New strategy, new areas of business, new products: Lower Saxony’s Minister President Stephan Weil pays a visit to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in Hannover

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Stephan Weil, Minister President of Lower Saxony, visited the #volkswagencommercialvehicles (VWCV) site in Hannover today to find out about the most important topics for the brand in future. His visit to the factory focused on autonomous driving, electric mobility, digitalisation, transformation and new business models. Together with further board members, Dr Thomas Sedran, Chairman of the VWCV Brand Board of Management, explained strategies, future areas of business and technical innovations.
 

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is responsible for key future issues within the Group. The plant in Hannover is being expanded to become a centre of excellence for electrically powered light commercial vehicles. The all-electric ID. BUZZ, the new version of the Volkswagen Bulli brand icon, will roll off the production line here from 2022. In addition, within the Group VWCV has started cooperating with Ford in the area of light commercial vehicles. Furthermore, group activities relating to new mobility services such as MOIA and the development of fully automatic robot taxis will be bundled in Hannover.

During his visit, the Minister President was informed about the future field of autonomous driving, based on the example of the SEDRIC (SElf DRIving Car) concept vehicle. SEDRIC is a platform for ideas relating to sustainable, safe and comfortable mobility that is always available at the touch of a button. During his tour of the plant, Weil also spoke with employees about the way jobs are changing with increasing digitalisation in the industry (transformation of personnel/production).

Weil: #volkswagencommercialvehicles is on the right track

Minister President Weil: “One thing is clear: we now need to take clear steps towards more environmentally friendly and digitalised mobility. Today I was able to see for myself that #volkswagencommercialvehicles is on the right track when it comes to these future topics. VWCV is very committed to zero CO2 mobility. In the transformation of the VW Group the Commercial Vehicles division is a trailblazer.”

Weil was impressed at the role the employees are playing in shaping the changes.

“Against the background of changing mobility and the associated challenges for the #automotive industry, we have launched the #automotive Strategy Dialogue in Lower Saxony. This has set itself the task of accompanying and shaping the transformation process looking to the future, exploiting the innovation potential of companies in Lower Saxony and safeguarding employment and jobs.”

Sedran: We are determined to drive change forward

At the meeting, Thomas Sedran, Chairman of the VWCV Board of Management said: “With the expansion of our brand to become an innovative provider of mobility services we have set the course for the future. In future we will operate along the entire value chain: from the connected car to mobile online services and operational, autonomous e-vehicles. To this end, at VWCV we are bundling Group-wide development for autonomous driving and are working intensively on mobility solutions for people and goods in urban areas. For example, we are using the experience gathered with MOIA for use in future mobility services.”

Sedran sees the transition to e-mobility as a “unique opportunity” for VWCV: “We are investing several billion euros in sustainable mobility for light commercial vehicles, a large part of it in electric mobility. Together with the workforce, we want to take this drive technology to a new level in its everyday use.” In order to meet individual customer requirements even better, in addition to vehicles with state-of-the-art diesel engines, the Hanover plant will produce hybrid models and, from 2022, e-vehicles in the ID. BUZZ family. The VWCV CEO stressed: “The Bulli of the future will come from Hannover! This secures the future of the brand and also of the site.”

But the far-reaching structural change can only succeed with “constructive dialogue” between companies and politicians. Sedran: “At VWCV, we're working hard to create a comprehensive range of products and services that offer added value for society and the environment.” Sedran appealed to politicians to ensure the quick development of the nationwide and cross-border charging infrastructure needed for a successful e-mobility offensive.