The Volkswagen Group has unveiled a bold ‘New Auto’ business strategy that it says will help to grow revenues through an increased an increased focus on electric cars and software-driven only services.
The New Auto strategy, launched by VW Group boss Herbert Diess, will run until 2030 and will involve the transformation of the car giant into a “software-driven mobility company”.
The plan is designed to enable the VW Group – whose brands include Audi, Bentley, Porsche, Seat, Skoda and VW – capitalise on predicted growth in automotive industry revenue that will be enabled by connected services. It is based on the VW Group’s plans to build on its scale through the increasing used of shared vehicle platforms and software.
The plan involves the VW Group finding new revenue streams through selling car features and services through the internet, and also offering mobility services enabled by autonomous machines.
Diess said the plan was called New Auto “because cars are here to stay”. He added: “Individual mobility will remain the most important means of transport in 2030. People driving or being driven in owned, leased, shared or rented cars will still account for 85% of mobility. And those 85% will be at the core of our business.”
Brands to remain key to VW Group future
While the New Auto plan involves created shared platforms and technology, Diess said that “brands will remain a key differentiator” in the future - and it will organise its marques into more distinct divisions.
Audi has been given greater responsibility for Bentley, Lamborghini and Ducati in the firm’s ‘premium brand portfolio’. Volkswagen will lead the ‘volume’ portfolio that includes Cupra, Seat and Skoda.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will increase its focus on ‘lifestyle’ brand through the California vehicles and the forthcoming ID Buzz. The partnership with Ford will also help make the division more competitive in light commercial vehicles and pick-ups. Diess said that the CV division was undergoing “the most radical transformation” of all the group brands.
Porsche will continue as the group’s sports and performance arm, with Diess noting that it “performs in a league of its own”. He said it will retain a “higher degree of independence”, while still becoming closer integrated in terms of technology.
Focus on EV profits and new revenue streams
The VW Group is expecting BEVs to account for 50% of its global sales by 2040, when it says nearly all of its new vehicles in major markets will be zero-emission. The firm is also committed to become fully climate neutral in its operations by 2050.
With the shift to electrification, the VW Group expects the market for internal combustion engined-vehicles to decline by more than 20% in the next 10 years, with BEVs becoming the largest source of revenue.
“By 2030, the global electric vehicle market will be on par with ICE sales,” said Diess. “We will be more profitable with EVs because batteries and charging will increase the share in value add and with our platforms we will be more competitive.”
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I could be wrong... but it sounds like one of those 'business strategies' where they install all the functionality but then charge a subscription for you to access it. A dashcam would be installed but it's ability to record anything will be via cloud-based services and that will be £7.99 per month for example... or the same camera's ability to recognise trafic signs will add another £2.99 per month.Eventually there will be an annual subscription for the indicators to work and the windows to open...
What possible software could VW sell me? I don't even bother with the self parking feature.