volkswagen

Volkswagen lost 6.7 million with each one who sold

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On the Paseo de la Fame of the luxury supercoches, there is a star reserved for a car that, although their wealthy buyers had to put on the table 1.7 million dollars to remove it from the dealership, every time a unit was sold, its manufacturer lost 6.7 million dollars: The Bugatti Veyron. Bugatti Veyron: A luxury and speed icon The Bugatti Veyron He was born in 2005 of one Ambitious idea: Create the faster, powerful and luxurious car in the world. And what if they got it. Ferdinand Piëch, the visionary architect of the current Volkswagen group and grandson of Ferdinand Porsche himself. The passion for speed and luxury was carried in the DNA. This supercar mounted one of the engines that has given the most joys to Bugatti. It’s about Your brutal W16 of 8.0 liters and four turbos, with which it was able to accelerate as a rocket and break cut speed records above 406 km/h. This figure became almost a demand for The desire for “revenge” of the brand for a speed record in Le Mans. The name of the Veyron also closely linked to Le Mans’s career, since he honors Bugatti’s pilot and engineer Pierre Veyronwhich in 1939 won the 24 hours of Le Mans with one of the brands of the brand. The brand took Six years to develop from the Veyron for the challenge of implementing an engine capable of developing 1,001 hp of power and 1,400 nm of touch. To keep the temperature of such a beast at bay, engineers had to integrate 10 radiators. The exclusivity of the Bugatti Veyron was not only noticed when paying the 1.7 million dollars that cost Each unit. Each game of tires, especially Designed for the Veyron For Michelin, it cost the whopping $ 38,000 and had to replace every 4,000 km. On the track and maximum speed, the life of the tires was limited to about 15 minutes before disintegrating. Something that would rarely do, since the 106 liters of their deposit gave for 12 minutes. Without a doubt, a car with maintenance Far from the reach of many pockets. The Veyron was not just speed. It was also extreme luxury. Every detail, from materials to labor, was of the highest quality. Having a Veyron was like having a work of art on wheels, a demonstration that you could afford the best of the best. Aspire to One of the special editions Del Veyron was already another level, and supposed to pay more than 2.7 million for some of them. A ruinous business for Volkswagen But here comes the surprising part: despite its millionaire sales price, Volkswagen lost money with every Veyron who sold. And not little, precisely. Such and as they counted in Technology.orgthe financial research firm of Wall Street Bernstein Research published a report in which they assured that the Volkswagen group lost about 6.24 million dollars for each Bugatti Veyron that was sold. However, later the authors of that report admitted that this figure should be taken cautiously because it was based on approximate estimates. Paradoxically, the explanation of this financial fiasco is given by its engineering and design success. Volkswagen did not spare on expenses to create the perfect car and for it They invested 1,620 million of dollars in their development. Last prototype of the Bugatti Veyron The negative part is that Bugatti only sold 450 units of his Veyron in the 10 years he was on sale, so the investment in R&D was higher than the brand recovered selling cars, which was a financial fiasco. However, although in absolute terms, the development effort of the Veyron was greater than the income of its sale, the technology that was developed for that jewel of engineering then served as the basis for all A supercoches lineage. Its legacy has served to knock down all the speed records until it reaches 490.48 km/h that reached the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ In 2019, such and as he collected Car and Driver. Volkswagen was willing to assume those losses because he wanted to demonstrate his ability to create the Best Support Support in the World. Although, the Veyron was not a financial success in itself, it managed to position Bugatti as a reference brand on the map of luxury supercoches. A “failure” that, in the end, turned out to be a great triumph, although very expensive. In Xataka | Bugatti has found a new reef: his clients are spent on average 500,000 euros on extras to customize his car In Xataka | They are founders and ultra -ups, but they have not always driven luxury supercoches: a review of the cars of the Tech millionaires Image | Bugatti

