Transformation – The Road to Future Mobility

Authors

Dr. Andreas Tostmann,
Volkswagen Brand Board Member for Production,
Volkswagen AG, Wolfsburg

Year

2019

Print Info

Fortschritt-Berichte VDI, Reihe 12, Nr. 811

Summary

Currently, the automotive industry is facing three main challenges – the transition to alternative drive systems, the digitisation of vehicles, and autonomous driving. In particular regarding alternative drive systems, the established automotive companies have to renew their complete model portfolio. The Paris Agreement on climate change of 2015 presents an action plan to limit global warming to well below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels. This can only be realised when the transport sector makes a significant contribution to achieving the target. Therefore, the entire life cycle of the vehicles has to be optimised, including CO₂ 
neutral fuel provision and sustainable energy generation for charging electric vehicles.
Volkswagen Group has announced its commitment to the Paris climate agreement and has started the transformation towards electric vehicles. In 2025, electric vehicles will represent the vast majority of the Group’s portfolio. The Zwickau factory is the first plant in the Volkswagen Group’s production network to be converted into a solely electric vehicle site. From 2022 onwards, the factories in Emden and Hanover will also produce electric cars.