EuropaWire Online News – Page 87 – I wish I had more to offer

ENGIE and Arval launch new green transport offer that aims to simplify access to electric vehicles

La Défense, France, 17-Dec-2018 — /EuropaWire/ — ENGIE, the global energy company and major player in charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, and Arval, the global specialist in corporate vehicle fleet leasing, have announced the launch of a new green transport offer that aims to simplify access to electric vehicles for companies, local communities and private individuals. Based on a monthly rental fee, the integrated service includes electric vehicle leasing from Arval and the installation and maintenance by ENGIE of charging points at company sites, in town centres or at drivers’ homes. The offer includes an unique and innovative “green energy” option.

The offer will be launched first in Belgium in early 2019 and then in France. It will subsequently be deployed in several countries, including Italy, the Netherlands and the UK.

This commercial agreement confirms ENGIE and Arval’s commitment to the development of green mobility.

Signing the agreement, Shankar Krishnamoorthy, ENGIE’s Executive Vice-President, said: “Supporting the energy transition with cleaner mobility solutions – including electric – is at the heart of ENGIE’s strategy. This new integrated offer, created jointly with Arval, will democratise access to electric vehicles and help improve air quality and reduce noise pollution in cities.”

Transport is currently responsible for 23% of CO2 emissions worldwide and 95% of the sector still relies on petroleum fuels. As the leading independent electricity generator and a pioneer of the energy revolution, ENGIE has made green mobility one of the pillars of its strategy. The ENGIE Group is developing a range of solutions tailored to its customers’ needs such as urban planning consultancy services, public transport solutions (electrification, installation of signalling systems, service optimisation), solutions using alternative fuels (electricity but also natural gas and hydrogen) and digital platforms aiming to improve traffic flow. To find out more about ENGIE’s commitment to green mobility, visit: https://www.engie.com/en/news/panorama-green-mobility/

Bart Beckers, Arval’s Chief Commercial Officer, commented: “We are delighted to be cooperating with ENGIE in this innovative partnership and combining our strengths to support our future customers with tailored electric mobility services that will facilitate their electrification strategies. For Arval, this partnership illustrates our ambition to be an active player in the energy transition by working with strategic international partners to accelerate change.”

Companies are increasingly keen to introduce vehicles using alternative energy sources into their fleets: 26% of companies intend to choose electric vehicles for part of their fleet in the next three years, and this percentage climbs to 56% among major corporations. Arval is committed to supporting its customers in their energy transition strategies by helping them choose the right vehicle for their purposes. Electric vehicles are an increasingly attractive solution, particularly in urban areas, to help reduce air and noise pollution levels. With services developed to simplify and accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, Arval is positioning itself as a major player in its industry in the field of electric vehicles and their ecosystem.

About ENGIE

We are a global energy and services group, focused on three core activities: low-carbon power generation, mainly based on natural gas and renewable energy, global networks and customer solutions. Driven by our ambition to contribute to a harmonious progress, we take up major global challenges such as the fight against global warming, access to energy to all, or mobility, and offer our residential customers, businesses and communities energy production solutions and services that reconcile individual and collective interests. Our integrated – low-carbon, high-performing and sustainable – offers are based on digital technologies. Beyond energy, they facilitate the development of new uses and promote new ways of living and working. Our ambition is conveyed by each of our 150,000 employees in 70 countries. Together with our customers and partners, they form a community of imaginative builders who invent and build today solutions for tomorrow.
2017 turnover: 65 billion Euros. Listed in Paris and Brussels (ENGI), the Group is represented in the main financial (CAC 40, BEL 20, Euro STOXX 50, STOXX Europe 600, MSCI Europe, Euronext 100, FTSE Eurotop 100, Euro STOXX Utilities, STOXX Europe 600 Utilities) and extra-financial indices (DJSI World, DJSI Europe and Euronext Vigeo Eiris – World 120, Eurozone 120, Europe 120, France 20, CAC 40 Governance). To learn morewww.engie.com

ENGIE HQ Press contact:
Tel. France : +33 (0)1 44 22 24 35
Email: engiepress@engie.com
Investors relations contact
Tel. : +33 (0)1 44 22 66 29
Email: ir@engie.com

SOURCE: ENGIE

Volkswagen’s Toolmaking unit adds highly advanced 3-D printing center to its facilities in Wolfsburg

Official opening with 3-D scissors: (from left to right) Oliver Schauerte, Head of Research, Materials and Production Processes, Eckhard Ritz, Head of Toolmaking, Volkswagen brand, and Uwe Schwartz, Head of Planning, Volkswagen brand, together open the 3-D printing center.