Volkswagen believes that car screens are getting too far

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For some car manufacturers, Only the screens matter. After the extreme minimalism of Tesla Model 3 2017 That eliminated buttons to relegate the control of the car to the huge central screen, there were manufacturers that got into the car. Filling the screw dashboard seemed like luxury at the wheel, but it is an idea that has not set Among users, critics and even the most relevant body in Europe to evaluate the safety of vehicles: EURO NCAP. Now, the brands are realized that they cannotPost everything to the screens And there are such strong statements as that of the Volkswagen design chief, who has recognized that “it is not a phone: it is a car.” Trend. Tesla is the perfect example when talking about cars screens. It is not the one that has the most, but that, in its last models, has relegated virtually all the functions of the car to that central console. Other brands like Mercedes soon got into the car with splashes in which the screens were protagonists and there are those who have taken this to the extreme, especially when we talk about electric car. Mazda 6e, the Electric Berlina And Mazda 3 It seems that talking about 100% implies putting aside the buttons. Even brands such as Mazda who have opted for small and touch screens only with the stopped vehicle have given a flying when they have presented the electric model. But perhaps one of the most exaggerated cases is Volkswagen. “Buttons”. In quotes. In the main image we have the dashboard of the Volkswagen ID. Every1the new 100% electric utility that wants to place itself as the electric car par excellence. The interior is futuristic, science fiction and yes, it has buttons. Real buttons, not like those of the Atlas, the new golf or the ID.4. THE FLYING OF ID.4 In these three models, The buttons are haptic, A kind of digital button that does not offer that pulsation feedback such as when we put pressure on a real button, but a vibration. How to type on a mobile phone, go. On the way, it may not be enough to give information to the driver when there are elements such as the vibration of the vehicle itself when rolling through a land that is not completely smooth. “It’s not a mobile”. This model has not yet went on sale, but the criticisms and the latest decisions of Euro Ncap seem that they have made the German firm rethink things. And he has done it. As we read in CoachAndreas Mindt, the brand design chief, has been the one who has taken the initiative by commenting that, from ID.2 that will arrive next year, all cars will have “physical buttons for the five most important functions.” These functions are volume, heating, fans control and emergency light. “They will be in every car that we do from now on, we have understood.” This reverse is curious, but well received because it is evident that they recognize that there is a real problem with this type of tactile interfaces and that do not use everything. “Never, we’ll never make this mistake again. In the steering wheel, we will have physical buttons. We will not have to guess more and have real feedback. People love that and, honestly, it is a car. Not a phone: it’s a car. ” Not a luxury. VW has not been the only one that, recently, has realized that touch screens as the only method of control of the car are a engoring for certain things and a potential risk for safety. The German Mercedes has also considered the screens a luxury symbol in its recent vehicles. The more, and bigger, the better. However, although the ‘Hyperscreen’ will not go anywhere, the design chief of the three -pointed brand admitted in a recent interview that they must devise another way to transfer that luxury to their vehicles, such as better finishes or more handmade pieces … instead of so much screen. With head. The truth is that, since the fever began by the car “Every screen”, each brand has made the war on its own. Lincoln, for example, It offers huge screensbut not tactile and only serve as a information viewer. Mazda (except in the 6e) continues to bet on buttons next to a screen of food dimensions; Peugeot, Renault or Toyota, among others, also incorporate large screens, but there are elements such as physical buttons in the steering wheel and to control the air conditioning that are maintained. Mindt rounded his comment on the future of the interfaces in Volkswagen stating that they will continue to offer touch screens “partly due to the new legal requirements that, as in the US, impose that all cars have a backward chamber. There are a lot of other functions that we can offer in certain areas and the screens will be large, but the five main things will always be in the form of physical button. That is very important. ” Therefore, whether by Euro NCAP warning or because they have realized that delegating all vehicle actions to haptic screens or buttons is not the most sensible, welcome that VW philosophy. Images | Mazda, Volkswagen In Xataka | Is the electric car worth it? Here you have a savings calculator to check it out

Volkswagen has an ace in the sleeve if its electric of 20,000 euros does not take off. The company sells more sausages than cars

