DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) – Volkswagen AG Chief Executive Herbert Diess stated he sees “clear enchancment” in semiconductor provides and expects the automaker’s international production can get better throughout the remainder of this yr.
Diess, talking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum convention in Davos, Switzerland, stated disruptions to Volkswagen’s provide chain in Ukraine are additionally easing. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine quickly halted production of wiring harnesses and different parts utilized in Volkswagen autos.
“The scenario from Ukraine is underneath management now if nothing dangerous actually occurs anymore we cannot lose too many automobiles,” Diess stated.
Diess and different senior Volkswagen executives lined a variety of subjects in a gathering with reporters.
Volkswagen plans to determine this yr on a website within the United States to assemble its proposed Scout model electrical vans and SUVs, Diess stated. The firm is assessing “brownfield websites and a few greenfield places,” he stated, utilizing phrases for current manufacturing amenities and open fields the place fully new factories could possibly be constructed.
Volkswagen Chief Financial Officer Arno Antlitz stated the corporate is not ruling out an eventual share itemizing for the Scout model, however it’s too quickly for that now.
Scout is a part of a broader effort by Volkswagen to increase its presence within the United States market, not only for passenger autos however industrial autos as effectively, Diess and different executives stated.
Volkswagen plans to spend 7 billion euros over the following 5 years beefing up its U.S. product line, together with the addition of an electrical pickup truck, Antlitz stated.
Diess stated he’s assured Volkswagen can safe sufficient batteries to produce its electrical car production via 2025, however he urged some rivals may fall brief.
“Are there sufficient batteries? Probably not. Are there as many batteries as we ordered? Yes, for certain,” Diess stated.
Stellantis Chief Executive Carlos Tavares warned yesterday that automakers may face a battery provide crunch by 2024-2025.