Innovative binder jetting process sets new standards for speed, flexibility and automation
New printer generation can print production parts in addition to prototypes in future
Dr. Andreas Tostmann: “The 3-D printing center takes Volkswagen’s additive manufacturing activities to a new level.”

WOLFSBURG, 13-Dec-2018 — /EuropaWire/ — The Volkswagen brand’s Toolmaking unit is adding a highly advanced 3-D printing center to its facilities in Wolfsburg. With the opening of the center, the unit is bringing the most highly advanced generation of 3-D printers to the Volkswagen Group, which will allow the production of complex vehicle parts in the future. In addition, with the new center, Toolmaking is implementing a key point of the pact for the future concluded in 2016 and expanding its production competences with subsidies from the Innovation Fund II.

“The 3-D printing center takes Volkswagen’s additive manufacturing activities to a new level,” said Dr. Andreas Tostmann, Board Member for Production of the Volkswagen brand. “In two to three years’ time, three-dimensional printing will also become interesting for the first production parts. In the future, we may be able to use 3-D printers directly on the production line for vehicle production,” Tostmann added.

The new generation of 3-D printers developed in cooperation with the US manufacturer HP is the most modern within the Volkswagen Group and is based on the binder jetting process, which supplements the previous selective laser melting (SLM) process. Binder jetting not only makes metallic 3-D printing considerably easier but also faster. In future, it will be possible to manufacture production parts in addition to prototypes.

At the 3-D printing center, which has a floor space of 3,100 m², toolmakers, planners and research team members cooperate closely on the development of new products and processes. Within the framework of the pact for the future, a new additive manufacturing unit providing 11 future-oriented jobs has been established.

At the opening ceremony, the Head of Additive Manufacturing, Oliver Pohl, especially underlined the performance of the entire team which has recorded outstanding achievements for the future since the start of conversion work a year ago. “Here, we have created an innovative center which will be of tremendous strategic importance for Volkswagen in the future.”

“The inauguration of the 3-D printing center underlines the importance of Innovation Fund II, which makes investments like this possible,” said Works Council member Susanne Preuk. “The Works Council welcomes the fact that the company is opening up to new technologies and shaping them in a future-oriented way in the interest of the employees.”

To date, the Volkswagen Group has mainly used the SLM process for 3-D printing with metals. In this process, the material used, such as steel, is applied to a base plate in a thin layer. A laser beam then melts the powder at the points where the component is to be created. The molten powder hardens, forming a solid material layer. The new printers at the center will now allow the use of other 3-D printing processes such as binder jetting. In this additive process, components are manufactured using a metal powder and a binder applied in layers. The metal part which has been printed is then “baked” in a sintering process. In future, the various processes, which each have specific applications, will supplement each other in an ideal way.

Your media contacts

Torsten Cramm
Spokesperson Production Wolfsburg
Tel. +49 (0) 5361 / 9-22880
Send Email

Leslie Bothge
Spokesperson Production / Procurement
Tel. +49 (0) 5361 / 9-21549
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SOURCE:Volkswagen AG

AUDI AG Supervisory Board appointed Bram Schot as the Chairman of the Board of Management effective January 1, 2019

Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG (temporary) and Member of the Board of Management for Sales and Marketing

Appointed as of January 1, 2019
Audi Supervisory Board Chairman and Volkswagen CEO Dr. Herbert Diess: “We have laid important groundwork for Audi’s future orientation.”
Peter Mosch, Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board and Chairman of the General Works Council: “Workforce expects further impetus for the new start at the company.”

INGOLSTADT, 13-Dec-2018 — /EuropaWire/ — The Supervisory Board of AUDI AG has appointed Bram Schot as the Chairman of the Board of Management effective January 1, 2019. Schot has headed the company since June 2018 as interim CEO. Schot will continue temporarily to hold Board of Management responsibility for Sales and Marketing from January 1 onwards.

“With the appointment of a new Chairman of the Board of Management, we have laid important groundwork for Audi’s future orientation. As interim CEO, Bram Schot has already done a convincing job in recent months. He is pushing forward with the cultural change in his team and is effectively tackling the current challenges. With the benefit of a strong mandate, he will further accelerate the transformation of the company and lead the Four Rings to new successes,” said the Audi Supervisory Board Chairman and VW Group CEO, Dr. Herbert Diess.

Peter Mosch, Deputy Chairman of the Audi Supervisory Board and Chairman of the General Works Council, said: “The Audi workforce wants clear conditions at the top of the company. That’s why we employee representatives are committed to doing the job properly and appointing Bram Schot as Chairman of the Board of Management. During his interim period, he has already shown that he can give great impetus to the new start we have called for and initiated. He must now continue along this path and lead Audi back to the top. That’s what the workforce expects.”