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Last week he was one of those crucial moments in the history of a company like Volkswagen. The dream of the German house of offering the general public at an electric non -exorbitant price or, as they themselves announced, “for all”, it was advanced under the ID name. Every1a utility on the border of 20,000 euros as a red line. It happens that, if things come out auctionly, VW has an ace in the sleeve. Because they sell more sausages than cars. An unexpected record. As we said, Volkswagen closed 2024 with a surprising fact: He sold more currywurstthe famous German sausages, than cars. While the manufacturer delivered 5.2 million vehicles worldwide, its food division reached a record of 8.5 million sausages sold200,000 more than in 2023. Of course, although the unexpected gastronomic success has been celebrated by the company, what is doubtful, does not seem to compensate for the difficult financial situation that crosses. Decline in sales. Because the excellent data of the sausages is certainly negative. Annual results, published on Tuesdaythey revealed one 30.4% drop In net benefits, despite a slight increase of 0.7% in total income. Sales collapse in China, its most important market, has been a severe blow, since the country registered its lowest level of Volkswagen vehicles in more than a decade. Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers Like Byd They have gained land with cheaper electric models, surpassing VW as The largest car seller In the Asian giant. The secret of VW sausages. The currywursta sausage bathed in tomato sauce with spices of curry and accompanied by fried potatoes, has been a symbol within the Volkswagen culture Since its introduction in 1973. Originally prepared to feed workers in their dining rooms, the product has expanded until it is sold in supermarkets from 12 countries. To get an idea of ​​the importance it has for the company, it even has a piece number in the spare parts catalog: 199 398 500 Awhich reinforces its status as an “original Volkswagen component.” It is sold in the 30 canteens of the company, in work kiosks and in supermarkets near its factories. Volkswagen’s butcher shop at the Wolfsburg plant in 1973 The controversy. In 2021 the company tried scandal which included the protest of former German Foreign Minister Gerhard Schröder, who He defended the sausage as “an energy bar for production workers.” After the controversy, Volkswagen reintroduced currywurst in 2023 apologized by ensuring that he had only wanted to respond to the growing demand for vegetarian and vegan options among his employees and, since then, his popularity has continued on the rise. “The Volkswagen currywurst has become much more than a simple snack; is an icon ”, Gunnar Kilian declaredGroup’s Human Resources Director, holding the sales record. Structural problems And while sausages reach historical figures, the automaker faces a deep crisis. In an attempt to reduce costs, Volkswagen was about to close factories in Germany for the first time in its history and, although he managed to avoid it, he announced The dismissal of 35,000 employees In the coming years. In addition, the company temporarily suspended its labor security program, which had protected jobs until 2029, and only after a last minute negotiation with the unions in December It extended up to 2030. The company’s situation has also been threatened by external factors. It We have recentlyDonald Trump has warned that he will impose tariffs on car imports from Europe and Mexico, where Volkswagen has plants than They supply the US market. To this are added geopolitical uncertainty and the increase in commercial restrictions, which adds more pressure to the company’s recovery strategy. The electric bet. Despite the difficult panorama, the German house maintains the hope of a rebound in 2025, with the forecast of a growth of More than 5% In your income. As part of its transformation, it has presented plans to launch in 2027 That most affordable electric model To date with the intention of recovering land in front of their Chinese rivals. Meanwhile, the irony that a global renowned automotive company sells more sausages that cars reflects the deep difficulties that the sector is going through. Although the currywurst has become an unusual stability pillar for Volkswagen, it is impossible to hide the monumental challenges he faces to recover his leadership in the sector and adapt to an increasingly competitive market. Image | MonstourzVolkswagen, Lothar Schaack In Xataka | Guide to know if your car can circulate through the Zbe of Madrid in 2025: labels, registered and areas In Xataka | Xiaomi Su7: The electric car points directly to Tesla and Porsche presuming autonomous performance and driving

Volkswagen already has its first electric car of 20,000 euros ready. The rest of its cost will pay it with discomfort

