of Volkswagen.”

The Works Council Chairman of the Emden plant, Manfred Wulff, said that “The automotive industry and Volkswagen are undergoing the greatest transformation in their history and the Emden plant is at the forefront. In a few years’ time, first-class electric vehicles will already roll off the production line here – as with all products from Emden, they will be produced by highly qualified colleagues. The employment guarantee up to 2028 will give employees and their families security; the transition to e-mobility offers clear prospects for the future. The requirements stated by the Works Council have finally been met. We will therefore be able to make our plant fit for the future as regards employment, climate protection and economic viability.”

It will not be possible to provide long-term employment for temporary employees at the Emden plant in the future and to offer them permanent employment contracts here. “We all know that a long-term relocation to another place of work is by no means an easy step”, said Kilian. He emphasized: “It was important for Volkswagen to offer all temporary employees long-term employment prospects within the Group. This is why we can offer you permanent employment contracts at the Porsche plants in Zuffenhausen, Ludwigsburg and Sachsenheim and, to some extent, also at the Volkswagen plant in Kassel.

Bertina Murkovic, Chairperson of the Works Council of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Member of the Volkswagen General Works Council, said that “With this agreement, we have laid the foundations for shaping the transformation in the automotive industry and indicating prospects for employees. Especially the agreement concerning an employment guarantee for the permanent workforce up to the end of 2028 is a great success in troubled times. With this agreement, key future technologies will also come to our plant. These will mean that we have a far better position in the future as regards capacity utilization thanks to considerably higher flexibility in plant allocation. The new technologies can therefore provide a sustained impetus. All in all, the plant agreement is a far-sighted result.”

Source : Strategic Research Institute

voda 16 november 2018 16:26

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Škoda delivers 99,400 vehicles in October

ŠKODA AUTO delivered the millionth vehicle this year in mid-October earlier than ever before in the company’s history and had delivered 1,038,500 vehicles to customers by the end of October. Thus, the company has grown by 6.1% compared to the same period last year (2017: 978,500 vehicles). In October, the car manufacturer delivered 99,400 vehicles to customers, a decrease of 7.4% compared to the same month last year (October 2017: 107,400). The reason for the current sales trend is the ongoing conversion of all the brand’s series to the new WLTP test cycle in Europe. In addition, ŠKODA deliveries were influenced by the declining passenger car market in China.

ŠKODA continues to set records: Between January and October, the Czech car manufacturer grew worldwide compared to the same period last year. The carmaker’s deliveries in the first ten months of this year increased in Europe (+ 4.3%), China (+ 12.5%), Russia (+ 28.7%) and India (+ 2.4%).

Due to the ongoing conversion of all series to the new WLTP test cycle, which requires the type approval of all newly registered vehicles from 1 September 2018, some engine/transmission variants are temporarily unavailable, depending on the individual model specification. ŠKODA AUTO continues to work intensively on the homologation of all model variants. Despite the challenging situation, ŠKODA AUTO delivered the millionth vehicle of 2018 in mid-October, reaching the million mark earlier than ever before in the company’s history. The bestseller is still the ŠKODA Octavia, while the ŠKODA Karoq compact SUV remains a key growth driver around the world.

Mr Alain Favey, ŠKODA AUTO Board Member for Sales and Marketing said that “In the first ten months of 2018, the company delivered 1,038,500 vehicles to customers worldwide. We succeeded in winning over new customer groups to the ŠKODA brand. For 2018, we are optimistic about surpassing last year’s result.”

In Western Europe, ŠKODA delivered a total of 36,800 vehicles in October (October 2017: 38,300 vehicles, -3.7%). Deliveries in the strongest single market – Germany – fell by 8.7% year-on-year to 13,500 deliveries (October 2017: 14,700 vehicles). ŠKODA made gains in the United Kingdom, where deliveries increased by 9.0% to 5,100 vehicles (October 2017: 4,700 vehicles). Delivery figures also increased in France (2,700 vehicles, +4.0%), Italy (2,300 vehicles, +4.1%), Austria (2,100 vehicles, +4.3%) and Belgium (1,700 vehicles, + 8.1%).

In Central Europe, the car manufacturer delivered 18,000 vehicles in October, a decline of 1.2% compared to the same period last year (October 2017: 18,200 vehicles). In this region, the car manufacturer recorded the largest growth in Slovakia with 2,000 vehicles (October 2017: 1,800 vehicles, +11.8%) and Hungary (October 2017: 1,000 vehicles, +16.1%).

In Russia, ŠKODA delivered 7,600 vehicles to customers in October, an increase of 33.1% over the same period last year (October 2017: 5,700 vehicles).

In Eastern Europe excluding Russia, ŠKODA increased its deliveries to customers by 17.7% to 4,300 vehicles in October (October 2017: 3,700 vehicles). The car manufacturer also recorded double digit growth compared to October last year in Serbia (700 vehicles, +29.6%), Ukraine (600 vehicles, +21.4%) and Bosnia (200 vehicles, +16.9%).

Between January and October, ŠKODA delivered 276,300 vehicles to customers in the brand’s largest sales region, China, an increase of 12.5% compared to the same period last year. In October, ŠKODA deliveries were influenced by the declining passenger car market in China. 26,100 ŠKODA vehicles delivered indicate a decline of 21.0% last month (October 2017: 33,000 vehicles).

In India, the traditional Czech brand recorded a total of 1,700 deliveries in October, with sales increasing by 4.5% compared to last year (October 2017: 1,600 vehicles).

Source : Strategic Research Institute

voda 20 november 2018 20:14

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Volkswagen CEO to take responsibility for China business: source

Channel Asia reported that Volkswagen chief executive Herbert Diess will take on responsibility for the carmaker's business in China, a source said as VW's supervisory board met in Wolfsburg.

Source told Reuters that Mr Diess will take over the China role early next year from Jochem Heizmann, who will retire. The source added that "The Chinese government expects that company leadership is routinely present in China.”

Source : Channel Asia

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