Bram Schot will become Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, which includes Ducati, Lamborghini and Italdesign Giugiaro as well as the Audi brand, on January 1, 2019. Temporarily, he will have Board of Management responsibility for the area of Sales and Marketing. The 57-year-old has been AUDI AG Board of Management Member for Sales and Marketing since September 2017. On June 19, 2018, he was additionally appointed as the Interim Board of Management Chairman.

Born in the Netherlands, Bram Schot had previously been responsible for Marketing and Sales on the Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles from 2012 onwards. In 2011, he left his position as President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Italia to move to the Volkswagen Group, where he was at first responsible for strategic projects in the Group’s Sales division.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Susanne Herr
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Tel. +49 841 89-92760

Johannes Hofsommer
Spokesman Works Council AUDI AG
Tel. +49 841 89-34794

SOURCE: AUDI AG

Mercedes-Benz: EQC’s accident safety was validated at the Mercedes-Benz technology centre for vehicle safety (TFS)

Mercedes-Benz EQC: Crash-Erprobung im Mercedes-Benz Technologiezentrum Fahrzeugsicherheit (TFS) in Sindelfingen.;Stromverbrauch kombiniert: 22,2 kWh/100 km; CO2-Emissionen kombiniert: 0 g/km, vorläufige Angaben*
Mercedes-Benz EQC: Crash-testing at the Mercedes-Benz Technology Centre for Vehicle Safety (TFS) in Sindelfingen.;combined power consumption: 22.2 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km, provisional figures*

combined power consumption: 22.2 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km, provisional figures [1]

STUTTGART, 12-Dec-2018 — /EuropaWire/ — The new Mercedes-Benz EQC (combined power consumption: 22.2 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km, provisional figures)[1] is also a genuine Mercedes when it comes to passive safety. In addition to the usual, extensive programme of crash tests, the brand applies stringent safety standards to the battery and all component parts carrying electrical current. In many cases these standards exceed legal requirements.

Mercedes-Benz’s extensive experience of high-voltage drive systems has led to a special safety concept. The EQC’s accident safety was validated at the Mercedes-Benz technology centre for vehicle safety (TFS), the most advanced crash test centre in the world. Here vehicles, including prototypes with large electric batteries, have been tested under harsh crash conditions. The result is a whole array of constructive measures which deliver the EQC’s high level of crash safety:

A new subframe surrounds the drive components located in the front section, and this unit is supported by the usual mounting points.
The battery is surrounded by a robust frame with an integral crash structure. Deformation elements are installed between the frame and the battery, and these are able to absorb additional forces in the event of a severe side impact.
A battery guard in the front area of the battery is able to prevent the energy storage unit from being pierced by foreign objects.
The high-voltage system can also be shut down automatically in a crash, depending on its severity. A distinction is made between a reversible and an irreversible cut-off. When it is shut down the voltage in the high-voltage system outside of the battery reduces to below the safety-relevant voltage limit in a very short time.
Another feature of the comprehensive high-voltage safety concept is that the charging process is automatically curtailed if an impact is detected when stationary at a quick-charging station (DC charging). There are also shutdown points where emergency teams can deactivate the high-voltage system manually.
In addition to assessing the occupant values during a crash, the battery’s accident safety was also tested at the development centre of Deutsche ACCUMOTIVE, a wholly-owned Daimler subsidiary. Test criteria included the battery’s behaviour under impact and when penetrated by foreign bodies, with overheating and overloading also simulated.

Beyond the structural safety and the battery protection concept, the model’s specially adapted restraint systems are particularly important for the occupants in the event of an accident.

Three-point seat belts with pyrotechnical belt tensioners and belt force limiters are installed for the driver, front passenger and passengers on the outer rear seats (normal three-point seat belt in the centre at the rear).
i-Size (Europe) and ISOFIX (other countries) child seat attachment points for securely attaching appropriate child seats on the outer rear seats
Window airbags in the roof area between the A, B and C-pillars for the head area of the driver, front passenger and passengers on the outer rear seats
Combined thorax/pelvis side impact airbags for driver and front passenger. Additional optional side impact airbags for the outer rear seats.
Airbags for driver and front passenger in the event of a severe frontal impact, with dual-stage, time-delayed deployment on the passenger side
Knee airbag for the driver

Numerous measures help to ensure that when Mercedes-Benz vehicles suffer an accident, consequential damage is reduced and rescue of the occupants is assisted. As soon as a protective system (e.g. belt tensioner and airbag) is triggered, an emergency call or a service call is made or a breakdown is detected, the following measures can be initiated depending on the accident type and severity:

Automatic activation of Mercedes-Benz emergency call to notify emergency services of the location and emergency situation and initiate rescue.
Shutdown of the high-voltage system
Activation of the hazard warning system to warn other road users
Interior lighting switched on
Front side windows lowered for ventilation in the event of airbag deployment
Central locking system unlocked
Lifting of the electrically adjustable steering column
Notification of a detected breakdown or accident situation to Car-to-X communication and to the Mercedes-Benz service centre
A rescue sticker provides a direct link to the vehicle’s rescue data sheet. Corresponding stickers are affixed to the charging flap and to the opposite B-pillar of the vehicle for this purpose. In the aftermath of an accident, rescue services can scan the QR code with a smartphone or tablet PC for fast and reliable access to the rescue data sheet for the specific vehicle concerned, thus facilitating rescue operations.
Alongside the rescue data sheets, the Rescue Assist App for smartphones and tablets also has three-dimensional views of the vehicle – now also offline in case there is no mobile network available at the accident scene.

Video impressions from the EQC’s crash testing can be found here.

[1] Figures for power consumption and CO2 emissions are provisional and were determined by the Technical Service. The range figures are also provisional. EC type approval and a certificate of conformity with official figures are not yet available. Differences between the stated figures and the official figures are possible.

SOURCE: Daimler AG

MEDIA CONTACTS

Sarah Widmann
Office Intelligent Drive & Passive Safety
Email sarah.widmann@daimler.com
Phone +49 711 17-97729
Fax +49 711 17-79094388

Wolfgang Würth
Office Manager Communications EQ
Email wolfgang.wuerth@daimler.com
Phone +49 711 17-46508
Fax +49 711 17-79016071

Koert Groeneveld
Office Head of International Product & Technology Communications
Email koert.groeneveld@daimler.com
Phone +49 711 17-92311
Fax +49 711 17-94365

Daimler takes the next step towards securing its CASE (connectivity, autonomous, shared & services and electric) corporate strategy

Electric Line-Up Daimler AG
Electric Line-Up Daimler AG

Consistent implementation of the CASE corporate strategy.
Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars: “Our electric offensive continues to gain momentum. After investing billions of euros in the development of the electric fleet and the expansion of our global battery network, we are now taking the next step: With the purchase of battery cells for more than 20 billion euros, we are consistently pushing forward with the transformation into the electric future of our company. We plan a total of 130 electrified variants at Mercedes-Benz Cars by 2022. In addition, we will have electric vans, buses and trucks.”
Wilko Stark, Member of the Divisional Board Mercedes-Benz Cars, Procurement and Supplier Quality: “With extensive orders for battery cells until the year 2030, we set another important milestone for the electrification of our future electric vehicles of the EQ product and technology brand. In this way, together with our partners, we ensure the supply of our global battery production network today and in the future using the latest technologies.”
The Human Rights Respect System creates a systematic approach to respect for human rights in sustainable supply chains. A prerequisite for a supply contract is consent to the disclosure of the entire supply chain.

STUTTGART, 12-Dec-2018 — /EuropaWire/ — Daimler is taking the next step towards securing its CASE corporate strategy. The company already plays a leading role in all four areas of connectivity, autonomous, shared & services and electric. The combination of the individual fields plays a decisive role, especially in the transformation to electric mobility. Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars: “Our electric offensive continues to gain momentum. After investing billions of euros in the development of the electric fleet and the expansion of our global battery network, we are now taking the next step: With the purchase of battery cells for more than 20 billion euros, we are systematically pushing forward with the transformation into the electric future of our company. We plan a total of 130 electrified variants at Mercedes-Benz Cars by 2022. In addition, we will have electric vans, buses and trucks.”

The company is investing ten billion euros in the expansion of the Mercedes-Benz Cars electric fleet and another billion euros in the global battery production network within the worldwide production network.

“With extensive orders for battery cells until the year 2030, we set another important milestone for the electrification of our future electric vehicles of the EQ product and technology brand. In this way, together with our partners, we ensure the supply of our global battery production network today and in the future using the latest technologies,” says Wilko Stark, Member of the Divisional Board Mercedes-Benz Cars, Procurement and Supplier Quality since October 2018. The suppliers are already producing battery cells in Asia and Europe and are continuing to expand in Europe and additionally in the USA.

Mercedes-Benz Cars battery production network

Daimler is investing more than one billion euros in a global battery production network within the worldwide production network of Mercedes-Benz Cars. The company purchases the cells on the world market. This ensures the best possible technology and focuses on the core competence of battery assembly. The global battery production network of Mercedes-Benz Cars will in the future consist of eight factories on three continents. The first factory in Kamenz is already in series production and the second factory there will start series production at the beginning of 2019. Two more factories will be built in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim, one at the company’s Sindelfingen site, and one each at the sites in Beijing (China), Bangkok (Thailand) and Tuscaloosa (USA). The local production of batteries is an important success factor in Mercedes-Benz Cars’ electric offensive and is decisive for meeting the global demand for electric vehicles flexibly and efficiently.

