A while ago, Volkswagen Group CEO Diess officially confirmed that he will step down as CEO of the Volkswagen brand on July 1. The new CEO of the Volkswagen brand will be Ralf Brandstadt. Previously, Ralf Brandstadt Brandstadt assumed the position of COO of the Volkswagen brand in August 2018 and was responsible for purchasing operations.
In the face of corporate transformation and the previous "software scandal" that affected the overall sales of Volkswagen, Skoda and other brands of cars, Volkswagen's top management changed and CEO Diess was the first to step down. This move is undoubtedly for the I gave an explanation of my responsibility.
Due to software problems, the on-board emergency call system cannot work properly, which has caused a large delay in the delivery of the eighth-generation MK8 Golf. Affected by the "software gate", some models of Skoda and Audi brands under the Volkswagen Group have been affected, which has delayed the production and delivery of new cars.
At the same time, due to the spread of the overseas epidemic, Volkswagen has suspended production at nearly 100 factories around the world. Not only has car sales declined significantly, weekly losses have also reached 2 billion euros, and some employees are facing unemployment. risk, the group's development will be hindered.
With the fermentation of "software gate", the impact of the epidemic, and the slow transformation of the Volkswagen Group to promote electrification, Diess eventually left the position of CEO of the Volkswagen brand, but Diess remained the CEO of the Volkswagen Group. We will also focus more on the group.
In order to promote the electrification transformation, Volkswagen has constructed a blueprint for the electrification process. By 2028, Volkswagen will launch 70 new electric models globally and plans to sell 22 million vehicles globally, including Nearly more than half of the market will be contributed by China.
The previous plan to produce 1 million electric vehicles globally in 2025 has been completed in 2023, and it plans to invest 33 billion euros in electrification between 2020 and 2024.
Last year, the Volkswagen Group announced that it would invest more than 4 billion euros in the Chinese market with its partner ***. The investment in the field of electric travel will account for 40% of the total investment, covering production, infrastructure Facility construction and electric vehicle research and development.
Currently in the domestic market, Volkswagen will launch 10 plug-in hybrid and pure electric models of traditional models. The models already on the market include Lavida pure electric, Passat plug-in hybrid, Tiguan L plug-in hybrid, There are 7 domestic models including Magotan GTE, Tanyue GTE, Bora pure electric, and golf pure electric.
At the end of 2020, Volkswagen will also launch the first pure electric ID. new car based on the MEB modular platform. By 2025, it will successively provide 15 models based on the MEB modular electric drive platform for the Chinese market. car model.
Among them, the ID. is a pure electric SUV specially built for the Chinese market and will start mass production at the end of the year; the global model ID.3 is produced at SAIC Volkswagen's new energy vehicle factory in Anting, Shanghai. Domestic production.
The ID. series will also be the most ideal solution to all the challenges faced by Volkswagen in the new electrification era.
To this end, the Shanghai Anting SAIC Volkswagen New Energy Vehicle Factory, which was newly built specifically for the production of MEB modular electric drive platform models, was successfully completed in November 2019. It only took 12 days to build the new factory. moon.
The new MEB factory allows six different automobile production lines to operate simultaneously, with an annual production capacity of 300,000 vehicles. The first phase of trial production of the ID. model has also begun simultaneously.
The new factory will start the official mass production of the ID. model in October 2020. It will be combined with the FAW-Volkswagen Foshan Phase II plant to start the production of the ID. model at the same time. By then, the total annual production capacity of the two factories will reach 600,000 vehicles.
MEB is a unique platform for mass production design of Volkswagen electric vehicles. New models built on this platform have the advantages of longer wheelbase and larger internal space; in view of the platform design advantages, MEB platform models can be customized for vehicles. The internal space layout is optimized to the greatest extent to make the layout more reasonable.
Models based on this platform will be equipped with Volkswagen's latest infotainment system and interconnection functions, making digitalization and intelligence closer to daily life.
To usher in the era of pure electrification for Volkswagen, the blessing of pure electric models is indispensable. In the ID. family series launched by Volkswagen, we have seen the clear product planning of the Volkswagen brand.
The ID. family is Volkswagen's major product matrix as it enters the electrification era, and it once again plays with the travel concept under the modular electric drive platform through the MEB platform.
The Volkswagen ID. family is all prefixed with ID., recreating a highly unified perception of new products and the output of new brand pattern concepts. ID. symbolizes zero emissions, autonomous driving, intuitive operation and personalized networks, and also represents intelligent design, identity and forward-looking technology.
ID.3 is the first mass-produced model of the Volkswagen ID. family, and it is also the representative model that announces the full start of the era of electric travel for Volkswagen. Its location is self-evident for Volkswagen. In addition to assembly at the Zwickau factory, the overseas glass factory in Dresden is also another production base for ID.3.
What is noteworthy is that the APP?310 motor equipped on the ID.3 is a permanent magnet brushless motor with a maximum torque of 310 N·m and a peak power of 204 horsepower.
