Tobias Piller’s Post

Around 1.2 million electric cars are currently on the roads in Germany. Their numbers have increased by 55 percent within a year. Leading the way are VW and Tesla. However, it seems that the government's goals for 2030 will not be achieved. VW and Tesla are market leaders in electric cars. The Renault Zoe is the most registered model. The German government falls significantly short of its electric car targets. According to the annual "Electromobility Report" by the Center of Automotive Management (CAM), based on data from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), the number of electric cars in Germany has increased by 55 percent to nearly 1.2 million as of June this year. However, with a total of over 49 million cars, this still represents a relatively small share of 2.4 percent. #evcharging #electricvehicles

Return from pull to push market HIGH DISCOUNTS AT TESLA AND VOLKSWAGEN The next round in the electric car price war At the end of 2023, Hans Peter Schützinger, spokesman for the Porsche Holding Salzburg management, predicted a return from the pull to the push market this year, which would not stop at electric cars. While during the Corona pandemic there were significantly fewer vehicles available than were needed due to supply chain problems and high margins could therefore be achieved, this is no longer the case. So more incentives are needed again. Although they put pressure on margins, they are apparently unavoidable in the fight for market share. For new car buyers, however, the price reductions are encouraging. Because the year 2024 is still young, further price reductions can be expected from many manufacturers in the coming weeks and months. #automotive #retail #Porsche #Volkswagen #tesla #phs #pia https://lnkd.in/eXdB-8rP

Conversion to an all-electric plant in #Emden Volkswagen #ID 7 200 to 300 vehicles per day According to the works council, only a good dozen ID 7s will be coming off the production line in Emden in the first few days. This is expected to change in the coming weeks and production will ramp up. By the beginning of 2024, there should then be between 200 and 300 vehicles. In total, Volkswagen is currently producing around 800 cars a day in Emden, of which around 300 are electric cars. The Passat and the Arteon are still being built in East Frisia in parallel as internal combustion vehicles. "We know that we are in a difficult phase at the moment, in electromobility in general," said Manfred Wulff, head of the Emden works council. In order to counteract the weakening demand, Volkswagen and the works council would like to see suitable framework conditions and support from politicians. "This includes charging infrastructure, but also an electricity price for the company that encourages people to buy an electric car," said Daniela Cavallo, head of the central works council. VW core brand boss Thomas Schäfer also warned, "The transformation will certainly not succeed with the principle of hope alone." He added that policymakers need to think about competitive electricity prices and specific purchase incentives for private and commercial customers. "For this, we need decisions - and we need them now," Schäfer said. Minister President Weil has already pleaded for further government incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles and for the continuation of the so-called company car privilege. https://lnkd.in/gsV8C74D

Spain • The enthusiasm for electric cars among locals still leaves much to be desired, presenting a challenging situation for the Volkswagen Group. Despite this hesitancy, the automotive giant has commenced the construction of a battery factory near Valencia, a project consuming a considerable three billion euros. Wayne Griffiths, who heads the Spanish mass-market segment of Seat, shared his concerns with Automotive News Europe. He emphasized that a significant portion of his company will soon transition to producing electric cars, despite the current lack of market demand in Spain. Volkswagen has committed to investing over seven billion euros in establishing a battery supply chain and manufacturing compact electric cars for its various brands in Spain. Until now, Seat has primarily found success with its affordable combustion engines like the Ibiza and the dynamic Cupra brand, which also garners international appeal. A pivotal component of Volkswagen's strategy in Spain is the establishment of a third battery cell factory in Sagunt, near Valencia, with production expected to commence in 2026. However, the demand for electric cars is declining throughout the region, partly due to strong competition from Chinese manufacturers and Tesla, exposing the vulnerabilities of European automakers. In light of these developments, Volkswagen has temporarily shelved plans to take its battery business public. Particularly in Spain, the situation is challenging as the acceptance of electric cars compared to neighboring countries is low. Last year, fully electric cars accounted for only 5.6 percent of new car sales in Spain, compared to 15 percent across the EU. A significant obstacle to the widespread acceptance of electric cars in Spain is their high prices. The average spending willingness of Spaniards for a new car is just under 28,000 euros, a price point at which few electric models are offered. From 2025, Seat plans to manufacture compact electric cars for multiple brands, including Cupra. Griffiths, who has been at the helm of Seat since October 2020, expressed his concern, stating, "I am very worried. Next year, we will be producing electric cars, but for whom? If they only make up 5 percent of the market." In conclusion, while Volkswagen is making significant investments and commitments towards electric vehicle production in Spain, the challenges lie in stimulating local demand and overcoming price barriers to achieve widespread adoption. #emobility #seat #cupra #electriccars #VWinvestmentSpain #evmarket #trend https://lnkd.in/ecmdBvqU