As an integral and important element of our electrical strategy. Competences for the technological evaluation of cells as well as research and development activities will be consistently expanded. These include the continuous optimization of the current generation of Li-ion systems, the further development of cells bought on the world market and research of the next generation of so-called post-lithium-ion systems.

Mercedes-Benz Cars electric offensive

By 2022, the entire Mercedes portfolio is to be electrified, with various electrified alternatives available in every segment, from the smart to the SUVs. In total, there will be well over 130 variants, from the 48-volt electrical system to EQ Boost and plug-in hybrids and more than ten all-electric vehicles powered by batteries or fuel cells. By 2025, sales of battery-electric vehicles are to increase to 15-25 percent of total unit sales – depending on individual customer preferences and the development of the public infrastructure.

Daimler commercial vehicles with an extensive electric portfolio

Daimler has been gaining experience with electric trucks since 2010 and has had its first all-electric truck in series production on the market and in customers’ hands since last year: the Fuso eCanter light-duty truck. The all-electric eActros for heavy-duty distribution transport has also been proving its worth on Germany’s roads since June 2018. In September, Mercedes-Benz Trucks handed over the first of a total of ten eActros trucks of the so-called innovation fleet to a customer for use in everyday operations. Series production in the bus segment began in autumn this year and the first Mercedes-Benz eCitaro was recently delivered to Hamburg’s public transport operator – Hamburger Hochbahn AG. Mercedes-Benz Vans electrifies its entire commercial fleet. It starts with the all-electric mid-size van eVito, which has been delivered since November 2018. The eSprinter will follow in the second half of 2019. At the same time, Mercedes-Benz Vans thinks beyond the vehicle and, together with the customers, develops an overall system solution for the respective vehicle fleet. Two examples for the close integration of the customer perspective are the pilot projects with Hermes and Amazon Logistics. Hermes Germany will receive 1,500 Mercedes-Benz electric transporters and the corresponding efficient charging infrastructure. Amazon Logistics takes over 100 eVito in Bochum and Dusseldorf. The vehicles from Daimler Trucks, Daimler Buses and Mercedes-Benz Vans thus provide an electrical solution for all segments in inner-city traffic.

Sustainable supply of raw materials

Sustainability is one of the basic principles of Daimler’s corporate strategy as well as being a benchmark for corporate success. This also includes the responsible procurement of raw materials. Daimler has therefore developed a systematic approach to respecting human rights: the Human Rights Respect System. With its risk-oriented and systematic approach, the system makes the subject of human rights manageable even along complex supply chains. Daimler attaches particular importance to a sustainable raw-material supply chain for the expected growth in electric vehicles. To this end, Daimler has been defining sustainability requirements for suppliers in its Supplier Sustainability Standards for several years. All new Mercedes-Benz suppliers are subjected to potential analyses before they are commissioned. Approximately 700 quality engineers carry out these audits, if necessary together with human rights experts in the field. A prerequisite for a supply contract with Mercedes-Benz Cars is consent to disclosure of the entire supply chain, right back to the mines. Essential elements of our requirements for suppliers relate to working conditions and compliance with human rights. The direct suppliers undertake to firmly pass on and monitor our sustainability standards within the supply chain. Responsibility for the procurement of raw materials for the production of battery cells lies with the suppliers. However, Daimler does not leave its partners alone with this task and supports them with interdisciplinary teams.

About CASE

CASE – these letters are shaping the future of mobility. They stand for the fields of networking (Connected), autonomous driving (Autonomous), flexible use (Shared & Services) and electric drive systems (Electric). The four CASE fields are an integral part of the corporate strategy of Daimler AG. The aim is to shape intuitive mobility for our customers through intelligent dovetailing of the CASE topics.

Mercedes-Benz Cars already plays a leading role in all four areas today. For example, all activities in the area of connectivity are focused on the digital brand Mercedes me, which gives customers access to an extensive and personalized range of services by app, website or straight from their car.

On the way to autonomous driving, Mercedes-Benz has for years been a key driver of development and has repeatedly set the benchmark. To this end, the Mercedes engineers use what is known as sensor fusion. The data from different sensors, such as cameras, ultrasound and radar, are intelligently combined and analyzed. With smart vision EQ fortwo, the smart brand is also demonstrating what driving without a steering wheel could look like in the future of carsharing.

The inventor of the car is already playing a leading role in the field of Sharing & Services. The mobility services used by over 18 million people range from free-floating carsharing (car2go), through ride-hailing (mytaxi) to the mobility platform (moovel).