The "APP" comes from the layout of the transmission and gearbox parallel to the axle. The main components of the motor are produced by Volkswagen Group Components companies everywhere, and the rotor and stator are produced by the parts factory in Salzgitter. Production.
The "hairpin technology" used in the new motor allows flat prefabricated copper coils to be optimally filled in the stator laminated core, improving the motor's torque density and efficiency, even at low speeds. Maximum torque is also obtained, so that the single-speed gearbox can meet the operating requirements in the rev range.
ID.4 is the Volkswagen brand’s first pure electric SUV. It evolved from the ID.CROZZ concept car and is the second mass-produced SUV based on the MEB modular electric drive platform after the ID.3. production model.
ID.4 features spacious space, sporty style, intuitive operation and comprehensive interconnection. A rear-wheel drive version will be launched in the early stage, followed by a four-wheel drive version later, and the overseas version ID.4 will be launched soon. It will be launched this year.
As a pure electric SUV, its power battery is placed near the center of the chassis. In addition to ensuring the vehicle's low center of gravity and better maneuverability, it can also achieve balanced axle load distribution. . ID.4 will provide multiple battery capacity versions, with a maximum cruising range of up to 500km.
It is not difficult to tell from its name that "ID. First View" is a pure electric model that is in line with "China's national conditions" and is a pure electric SUV specially built for China.
Although the ID. was camouflaged when it debuted at the Guangzhou Auto Show last year, it is not difficult to guess from the basic outline of the body that this will be a specially made for China based on the ID.4 model, but the design details have been adjusted. According to Volkswagen's production plan, ID. will also start mass production at the end of this year.
ID.ROOMZZ is the second concept SUV after ID.CROZZ, but this electric flagship SUV built for China will serve as a template for future Volkswagen electric flagship SUVs to expand the electric ID. family product lineup.
For a full-size car that is nearly 5 meters long, the ID.ROOMZZ is required to take into account both home and business needs. The materials used in the car will be more particular, and the ID.Pilot The requirements for autonomous driving will also be higher.
On the concept body, ID.ROOMZZ is equipped with a 75kW front axle motor and a 150kW rear axle motor. The total power of the two motors will reach 225kW. Under normal circumstances, the car is rear-wheel drive. If necessary, power can be distributed to the front and rear axles simultaneously through the 4Motion four-wheel drive system in one second.
In terms of battery life, the ID.ROOMZZ battery capacity is 82kWh and the WLTP cruising range is 450km.
In addition, the GT concept car ID.SPACE?VIZZION, the future sedan ID.VIZZION, the van ID.BUZZ, and the sports racing car ID.R are based on the MEB modular front-drive platform. and a series of ID. families, which is Volkswagen’s complete product lineup to enter the electrification era. It is also the first traditional car company among all car companies to conceive and create the ID. series to plan the electric travel pattern.
Real photos of the domestic ID.4 are exposed
However, recently the real photos of the Volkswagen ID.4 have been exposed, and everyone has speculated that Volkswagen may skip the original plan and let the ID. 4 is the first to be launched in China. Whether this move is aimed at the domestic hot SUV market is not yet known, but compared to ID.3 and ID., ID.4 is indeed one step ahead.
2020 is bound to be an extremely critical year for Volkswagen. Whether it is the European market or the Chinese market, Volkswagen's pure electric ID. models based on the MEB platform will be mass-produced this year. Implement and sell.
The transformation involves not only platform electrification, but also software-driven technology business transformation. This link is Volkswagen’s current weakness.
In order to promote the digitalization process, implementing the digital transformation roadmap and establishing Car.Software are the two core points for Volkswagen to achieve software-driven development.
After that, all software-related work, from in-vehicle operating systems, digital ecosystems to new travel services, will be completed by the Car.Software department. By 2025, more than 10,000 software engineers will work for this.
Of course, for an electric vehicle, the three-electric system is the most critical core component, among which the supply of power batteries has become the most urgent pain point for the Volkswagen Group to solve.
On May 28, Volkswagen Group (China) and Guoxuan High-tech officially signed a cooperation agreement. Volkswagen invested 1.1 billion euros to purchase 26.47 shares of Guoxuan High-tech and became its largest shareholder.
At this point, Guoxuan Hi-Tech will also become the Volkswagen Group’s top domestic supplier of power batteries. If the project is finally implemented, the final investment and share subscription results will be completed in 2020.
Volkswagen signed the "Qatar Transportation Project" to develop driverless transportation projects suitable for the local area
In the future, autonomous driving will be the most important blue ocean in the competition for car companies. , but the supply of power batteries also affects the smooth launch and rollout of products.
Faced with Tesla joining hands with Panasonic, LG and CATL, BMW cooperating with CATL, Mercedes-Benz tying up with Funeng, and BYD having its own power battery industry, Volkswagen, a large company, is facing The shortage of power battery supply is naturally quite alarming.
