Volkswagen wants to convert half of its models to battery cars by 2030

The Volkswagen Group wants to have converted half of its entire range of models to battery cars by 2030. This was the goal of CEO Herbert Diess when he presented the new corporate strategy. The largest European car group is also planning to reduce the real CO2 footprint per car over the entire life cycle of a vehicle by 30 percent compared to 2018 levels in the current decade. The specifications are "in line with the Paris Agreement," said VW with a view to the international climate targets. On Wednesday, the EU Commission in Brussels expects details of the steps the European states are to take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent compared to 1990 levels by 2030. By 2040, the world's second largest car company after Toyota wants to create a share of "almost 100 percent of all new vehicles in the important markets" that are carbon-neutral on the balance sheet. The aim is to achieve a completely balanced CO2 balance throughout the group by 2050 at the latest. Volkswagen wants to become the global market leader in e-mobility and above all to catch up with its US competitor Tesla. In the years to come, billions will be invested in the area, as well as in digitization and services. After a rather slow start, the demand for electric vehicles is increasing in many countries - thanks in part to lavish government subsidy programs. When it presented its own new strategy in spring, the core brand VW Pkw announced that it would make at least 70 percent of its sales in Europe from pure electric vehicles by 2030. Volkswagen has given concrete form to its billion-dollar plans to set up its own battery cell factories. The group is teaming up with a large supplier from China at the Salzgitter location. The works council also sees good opportunities for the possible construction of another cell plant in Germany. As the company announced, the Chinese cell manufacturer Gotion High-Tech will participate as a "technology partner" at the headquarters of the previous engine plant in Lower Saxony. For its part, VW is already involved with the company. Both sides had signed an agreement on Salzgitter at the beginning of the week, it was said in Wolfsburg. The year 2025 is targeted as the start of production.