VW CEO says partners are key to software issues, China
Summary
Volkswagen Group will ramp up partnerships and use external expertise to tackle the challenges of rectifying software struggles and keeping up in China, both issues that have pushed the automaker off course. The automaker is “broadening our approach to partnerships” on software and teaming up with local players in China, CEO Oliver Blume said during the company’s annual general meeting Wednesday. VW is also planning to turn to successful models such as the Golf hatchback into attractive cars for the electric age. In VW’s biggest market, the company is working with Horizon Robotics as part of a 2.3-billion-euro ($2.5 billion) deal to set up a joint venture and get ahead on autonomous-driving technology. During his speech, Blume said his dual roles at VW and Porsche — by now Europe’s biggest automaker by value — “works well and is paying off” as investors continue to point to a conflict of interest.