At the auto show in Beijing, Volkswagen and Porsche boss Oliver Blume (55) recently confidently presented the electric future in the form of the new Macan, which is actually scheduled to be launched at the end of 2024, around three years late. Behind the scenes, however, according to research by my colleague Michael Freitag, Blume and Audi boss Gernot Döllner (55) are despairing about the misery of the present. Test drives revealed that the company’s own development subsidiary Cariad is still not able to deliver what is expected of it. In our top story reveal
we see how software weaknesses continue to affect new models – including those for China.
We can also provide you with some exclusive insights in this issue. Here is an overview of our topics of the week:
How Volkswagen’s software subsidiary Cariad is producing new problems for Audi, Porsche and VW.
Why VW sales manager Imelda Labbé is getting a new job.
Who should save the takeover of Ita Airways by Lufthansa?
Top topic: Cariad’s China disaster
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Finally finished: Porsche boss Oliver Blume presents the Macan
Photo:
Porsche
Volkswagen’s software subsidiary Cariad has been a problem for a long time – and apparently one that continues to cause new problems. My colleague Michael Freitag has researched how the software weaknesses are again affecting new models from the second largest car company in the world: Porsche, VW and especially Audi. In China, CEO Oliver Blume recently revealed new problems before the auto show in Beijing. In some cases, even the displays on the displays didn’t work during test drives. Our exclusive research about Read about Cariad’s China disaster here
.
Heads: Imelda Labbé +++ Martin Daum +++ Karin Radström +++ Joe Biden +++ Michael Shu ++
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“Will be rotated out”: VW sales director Imelda Labbé should get another job
Photo:
Anne Hufnagl / Volkswagen AG
Imelda Labbé (56) became VW’s sales director in July 2022, the brand’s first female board member. Two years later, Labbé will be given another position. According to the company, the head of sales will soon “rotate out of the job”. My colleague Christoph Seyerlein researched how Labbé did failed at a task that was almost impossible to solve
is.
Martin Daum (64), CEO of Daimler Truck, is also rotating out: After his contract expires in February 2025, he is expected to take over the management of the DAX group into new hands place. Supervisory board chairman Joe Kaeser (66) explained on Wednesday that yesterday’s virtual general meeting was probably Daum’s last shareholder meeting.
By the way, Karin Radström (45), CEO of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, and the busy chief engineer Andreas Gorbach (48) are the favorites
on Daum’s successor.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden (81) is working on it Special tariffs on electric cars from China from 25 to 100 percent. The US government argues that Chinese manufacturers receive unfair subsidies and could thereby distort competition with cheap vehicles. Chinese electric car exports increased by 70 percent in 2023. Also in Europe
the discussion rages.
Michael Shu, European head of the Chinese car company BYD, wants to ensure that the Chinese electric car market share increases significantly in the future. The factory in Hungary is not yet open, but Shu is already considering it the construction of a second factory. BYD plans to produce its cars “in Europe for Europe” and – of course – to become the leading electric car provider on the continent by 2030.
Company: Lufthansa ++ Tesla ++ Boeing ++ Xiaomi
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Hope factor: Ursula von der Leyen could have a say in the dispute over Ita
Photo:
Niels Starnick / IMAGE
Lufthansa boss Carsten Spohr (57) raves about the Italian market and really wants to take over the new national line Ita Airways. But Brussels is blocking vehemently. My colleague Michael Machatschke has researched why companies are now hoping that EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (65) could still save the Ita deal
.
Meanwhile, Boeing is threatened with new trouble from the US government. The US Justice Department has said the aircraft manufacturer violated terms of an agreement following two fatal plane crashes. Now it could a criminal case come against the US company.
A long-simmering conflict is also escalating at Tesla: Sweden’s largest union has been supporting the Tesla mechanics’ strike since Tuesday, which has already lasted six months. Elon Musk had already declared the conflict over. But the unionists apparently have that did not get it.
The Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi has successfully entered the car market: With more than 7,000 units of its first sedan, the SU7, sold in April, Xiaomi immediately became the eighth largest electric car start-up in the country ascended
. For comparison: Tesla sold just over 31,000 units half as much
like the month before.
Number of the week: 2 percent
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Not impressed: After the test, almost all Tesla drivers apparently decided against the Full Self Driving assistance system
Photo: Mike Blake / REUTERS
And Tesla again: Its controversial Full Self Driving (FSD) assistance system is apparently failing users. Data from analytics firm YipitData, which evaluates credit card data, reportedly shows that only 2 percent
of Tesla drivers can continue to use the FSD assistance system after a test phase. Musk, on the other hand, explains that the quota is “significantly higher
“. Tesla had the price of the system, which can only be used under the constant supervision of the driver and, due to a number of accidents, is currently being approved by the US traffic authority NHTSA examined has recently been halved to $99 a month in the USA.
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. Of course, if you have any tips or suggestions for research. We are looking forward to your message.
Interview of the week 1: Veronika Grimm
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Polarized on the subject of hydrogen: The economy and Siemens Energy supervisory board member Veronika Grimm
Photo: Tobias Schwarz / AFP
Conflict in the Federal Government’s Advisory Council: Siemens Energy supervisory board member Veronika Grimm (52), professor of energy systems and market design at the Nuremberg University of Technology, votes against the rest of the committee in a new report. The question is how freight transport on the road should become climate-neutral. In an interview with my colleagues Claas Tatje and Isabell Hülsen, Grimm explains why she does not believe in rapid electrification of freight transport and for one Expansion of fuel cell technology
pleads.
Interview of the week 2: Bosch boss Stefan Hartung
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In the spotlight: Bosch boss Stefan Hartung in the group’s research center in Renningen
Photo:
Nico Kurth / manager magazine
In an interview with manager magazin, Bosch boss Stefan Hartung (58) defends his tough austerity measures at what is still the world’s largest automotive supplier. Hartung told my colleagues Claas Tatje and Michael Freitag how he was breaking with old principles in order to prepare the group for competition with the big tech companies: “We have to open Bosch to the stock market – in individual areas and in the appropriate places.” Here it goes to the whole interview
.
Ghost driver of the week: Elon Musk
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Advertising his billion-dollar bonus: Tesla CEO Elon Musk
Photo: Apu Gomes / Getty Images
Elon Musk (52) used to regularly make fun of car manufacturers who invest in advertising. Tesla is now advertising. But not enough, many believe investors
, the demand
, Musk should invest more in advertising. That’s what he’s doing now, but differently than expected: Musk is asking Google and X (formerly Twitter) to approve the 50 billion euro salary package promote yourself
, which a Delaware court overturned earlier this year.
This should definitely give his shareholders something to think about.
And that’s it again with the latest edition of manage:mobility. I hope you get through your week well! And look forward to the next one: then your newsletter regular author Christoph Seyerlein welcomes you here again.
Your Jonas Rest
Do you have any wishes, suggestions or information that we should take care of journalistically? You can reach my colleagues in the Mobility team and me at manage.mobility@manager-magazin.de
.
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