In 2019, CATL’s power batteries continued to rank first in the world with an installed capacity of 32.31GWh. Although its main markets are domestically contributed, as the current leader in the power battery industry, CATL is still One of the best people to hold your thighs.
Although LG Chem and Panasonic follow closely behind, their largest customers are undoubtedly locked by Tesla, Audi, Renault and other car companies; Volkswagen wants to have an absolute say in the power battery supply channel It is quite difficult at present to meet the demand for dozens of pure electric products in terms of volume and volume. The problem of power battery supply has become a current situation where the public is stretched thin.
Instead of being passively restrained, it is better to take the initiative and solve the problem directly from the source of the supply chain. Therefore, Volkswagen invested approximately 1.1 billion euros in Guoxuan Hi-Tech and became the largest shareholder. This move established the power battery market in China. Supply took a shot in the arm.
With the injection of this capital, Guoxuan Hi-Tech has given the public the absolute confidence to control the first source of problems in its own hands, whether it is factory expansion, production capacity improvement, new product development, etc. Sand slowly.
At this time, Volkswagen’s electrification offensive in the Chinese market is obviously more stable, and it can also enhance the competitiveness of Guoxuan Hi-Tech in the global power battery industry. This is another crucial factor in the transformation process of Volkswagen’s electrification era. a move.
But in the advancement of China's electrified travel strategy, this is just one of Volkswagen's pawns. Volkswagen has greater calculations and considerations in the global market.
As early as 2018, Volkswagen had invested US$100 million in California-based QuantumScape, and established a new joint venture to focus on the development of solid-state battery technology. Solid-state batteries will also become Volkswagen's future iteration of ternary. New solutions for lithium batteries and solid-state batteries will also be a turning point in the next generation of new technologies for electric vehicles.
According to the plan, solid-state batteries are expected to be mass-produced in 2025. The e-Golf using solid-state batteries can increase its driving range from 300km to 750km. This data is very impressive.
QuantumScape, a company located in California, has currently obtained more than 200 approved or pending solid-state battery technology patents. According to Volkswagen, solid-state batteries have excellent performance in terms of energy density, safety, volume, and fast charging. Greater advantage.
Volkswagen, like other manufacturers, started the research and development of solid-state batteries early, not only to prepare for commercialization between 2024 and 2025, but also to avoid being overly dependent on other battery suppliers and potentially being Neck problem.
However, according to previous news leaks, Volkswagen has been approved to invest nearly 1 billion euros in building battery factories in Europe. First, it is to strengthen cooperation with battery suppliers such as CATL, Samsung SKI, and LG Chem. Cooperation; the second is to form a stronger technical team to overcome the development and production of lithium batteries; the third is to establish a large-scale battery factory with partners to reduce the injection of large amounts of capital; the fourth is to establish lithium battery and solid-state battery production plants in Europe , and at the same time, making batteries cobalt-free is also the direction that Volkswagen is embarking on.
Of course, "buy, buy, buy" and "invest, invest, invest" are a very important part of Volkswagen's current transformation. Volkswagen Group has previously signed an investment agreement with Jianghuai Automobile Group to accelerate Volkswagen's implementation in China. Electric mobility strategy.
After Volkswagen and JAC cooperated, Volkswagen held a 50% stake in Anhui JAC Automobile Group Holdings Co., Ltd. The two also intended to subscribe to the joint venture and JAC Volkswagen would issue new equity. In the new joint venture, Volkswagen The group will hold 75% of its equity, and the registered capital of the joint venture will increase to 7355615280 yuan.
According to the agreement, the Volkswagen Group will then grant the joint venture 4-5 pure electric models. The new factory’s annual production capacity target in 2025 will be 200,000-250,000 pure electric vehicles. The annual production capacity in 2029 will be Reaching 350,000-400,000 vehicles.
In order for the Volkswagen Group to reduce unnecessary worries on the road to transformation, whether it is building a new factory, establishing a joint venture, two-stepping lithium batteries and solid-state batteries, increasing investment, etc., Volkswagen is bound to eliminate the road to transformation. The obstacles are very determined.
Although the wealthy Volkswagen has the ability to continue to reap every harvest it has cultivated, but under the pressure of the general trend of electrification, this old car company obviously needs to move more steadily, more ambitiously, and more It takes courage and determination.
For a large car company with global positioning like Volkswagen, it is extremely difficult for Diess to promote internal reforms within the group. Seeking changes is also a problem that Diess wants to do but is difficult to implement. Therefore, the future of Volkswagen has always been the focus of the industry.
From the progress of Volkswagen’s series of transformations in recent years, it seems that this car company that everyone is optimistic about is also working hard to achieve the results it wants in the future, and it is not Dare to take it lightly.
The landscape of the electrification era is a new battlefield. Whether it is the early adopters of early entrants or the steady and steady progress of late entrants, winning this newly reclaimed fertile land is a new challenge for everyone.
For Volkswagen, building a huge electrified network support not only consumes materials and labor, but also involves many variables. However, the only thing Volkswagen can do now is to forge ahead, and this is also their only choice.
This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.