New Volkswagen Passenger Cars CEO Thomas Schafer wants to “make VW a loved brand again”, while also fixing the software issues that have plagued the launch of the firm’s ID range of electric cars and forging closer relationships with sibling brands Seat, Skoda and Cupra.
Schafer, speaking to Autocar at the launch of the new Volkswagen ID Buzz to Car of the Year jurors, outlined the three main goals he has set the brand since he took up the CEO position on 1 July, just three months after joining VW as COO from his previous position as Skoda CEO.
Join the debate
Add your comment
How many new cars have the Volkswagen group launched in the last two years? No point in mentioning Rehashed ID3s wearing Cupra clothing. The answer is very few. They have no idea what they are doing. Communication is poor because they don't have the answers. In the case of Škoda they won't have a new smaller ev for at least another 2 year's. Enough time for the Chinese variants to arrive and do untold damage. Cupra I can't see the future. It's a German DS. Niche cars. I'd be very very worried. They have a moumental amount of work to do over the next 12 months and they need to get their software right. The new EV Models from Volkswagen will need to be their best ever products if they are in the short-term at least going to keep the Koreans at bay. But then, they are still the Volkswagen group and what doesn't kill you will make you stronger.
So he's moving VW towards VE Commercial vehicles, and at the same time "emitionalise" them.
good luck with that one!
Well, from his emotionalised lighthouse, he certainly seems to be good at spewing out meaningless cliches and metaphors which have no meaning.
Agreed - textbook Volkswagen Group - what a load of old b*ll*cks