Dear reader,
We’ll start with a tip for those making last-minute decisions: If you don’t have any plans for tonight, we can change that. At Porsche, Sajjad Khan (50) has been working to alleviate the many software worries for almost a year. Today at 6 p.m. in a new edition of “manage:mobility live” he will talk to us about how well he is making progress. Our subscribers can be there and ask their questions. An opportunity you shouldn’t miss, Click here to register.
Before we turn our attention to Sajjad Khan this evening, let’s get to the mobility program that we have already put together for you. These are our topics of the week:
Why things are worse at VW than previously known.
How the dispute with BMW endangers Continental’s future plans.
Why the general renovation at Deutsche Bahn is a fraudulent label.
Top topic 1: Things get even worse at VW
While a former VW driver tried to navigate over the problems on the Mittelland Canal, the current management around CEO Oliver Blume (56) and VW boss Thomas Schäfer (54) jumped into the ice-cold water: The job security was overturned after 30 years, plants in Germany are up for debate. So far, so known. The dispute between the board and employees over works council leader Daniela Cavallo (49) goes deeper. The company wants to cut billions in investments and shave development, as my colleague Michael Freitag found out. At VW, thousands of additional jobs are on fire
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Small part, big drama: Because of a metal spring that weighed just a few grams, BMW had to recall hundreds of thousands of cars and was unable to sell numerous cars. The error spring in the MK C2 brake didn’t just spoil the mood for the people of Munich. No, MK C2 also endangers the future plans of the company that produces the vaunted “miracle brake”. The case puts additional pressure on Continental, already badly hit. My colleagues Claas Tatje and Michael have Friday researched the bizarre background of the gadfly trouble
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The VW crisis will keep us busy for a long time. My colleague Christoph Rottwilm recently discovered what’s wrong in Wolfsburg displayed graphically
. An example: VW brand boss Thomas Schäfer (53) has set the goal of achieving an operating return of at least 6.5 percent in 2026. How often has VW done this in the last 15 years? That’s right, not once.
Deep Drive: (Dis)engaging
Most of Germany’s motorway service areas are not subject to entertainment tax. With the youngest ADAC test
6 of the 40 locations inspected failed; there was no “very good” rating at all. The most frequently annoyed service station inspection staff were the high prices (19.99 euros for a schnitzel!) and the lack of or boring playgrounds. While the sanitary facilities were mostly good, options for quick electric car charging were mostly missed. The ADAC gave the best certificate to the Fürholzen West service area on the A9 in Bavaria, while in Fuchsberg Süd on the A20 in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania you are more likely to have a rest than a good rest.
The misery at Volkswagen is affecting the nation so much that people are losing track of the public research into the causes. Several ex-managers come forward from the sidelines and usually blame others. Some political statements also seem bizarre. Lower Saxony’s Prime Minister Stephan Weil (65) misses affordable electric cars in the Wolfsburg fleet. He doesn’t say why he didn’t demand it long ago as a VW supervisory board member. Jens Spahn (44) assesses the situation completely differently. Previously known as a mask specialist, but not as a car specialist, the former health minister claims to have realized that if VW hadn’t relied so much on electric vehicles, everything wouldn’t be as bad. Well then. A top manager recently said to me: “VW is 5 percent car – and 95 percent politics.” The quote is hereby released for further research into the causes.
Have a good week.
Yours, Christoph Seyerlein
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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