|
Until its "dieselgate" emissions scandal was revealed two and a
half years ago, Volkswagen (VW) had been slow to embrace
electric cars.
But the fraud has prompted a strategic shift, while advances in
batteries and a global fight against pollution are raising
pressure on carmakers to adopt zero-emission alternatives.
Europe's largest automaker said on Tuesday it will expand EV
production to 16 factories worldwide through the end of 2022.
VW has a goal to launch 80 new electric cars across the group by
2025 and offer an electric version of each of its 300 group
models by 2030.
"We have pulled out all the stops over the past months to
implement the Roadmap E swiftly and resolutely," Chief Executive
Matthias Mueller said at VW's earnings news conference.
VW last year started looking for partners in China, Europe and
North America to provide battery technology worth more than 50
billion euros.
A decision on a supplier for North America will be taken soon,
it said.
VW's emissions scandal, new Chinese quotas for electric cars and
tightening rules on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Europe are
causing automakers to focus on green cars and self-driving
technology.
Although grappling with billions of euros in costs and fines for
dieselgate, VW has pledged to spend 34 billion euros on EVs,
autonomous driving and new mobility services by the end of 2022,
one of the most ambitious programs in the industry.
Separately, the German carmaker reiterated guidance for higher
vehicle sales and revenue this year as well as a group return on
sales of 6.5 to 7.5 percent before special items, compared with
7.4 percent last year.
($1 = 0.8114 euros)
(Reporting by Andreas Cremer; Editing by Maria Sheahan)
[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
 |
|
