VW bails on its plan for a $2.1B EV plant in Germany

Volkswagen’s $2.1 billion plan to launch a devoted electric-vehicle manufacturing unit in Wolfsburg, Germany is kaput. 

The automaker as an alternative reportedly plans to modify its existing plants in Zwickau and Wolfsburg to deal with manufacturing of a brand new flagship EV — the postponed Project Trinity — and an all-electric Golf hatchback. 

This tracks with an earlier assertion from VW passenger automobiles boss Thomas Schaefer, who said last year that a further manufacturing unit may not be needed as VW produces fewer combustion-engine automobiles over time. Nonetheless, this isn’t nearly making house for EVs; the automaker is in cost-cutting mode.

Actually, that’s placing it evenly. In July, Schaefer stated VW’s “roof is on fire” in a gathering with senior leaders, citing the corporate’s have to overhaul its “complicated, sluggish, and rigid” processes. An enormous issue right here was VW’s delayed embrace of EVs, which led it to lose severe floor to BYD in China.

VW nonetheless hasn’t actually proved itself in electrics — in truth, only a couple days in the past Reuters reported that the automaker would temporarily pause production of two EVs — the ID.3 and Cupra Born — because of decreased demand.