Global automaker Volkswagen AG is to invest some EUR 1 billion over the next five years to further strengthen its competitive situation in South America and be geared to sustained profitability. In addition to further local vehicle projects, in particular, digitalization and decarbonization in South America are to be given an additional boost. This includes a research center for biofuels as a bridging technology for this market to complement Volkswagen’s global electrification offensive.
Despite the continuing challenges of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the worldwide semiconductor shortage, the Germany-headed automaker expects to report a positive result in Latin America for the first time since 2013.
Latin America is an important future market for Volkswagen. Over the last two years, we have achieved a very good starting position in the region through a very consistent restructuring program. We are now driving the implementation of our ACCELERATE strategy with a major investment program, strengthening our competitive position in the region and thus gearing up for sustained profitability, Ralf Brandstätter, CEO of Volkswagen, said.
Following the deep recession in 2013, Volkswagen is celebrating a remarkable comeback on the Latin American market with an expected return to profit in the 2021 financial year.
According to Volkswagen, this success is in part attributable to systematic reductions in fixed costs as well as capacity adjustments at the six plants in the region under an ambitious restructuring program.
At the same time, the company launched a comprehensive model campaign in 2017 to “radically renew” its product portfolio – 20 new models tailored to the needs of the South American market debuted in the space of four years, the majority of them built locally at Volkswagen’s plants in Brazil.
Robust and profitable regions are a key success factor in our ACCELERATE strategy because we have to earn our transformation. The expected turnaround in Latin America is a very important milestone on the road to sustained competitive profitability for Volkswagen, commented Alexander Seitz, CFO of Volkswagen.
New compact car family
The automaker is continuing its strategy in Latin America focusing on a product portfolio tailored to the needs of the region with the market launch of the new compact car family for the entry-level segment starting in 2023.
The first model is the Polo Track based on the MQB platform. As a result, Volkswagen do Brasil can develop a fast-growing market segment efficiently and at a high technological level. Using the MQB platform also brings development cost savings. The Polo Track is to be produced at the plant in Taubaté, Brazil.
The high level of future investments in our region demonstrates the great importance of the Latin American market for Volkswagen. This is based on three key success factors: The excellent productivity of our plants achieved through consensus with the unions, the outstanding performance of the entire team, and our strong focus on the wishes of Latin American customers, explained Pablo di Si, President and CEO of Volkswagen Latin America.
Local approaches to digitalization and decarbonization
In addition to expanding the product portfolio, Volkswagen is also stepping up the pace of the transformation into a software-oriented provider of sustainable mobility with these additional investments in Latin America.
Here, too, Volkswagen is tailoring its measures to the specific needs of the market and is therefore making further investments in the existing Biofuels Research & Development Center located in Latin America.
Particularly in regions where travel involves covering long distances, where charging networks are not widespread, and where green energy supply levels are low, biofuels with a positive carbon dioxide (CO2) balance can build a bridge to the electric era.
Both the fleet and the company are to be carbon-neutral by 2050. The roadmap for achieving that goal – the Way To Zero – is a core element of the ACCELERATE strategy.
E-mobility is both the core and the lead technology for decarbonizing transport, which the company says also holds true for Latin America in the long-term perspective.
With Way To Zero, we are committed to providing sustainable mobility for all. Bioethanol is a meaningful regional complement to our electric strategy because it reduces carbon emissions by up to 90 percent compared to gasoline. It is an excellent example of ‘think global, act local, ended Pablo di Si said.