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“Mobility for all.” Those are the words that Volkswagen has used to present its Volkswagen ID. Every1the concept and first advance of the cheapest electric car in the company. A utility that has marked the border of 20,000 euros as a red line. We will not see it, yes, until 2027. Before the one we now know as Volkswagen ID. 2allanother car that used a word game to convince us that we are facing cars that should popularize technology. A challenge in itself. It is a challenge because we talk about cars of 20,000 and 25,000 euros … starting. Vehicles that undoubtedly improve the experience in city but almost abandon the idea of ​​being able to leave a radius of action of about 200 kilometers if it is not folding to important discomforts. What can we expect in the coming years? A little context As we have been following in recent months, the European Union is determined to generalize the use of the electric car above any other technology. At the moment, the prohibition of using Combustion engines that are not neutral in carbon from 2035 is still underway. But we must remember that the objectives in matters of Emissions for 2030 They are very ambitious and are largely electrifying the majority of the fleet sold by manufacturers. Before, in 2027, the average emissions sold by the manufacturers between 2025 and that exercise will be forced Do not exceed 93.6 gr/km of CO2. The norm has recently been flexible because it was intended to force (and must still approve its modification) to the manufacturers complying with the aforementioned limit before the end of the year. If they would not have faced a thousand millionaire fines that are now in the air. The European Commission has been folded to MANUFACTURERS REQUIREMENTSYes, but only in part. If in this 2025 a company exceeds the volume of average emissions of 93.6 gr/km of CO2 will have to compensate in the coming years selling all the Electric and plug -in hybrids that can before 2027. And that is where electric cars of between 20,000 and 25,000 euros come into play, the great hope for companies that have pressed everything possible to avoid fines and have received an oxygen ball but will have to face a new red line in the short term again. The big doubt is: is the customer willing to buy these vehicles? Goodbye to the cheap car “for everything” … and “for all” The promise of an electric car of 20,000 euros that is defined as propitious “for anyone” is, in 2025, an ambitious attempt. At least, as we say, with the eyes of 2025 because it is possible that in a few years we have become accustomed to something completely different. It is something that should happen if you want to sell as churros cars like Volkswagen’s. The German company has given few technical details but A 95 hp electric car progresseslimited to 130 km/hy 250 kilometers of autonomy According to WLTP cycle. If those latest data are confirmed, we can expect a road exit to force us to stop every 170-180 kilometers. Of course, they are estimates based on the experience that gives us to try electric vehicles of all kinds. At the moment, as a general rule, at a sustained speed of 120 km/h We can expect a drop of 25-30% in the estimate presented according to the WLTP cycle. We speak, of course, to leave the drums dry. If we estimate 25% less electric autonomy, we talk about traveling 200 kilometers from the pull but If we don’t want shocks We will have to stop in a charger a little earlier. Is that a problem? It depends for those who but, with most of the people with whom I speak, yes. And it is nothing more than a sensation but it seems difficult to sell the benefits of an electric car with an autonomy of 200 kilometers on open road if the potential customer has to spend at least 20,000 euros. Or know very well what is carried or the most normal thing is that it rejects it. Why choose an electric car of 20,000 euros … Although it sounds difficult to believe, a 20,000 euros car with a 250 -kilometer WLTP autonomy can be a large purchase as the only car if the customer knows what he takes. Yes, I am convinced and these are the reasons. The ideal client would be that person who makes more than 40 or 50 kilometers on a day to day And he has a place to load the car. If you usually do not make long trips (one or two a year) you can assume the discomforts of stopping every 180 kilometers when you see the money that has been saved at the end of the month. To give an example, assuming a consumption of 15 kWh/100 km in city and a 10 cents/kWh recharge cost (nothing especially cheap in a home rate) will spend 1.5 euros per 100 kilometers traveled. If 250 kilometers between Monday and Friday, the cost of the week in energy will not reach 4 euros. On the contrary, a hybrid that, on average, makes a consumption of 5 l/100 km in the city, we will be talking about an expense of nine euros per 100 kilometers. Those same 250 kilometers between Monday and Friday increase to 22.5 euros. Every week the driver of an electric car with these figures is saving 18.5 euros. Every month we talk about 74 euros. A year are almost 900 euros. Here We are not counting the cost of maintenance (Change of oils, filters, mobile parts of the combustion engine …), so the expected savings is greater. In addition, we are not contemplating the comfort in comfort that an electric car is in a day -to -day basis. This part is purely subjective but the absence of noise, vibrations and the immediate delivery of the motor torque (although … Read more

