The Powerhouse: An Ecosystem from Volkswagen

Authors

Dipl.-Kfm. Thomas Schmall, Member of the Volkswagen AG Board of Management responsible for Technology and CEO Volkswagen Group Components, Volkswagen AG, Wolfsburg:

Year

2023

Print Info

Production/Publication ÖVK

Summary

The transition from classic combustion technology to electromobility is in full swing. The technological leadership in the e-car leads to completely new success factors – from battery cell technology to the integration of the vehicle into the energy system.

The Volkswagen Group also wants to take on a pioneering role in technology in the new world and is therefore taking the essential technologies into its own hands. The Group Technology division bundles all Group-wide activities relating to Battery, Charging and Energy, Group Components and Platform Business.

Group Components is active at 60 locations worldwide and employs around 70,000 people. The once classic home parts business has been consistently transformed towards the future and today comprises a significant part of the MEB electric platform. Volkswagen is now developing the entire drive system of the electric car, from the electric motor to the battery system to thermal management.

As part of the newly established Platform Business, Volkswagen is also sharing its technologies and platforms with external customers.  The first MEB-based models from manufacturers outside the Volkswagen Group will be presented later this year.

Volkswagen's holistic ecosystem also includes comprehensive activities in the charging and energy sector. The goal is a leading charging and energy system for the Volkswagen Group brands, which, in addition to innovative charging solutions and a global fast-charging network, also includes new, smart business models for the integration of the electric car into the energy system.

As one of the very few car manufacturers, Volkswagen is also taking the entire battery technology into its own hands. The Volkswagen Group has bundled its global battery activities in the European stock corporation PowerCo SE. From Salzgitter, the newly founded company manages the development of the international cell factories, the enhancement of cell technology, the vertical integration of the value chain as well as the equipment of the factories with machines and systems. Further products such as large-scale storage systems for the energy grid are planned in the future. After Salzgitter, the next cell factory is being built in Valencia, and locations are currently being explored for further cell factories.

With these four tech stacks, Group Technology forms the Group's powerhouse. The Powerhouse shows how the classic product portfolio is not only being transformed, but is also being strategically realigned in order to take over the technological leadership in e-mobility as well.

ISBN

978-3-9504969-2-5