BYD Germany: An attack? So at least a provocation. The Chinese manufacturer BYD has opened a showroom in the cradle of the automotive industry. Stuttgart, best location. The question now is: Is the competition stimulating the business – or is it taking it over? By Tobias Bug, Max Ferstl, Roland Muschel and Jan Schmidbauer January 11, 2024 Marc Noppenberger knows what a sensible car is. In the past, when he drove through the city in his BMW M3 or his Mercedes S-Class, people would watch him. That was a good sign for him. Marc Noppenberger is a car dealer. For years he sold German cars to Germans, first BMW and later Mercedes. He was always convinced that there was nothing better. That's why he was somewhat surprised when his boss asked him a year ago whether he could also imagine selling BYD cars. All Noppenberger actually knew about BYD was that it was a Chinese manufacturer that his colleagues at the Torpedo car dealership group tiredly laughed at: cheap, unknown, no competition. But because he was curious, Marc Noppenberger wanted to at least sit in a Chinese car like this. In a car dealership in Mannheim he got into the BYD Han. And he still remembers how surprised he was by the good workmanship and the elegant steering wheel. How he sat in the driver's seat and thought: "Man, this is a good place to sit." So he went to his boss and said: I'll do it. BYD, which stands for Build Your Dreams, build your dreams. The slogan is now even on the taillights. And a dream has already come true for the Chinese manufacturer: BYD has sold the most electric cars since the end of 2023, more than Tesla and more than all German manufacturers anyway. There were 526,409 worldwide in the fourth quarter. They sell most of them in China, but that is about to change. BYD wants to go to Europe, to Germany. And yes, also in Stuttgart, where there has been more concern than enthusiasm since the Chinese opened a large showroom here two months ago. Not somewhere out in Möhringen, but in the Calwer Passage. Best location. The Stuttgarter Zeitung wrote about a “declaration of war”. An attack? So at least a provocation. Stuttgart is the unofficial car capital of Germany, perhaps even the world. This is where Gottlieb Daimler invented his “high-speed internal combustion engine with uncontrolled glow tube ignition” almost 140 years ago. Not only Mercedes and Porsche have their headquarters here and in the surrounding area, but also suppliers such as Bosch and Mahle, without whose parts hardly any modern car runs. Without their jobs the region would not be so rich. The people of Stuttgart are attached to their cars. And they pride themselves on building the best engines in the world. The six-cylinder boxer from Porsche. The indestructible diesels from Mercedes. Source: sueddeutsche #autohaus #byd #automotive #retail #Hedin https://lnkd.in/dUhenUXt

A good step, because you should know what you are developing and also understand what is important for electric vehicles. These may not be huge differences to the combustion engine, but they are very significant and therefore somehow big.   It's a bit sad that it has to be prescribed. And no, there is no obstacle to electric vehicles, except in your own mind, EVs are absolutely suitable for everyday use. I've been driving fully electric since 2017, so I can make an informed assessment. So are Mercedes managers in tune with the times and innovative when they have to be forced into new technology or does it show the image of sticking to the comfort zone? (The question could be asked for all OEMs and suppliers from the classic combustion engine world).   #culture #transformation #emobility https://lnkd.in/egf9EKui

My current subjective BEV ranking. There is a lot of discussion about Chinese BEVs, and rightly, because they are ahead on many points. Advanced software, many different battery variants, new customer functions already in the wide range of vehicles and all this at a reasonable price. Currently, only Tesla can follow suit, and technically we are not doing too badly in the USA with Lucid, Rivian, etc. Not to be forgotten in my view are the Koreans, especially Kia/Hyundai. 800V platform already standard, good equipment and prices, very efficient vehicles and good selection.   1. China (BYD, Geely, XPeng,...) 2. USA (Tesla, Rivian, Lucid,...) 3. Korea (Hyundai, Kia) 4. Europe (not specific) 5. India (not specific)   And as for new mobility, not to forget:   1. Singapore 2. Netherlands 3. USA (San Francisco)   How do you see it and what good examples can we still learn from?   #mobility #BEV #ranking https://lnkd.in/eFn-FEYW

