Search results for Oliver Blume
Industry
Volkswagen bets on SUVs and pickup trucks to turn around U.S. market
Volkswagen Group is treating the United States as a key base for a performance rebound and is moving to expand its SUV and pickup truck business. The plan aims to secure new growth drivers as profitability worsens in China and the group faces high U.S. tariffs. Chief executive Oliver Blume said the group is making large investments and is considering entry into off-road-focused SUV and pickup segments. The core is the Scout brand, with deliveries targeted for 2028.
Mobility
Xpeng in talks to acquire Volkswagen Europe plant as exports jump 62 percent
Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng is discussing a plant acquisition with Volkswagen to secure a production base in Europe, as capacity at its contract manufacturing line in Austria tightens. Xpeng produced G6 and G9 models for Europe at Magna Steyr in Austria and completed trial production of the 2026 P7+ sedan in January. Xpeng\'s April overseas exports rose 62 percent from a year earlier. Volkswagen is pursuing cuts to excess capacity in Europe and is considering transferring some capacity to Chinese partners.
Mobility
Volkswagen EV profitability unlikely to match combustion cars until 2030
Volkswagen expects its electric vehicles to need at least until 2030 to reach profitability comparable to combustion-engine cars. The automaker presented the outlook during its first-quarter earnings briefing, InsideEVs reported. CFO Arno Antlitz said fully comparable EV margins require a shift to the next-generation SSP platform, which has been delayed from this year to 2030. Volkswagen aims to cut production costs by up to 20 percent versus MEB.