Mercedes-Benz is pursuing a holistic approach to powertrain electrification. Apart from the EQ brand with a family of vehicles, Mercedes-Benz is also developing a h..

JAC Volkswagen Automotive Co., Ltd. held groundbreaking ceremony for the New Energy Passenger Vehicle Project R&D Centre located in Hefei, Anhui Province, China

The groundbreaking ceremony of the new R&D centre in Hefei has been attended by representatives from JAC Volkswagen, SEAT and Volkswagen Group China.

The R&D centre will be located in Hefei and will focus on key areas such as electrification, connectivity and autonomous driving
Thanks to the strong support of shareholders, among them SEAT, JAC Volkswagen will continue moving forward with its innovation-driven future sustainable mobility strategy
Li Ming, President of JAC Volkswagen, noted that the groundbreaking on the R&D centre is a milestone for the company

Hefei, China, 12-Dec-2018 — /EuropaWire/ — JAC Volkswagen Automotive Co., Ltd. held a groundbreaking ceremony for the New Energy Passenger Vehicle Project R&D Centre located in Hefei, Anhui Province. The ceremony came two weeks after a strategic agreement was signed by Volkswagen Group China, JAC and SEAT in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Hefei Municipal Committee Secretary Song Guoquan, Volkswagen Group China President and CEO Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann, JAC Chairman An Jin, SEAT Vice-president for Production and Logistics, Dr. Christian Vollmer and SEAT Vice-president for R&D Dr. Matthias Rabe, along with other local government representatives and senior executives of JAC Volkswagen’s shareholders participated in the historic groundbreaking ceremony together with investors and employee representatives.

“Today’s groundbreaking for the R&D centre is another breakthrough in the history of JAC Volkswagen,” said JAC Volkswagen President Li Ming. “Electrification and making cars smart are the key directions for the transformation that is happening in the automotive industry. With the strong support of the shareholders and all the sectors, the company is seizing the opportunity to pursue innovation-driven development in its new energy vehicle offensive, and move towards the future of sustainable mobility.”

The R&D centre, located in the Hefei Economic and Technology Development Zone, will focus on key areas such as electrification, connectivity and autonomous driving. All parties will leverage their investment, knowledge and technology strengths to ensure the R&D centre fulfils its goals. This project is an indicator of the progress that JAC Volkswagen is making in its battery electric vehicle offensive, and signals a firm step towards the next stage of development.

SEAT Vice-president for Production and Logistics and member of the Supervisory Board of JAC Volkswagen, Dr. Christian Vollmer said that “at SEAT, we are very proud to be the lead brand within the Volkswagen Group in the JAC Volkswagen joint venture. China is the world’s leading market for the electric vehicle and SEAT’s will is to contribute, together with our partners, to make mobility increasingly more sustainable.”

E-mobility along with digitalisation, connectivity and autonomous driving are the future of the mobility industry, and China has established itself as a major driver of this transformation. The construction of the R&D centre not only fulfils the agreements signed on July 9 and November 28 this year, it is also an important cornerstone for the development of JAC Volkswagen in China’s new energy vehicle industry.

Peter Wyhinny, First Vice-president of JAC Volkswagen said “I feel very proud and excited to witness this historic moment. With the rapid development of the electric vehicle industry, JAC Volkswagen, as the first joint venture dedicated to these vehicles in China, is taking full advantage of its shareholders’ resources to meet the needs of Chinese customers and build a sustainable mobility future with new technology.”

This is part of the effort made by Volkswagen Group China and its joint ventures in the e-mobility field, which will see the launch of 30 new energy vehicle models in the next two years, half of which will be produced in China. The Group aims to deliver around 400,000 New Energy Vehicles in China in 2020, and is preparing to deliver around 1.5 million in 2025.

SOURCE: Volkswagen AG

MEDIA CONTACT

Peik von Bestenbostel
Head of Volkswagen Communications
Phone: +49 (0) 5361 / 9-26655
Email: peik.bestenbostel@volkswagen.de

EBRD lends €15 million to Turkish chemicals maker to increase production of a key component in energy-efficient tyres

EBRD €15 million loan will fund building of new production facility
New plant will increase capacity by 40,000 tonnes by 2020
Expansion supports fast-growing demand for silica used in energy-efficient tyres

LONDON, 08-Nov-2018 — /EuropaWire/ — In support of greener business practices, the EBRD is lending €15 million to Turkish chemicals maker Egesil Kimya Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. to increase production of precipitated silica, a key component of energy-efficient tyres that reduce carbon emissions. Founded in 2002, Egesil is majority-owned by Germany’s Evonik Industries, one of the world’s leading specialty chemicals producers and the world’s largest silica producer.

