VW Group CEO Herbert Diess "In Cariad, we are investing 2.5 billion euros per year"
"Then on top of that, there's an acquisition or two"
According to media sources he retreats from supervisory boards at Seat & Skoda bc he wants to focus on SW
VW had already invested around €2bn in the start-up Argo AI, which is jointly operated with Ford, for this purpose
Diess "will be the cardiovascular system of a car".
"It will be beyond 2025 before this (AVs) becomes a business model."
But then, Diess said, things could move very quickly.
"I expect that by 2035, about 40 percent of all cars will be able to drive autonomously."
VW intends to invest in semiconductors
VW CEO Diess
"Apple, Tesla, and others have more definition expertise in semiconductors. To achieve optimal performance for the high demands in cars, software and hardware must come from the same mold"
Agree
Good interview from Diess but the huge problem is that VW does not know how to do software, the SW organization is traditionally weak, time is running out and you can't solve it by throwing money at it
VW initiated a task force to fight against the semiconductor shortage
Head of task force
The situation remains critical in the second quarter and could even worsen. "We are fighting for every vehicle"
VW Head of Chip task force
"The situation will remain tense in the second quarter. Further production adjustments cannot be ruled out"
Hundreds of parts are affected at all car & truck brands
"There are always supply shortages but we've never had a situation like this before"
The chip shortage results in issues much more severe than the market anticipates
The task force involved in purchase chips for their suppliers now and has done 10,000 broker requests to solve bottlenecks but only half of it could be solved
"The application that is now expected to be submitted soon by Tesla amended - expanded to include the construction of a battery factory - is positive news for the country"
Woitke continued
"If this additional investment is now included in the permit application, it goes without saying that the application documents will have to be revised and then, accordingly, the approval authorities will have the final say"
Minister-President Woitke concluded
"We are well advised to do everything we can to ensure that the entire approval process for car production in Grünheide runs in a legally secure manner. The further procedure is currently being discussed."
Secretary-General of the Economic Council, CDU, Steiger
"The delays in locating the new Tesla plant in Brandenburg are not only embarrassing for the capital region, but reveal significant deficiencies in German planning and permitting law"
Steiger continued
"If Germany wants to remain a leading industrial nation, bureaucratic and legal hurdles urgently need to be removed."
Right now no delay has been announced but its given the changing application according to the Ministry likely
Vice Chairman of the FDP Parliamentary Group, Michael Theurer
"The fact that even with a great deal of political backing the process takes longer than construction throws a spotlight on what SMEs (small & medium busin.) have to suffer on a daily basis without such protection"
Lots of confusion in the German & Int. media about the status of Giga Berlin after the Economy committee meeting in the Parliament in Brandenburg today
Minister Steinbach said a delay is not likely the media turns the stores around said '3 months delay'
Steinbach said
"If one were to come to the conclusion - and I say this very clearly in the subjunctive - that one should come to a quasi 3rd overall interpretation under immission control law, that would take about 3 months"
Remember he said "not likely"
The original video recording of the committee meeting is not online yet but I will listen to it once it is and inform with more details
Some risk factors remain and no one can exclude a delay but as of now all risk factors I hear about should be able to manage until July/August