Volkswagen faces challenges due to Trump policies: this happens

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With the arrival of donald trump to the White House, the international automotive sector faces an uncertain outlook. The protectionist policies of the new American president have raised concerns in conglomerates such as the Volkswagen Groupwhich operates globally and depends on a complex production and distribution network. Read also: Hyundai Venue: the cheapest in the United States from Hyundai Trump’s promise to impose tariffs on goods manufactured outside the United States threatens to reconfigure trade relations between both sides of the Atlantic. You can read: The electric boom continues to grow in the US. Trump’s focus is on encouraging domestic manufacturing as a measure to strengthen the US economy. However, this position generates tensions with companies that have plants in countries such as Mexico, Europe and China. “The Volkswagen Group is concerned about the damaging economic impact that the tariffs proposed by the US administration will have on American consumers and the international auto industry. “We value collaboration and open dialogue,” stated a company spokesperson in an interview published by Automotive News Europe. The threat of tariffs Among Trump’s proposals, the possibility of imposing a 25% tariff on products imported from Mexico stands out. This move would directly affect the Volkswagen Group, which operates one of its main production plants in Puebla, Mexico. From there, the company manufactures around 350,000 vehicles annuallyincluding models such as the Jetta, Tiguan and Taos, which are mainly exported to the United States. Although the tariff has not been made official, Trump has suggested that these measures could go into effect as soon as on February 1, 2025. In addition, the president has also hinted at the possibility of applying tariffs on products from Europe, which could further complicate the situation for Volkswagen and other European manufacturers. A very challenging panorama The Volkswagen Group’s reliance on cross-border operations is a key piece of its business model. The plants in Mexico not only produce vehicles for the United States, but also for global markets. The possibility of these operations being affected by tariffs raises questions about the sustainability of its current strategy. “The Volkswagen Group looks forward to continuing its long-standing and constructive collaboration with the US administration”the spokesperson insisted, underlining the company’s willingness to dialogue with the authorities. Volkswagen Golf eHybrid logo. Credit: Volkswagen.Credit: Courtesy Impact beyond the United States The challenge is not limited to North America. In Europe, the Volkswagen Group faces growing competition from Chinese manufacturers offering vehicles at lower prices. At the same time, the company is struggling to remain competitive in the electric vehicle segment, a market in which Chinese manufacturers are also gaining ground. China, a key market for Volkswagen, also presents difficulties. In recent years, the company has experienced a decline in sales in this country, adding to global pressure. In response, Volkswagen has stepped up its efforts to develop a line of affordable electric vehiclesa crucial measure to stay relevant in a rapidly changing market. Faced with this complicated panorama, the Volkswagen Group is evaluating various strategies to mitigate the impact of Trump’s policies and other global challenges. Options include the possibility of increasing production in the United States, diversifying its supply chains and accelerating the electrification of its fleet. However, each of these solutions presents significant challenges in terms of investment and time. Trump’s protectionist speech could also influence the decisions of other countries. While Europe has traditionally been a supporter of free trade, the possibility of trade retaliation could exacerbate international tensions. For Volkswagen, this means operating in an increasingly complex and fragmented environment. The Volkswagen Group finds itself at a crossroads. Donald Trump’s protectionist policies represent a significant challenge for the automotive giant, which will need to adapt quickly to avoid a negative impact on its business. Although the road ahead is filled with uncertainty, the company is confident that open dialogue and collaboration with the US administration will be key to getting through this period of “challenging times.”

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