Stellantis Commits to an All-Electric Future by 2030 in Europe 🚗🔋 Despite growing doubts about the rapid shift away from combustion engines, Stellantis remains steadfast in its commitment to sell only fully electric vehicles in Europe by 2030. While some manufacturers like Mercedes and Ford are revising their strategies and extending the life of combustion engines and hybrids, Stellantis European head Uwe Hochgeschurtz is clear: “The electric car is the much better car.” Stellantis stands firm in its vision, undeterred by market uncertainties and competitors’ adjustments. The future is electric, and Stellantis is leading the charge! ⚡🌍 My message to EU policymakers: There should be no doubts about reviewing the 2035 target in the EU. Let's stay committed to a sustainable and clean automotive future. #Stellantis #ElectricVehicles #EVs #Sustainability #FutureOfMobility #GreenTech #EUPolicy #CleanEnergy sorry, article only in German but you'll find your way https://lnkd.in/eNWvWtaw

Congratulations to Opel! 22% growth in #electricvehicles and with a total #sales increase of 15 percent the strongest growth in more than 20 years ⚡⚡⚡ Roundabout 90,000 electric cars were sold, an increase of 22 percent compared to the previous year. In addition to the top positions in #Germany and the #UK, the #Corsa #Electric achieved second place in its segment in #Italy, the #Netherlands, #Portugal and #Austria. The #Mokka Electric was the front-runner in the #SUV B segment in the UK and took the silver medal in the B SUV segment in Germany, #Spain, #Poland and #Belgium. Opel and #Vauxhall sold a total of 125,000 light #commercial #vehicles #worldwide, which corresponds to growth of 26 percent compared to 2022. With around 17,000 Combo Electric, Vivaro Electric and Movano Electric units sold in the #European market (EU29), the brands secured a leading position in #electricvans. Worldwide sales increased to around 670,000 vehicles. The German manufacturer thus achieved its highest registration figures for four years. Source: https://lnkd.in/e5WcXeSj #emobility #charging #ac #dc #hpc #battery #bev #phev #waytozero

May 28, 1937 - Volkswagen is Founded The government of Germany—then under the control of Adolf Hitler of the National Socialist (Nazi) Party—forms a new state-owned automobile company, then known as Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagens mbH. Later that year, it was renamed simply Volkswagenwerk, or “The People’s Car Company.” Originally operated by the German Labor Front, a Nazi organization, Volkswagen was headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. In addition to his ambitious campaign to build a network of autobahns and limited access highways across Germany, Hitler’s pet project was the development and mass production of an affordable yet still speedy vehicle that could sell for less than 1,000 Reich marks (about $140 at the time). To provide the design for this “people’s car,” Hitler called in the Austrian and German automotive engineer Ferdinand Porsche. In 1938, at a Nazi rally, the Fuhrer declared: “It is for the broad masses that this car has been built. Its purpose is to answer their transportation needs, and it is intended to give them joy.” However, soon after the KdF (Kraft-durch-Freude)-Wagen (“Strength-Through-Joy” car) was displayed for the first time at the Berlin Motor Show in 1939, World War II began, and Volkswagen halted production. After the war ended, with the factory in ruins, the Allies would make Volkswagen the focus of their attempts to resuscitate the German auto industry. Volkswagen sales in the United States were initially slower than in other parts of the world, due to the car’s historic Nazi connections as well as its small size and unusual rounded shape. In 1959, the advertising agency Doyle Dane Bernbach launched a landmark campaign, dubbing the car the “Beetle” and spinning its diminutive size as a distinct advantage to consumers. Over the next several years, VW became the top-selling auto import in the United States. In 1960, the German government sold 60 percent of Volkswagen’s stock to the public, effectively denationalizing it. Twelve years later, the Beetle surpassed the longstanding worldwide production record of 15 million vehicles, set by Ford Motor Company’s legendary Model T between 1908 and 1927. With the Beetle’s design relatively unchanged since 1935, sales grew sluggish in the early 1970s. VW bounced back with the introduction of sportier models such as the Rabbit and later, the Golf. In 1998, the company began selling the highly touted “New Beetle” while still continuing production of its predecessor. After nearly 70 years and more than 21 million units produced, the last original Beetle rolled off the line in Puebla, Mexico, on July 30, 2003.