The loan will help build a new production facility in Sakarya, Turkey, next to the company’s existing facility. It will increase the speciality chemicals manufacturer’s annual production capacity of precipitated silica by 40,000 tonnes.

Demand for highly dispersible silica is strong and growing in the global tyre industry to replace carbon black, the traditional filler material in tyre manufacturing. Silica increases the grip and adhesion of tyres and has better anti-skid properties. It also reduces fuel consumption by lowering rolling resistance.

The new facility is expected to become operational by 2020. It will help make carbon emissions savings of around 67,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year during the life cycle of tyres. The EBRD Strategy for Turkey emphasises contributing to the improvement of energy and resource efficiency and to the further integration of medium-sized private Turkish companies into global value chains. The project is also part of the EBRD’s Green Economy Transition (GET) approach, as 100 per cent of the Bank’s loan will be used for green investments.

Egesil Kimya has been chosen among various Evonik subsidiaries to house the capacity increase targeted to supply the European automotive tyre industry. The company’s existing facility has a very good track record, a cost-competitive manufacturing base and was awarded the Evonik Platinum Safety Award in 2018 for not having had a single work accident over the past 15 years. Strong demand for its product and full order books triggered the need to expand capacity.

As the leading silica producer in Turkey, Egesil Kimya aims to reinforce its leading position in the country and meet increased demand both locally and in export markets. With the additional facility, Egesil Kimya will become one of the largest silica plants in the world. The company’s main customers are the world’s leading tyre manufacturers.

The EBRD has invested almost €11 billion in close to 280 projects in Turkey, with a focus on investment in sustainable energy, improving infrastructure, strengthening the competitiveness of the private sector, deepening capital and local currency markets, and promoting regional and youth inclusion and gender equality.

For all media enquiries, email press@ebrd.com

SOURCE: EBRD

Volkswagen selects WPP as its lead creative partner in North America

LONDON, 28-Nov-2018 — /EuropaWire/ — Volkswagen has named WPP as its lead creative partner in North America following a competitive review.

Responding to VW’s emphasis on expertise in technology alongside outstanding creativity, WPP put forward a cross-company and multi-disciplinary team comprising Possible, David, Taxi, Geometry Global and Hogarth, which will draw on additional resources from other WPP agencies as required.

As VW’s “Powerhouse” agency for North America, WPP will handle Digital, Creative, Dealer and Production throughout the United States and Canada, with additional responsibility for Mexico.

Mark Read, CEO of WPP, said: “We are delighted and proud to have been appointed as Volkswagen’s lead creative partner in North America. WPP now offers a powerful combination of creativity, commerce, data and technology services that is increasingly resonating with clients. Volkswagen is one of the world’s iconic brands and we are very excited to have been given the opportunity to help reshape the company’s marketing and support its transformation.”

Further information
Kevin McCormack, WPP
+1 212 632 2239
kevin.mccormack@wpp.com

Niken Wresniwiro, WPP
+44 (0)20 7408 2204
niken.wresniwiro@wpp.com

About WPP
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SOURCE: WPP plc.

Jaguar Land Rover’s venture capital fund made seed investment in WeTrip

InMotion Ventures, Jaguar Land Rover’s venture capital fund, today announces seed investment in WeTrip, the digital platform making group holiday planning and booking simpler.
Jaguar Land Rover’s venture capital fund invests in group travel experience platform WeTrip
InMotion Ventures backs WeTrip to accelerate product development and support ambitious global growth plans

COVENTRY, 29-Nov-2018 — /EuropaWire/ — InMotion Ventures, Jaguar Land Rover’s venture capital fund, today announces seed investment in WeTrip, the digital platform making group holiday planning and booking simpler.

InMotion’s seed stage funding will support WeTrip in its global ambition to become the go-to digital platform for booking personalised group experience holidays. In August 2017, the company raised $1m funding to launch WeSki, a platform that allows groups to share responsibility for booking complete, tailor-made ski holidays.

As well as investing in the future of mobility, our fund seeks to back companies that are enabling adventure through powerful digital lifestyle brands. WeTrip is rapidly building a community of adventurous travellers, using their powerful tool for group bookings, and we believe there is a genuine unmet need for a product of this kind. SEBASTIAN PECK, MANAGING DIRECTOR

Our unique platform offers travellers greater flexibility, better value and a simpler way to book group holidays, centred around a shared adventure, to bring the fun back to the booking experience. We are thrilled to have the backing of InMotion to accelerate our product development and support our ambitious global growth plans. YOTAM IDAN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE

FURTHER INFORMATION

About InMotion

At InMotion, we are investing in the future of transport, mobility and travel. Powered by Jaguar Land Rover, we are supporting entrepreneurs and innovators who change the way we move.

InMotion Ventures is Jaguar Land Rover’s venture capital fund. We invest in early-stage technology companies that change the face of urban mobility, support an active outdoor lifestyle and deliver unique travel experiences. We are based in London and invest globally.

InMotion’s mobility services arm Studio 107 works closely with our parent company Jaguar Land Rover to build new services in the urban mobility sector. The name Studio 107 is a nod to the 107% rule in motorsport. In qualifying, drivers who fail to set a lap within 107% of the fastest qualifying time are not allowed to start. Our goal is to select the ideas that play to our strengths and develop them into winning businesses.

To find out more about InMotion, please see: https://www.inmotionventures.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

About WeTrip

WeTrip is a fully dynamic booking website designed specifically for millennial group travelers who seek unforgettable, great value experiences. WeTrip partners with multiple travel operators to offer greater choice, more flexibility and a simpler booking experience.

The ability of the organiser to share the group package with friends – who can then tweak and pay independently for their own requirements online – is one of the key features that makes this company unique.

WeSki, the 1st product, is a trailblazer in the category that is putting the fun back into booking ski holidays.

For further information, contact:

Sally Clift
Corporate Communications
Mobile: +44 (0)7384 430009
Email: sclift2@jaguarlandrover.com

SOURCE: InMotion Ventures

University of Nottingham part of government-backed initiative to trial self-driving taxis in London

NOTTINGHAM, 05-Dec-2018 — /EuropaWire/ — The University of Nottingham is part of a major new government-backed initiative to trial self-driving taxis around parts of London.

Led by Jaguar Land Rover, the ServCity pilot has won £11.15m from Innovate UK towards its £19.8m project to develop a bookable taxi service in the capital using six autonomous Land Rover Discovery vehicles.

The consortium, also comprising Addison Lee, the Transport Systems Catapult and the Transport Research Laboratory, will test and further develop existing JLR sensing and autonomy systems in Coventry and the Midlands before piloting a “premium mobility service across four Greater London boroughs”.

The trials will assess technical performance and include social behavioural research, led by the Human Factors Research Group at the University, to explore how driverless technology can seamlessly integrate into society, with the findings applied to the development for future autonomous service models.

Professor Gary Burnett, Chair in Transport Human Factors, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, said: “ServCity is an ideal opportunity for us to conduct world-leading research to understand the complex factors that will contribute to the public’s acceptance of connected and automated vehicles. We are particularly excited to be working closely with major industrial players in this field to ensure that the knowledge we acquire can have a direct impact on their design processes going forward and shape the experience for users of future autonomous mobility services.”

The project will also develop analytical models to understand and demonstrate the wider positive impacts of connected and autonomous vehicles on cities – from reduced air pollution to easing congestion.

The project is one of three new public trials announced late this week by Business and Energy Secretary Greg Clark as part of efforts to ensure the UK is a world-leader in the development and testing of self-driving technologies.

The projects were selected following a competitive process and will share a £25m government grant through the fourth round of the Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Intelligent Mobility Fund.

Each pilot supports the government’s ambition to have self-driving vehicles on UK roads by 2021 through the modern Industrial Strategy and Future of Mobility Grand Challenge.

Future of Mobility Minister, Jesse Norman, said the UK market for autonomous vehicles was forecast to be worth up to £52bn by 2035. “This pioneering technology will bring significant benefits to people right across the country, improving mobility and safety, and driving growth across the UK,” he said.

“Autonomous vehicles and their technology will not only revolutionise how we travel, it will open up and improve transport services for those who struggle to access both private and public transport,” he said.

“The UK is building on its automotive heritage and strengths to develop the new vehicles and technologies and from 2021 the public will get to experience the future for themselves.”

Some £250 million, match-funded by industry, is being invested by the government, propelling self-driving technology in the UK.

— Ends —

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Notes to editors:

The University of Nottingham is a research-intensive university with a proud heritage, consistently ranked among the world’s top 100. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our 44,000 students – Nottingham was named both Sports and International University of the Year in the 2019 Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, was awarded gold in the TEF 2017 and features in the top 20 of all three major UK rankings. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia – part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement. We are ranked eighth for research power in the UK according to REF 2014. We have six beacons of research excellence helping to transform lives and change the world; we are also a major employer, proud of our Athena SWAN silver award, and a key industry partner- locally and globally.

Story credits

More information is available from Professor Gary Burnett, Human Factors Research Group, on +44 (0)115 95 13158 or gary.burnett@nottingham.ac.uk

Emma Lowry – Media Relations Manager
Email: emma.lowry@nottingham.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0)115 846 7156
Location: University Park

SOURCE: The University of Nottingham