With EVs making a continuous charge forward on global roads, many manufacturers are either expanding on current strategies or creating new ones.
Global auto giant Volkswagen Group, which just released their ID.4 EV this fall, had Tesla’s Elon Musk join a video call earlier this month at the request of their CEO Herbert Diess. “I very much appreciate it that he showed up — I think we had a nice dialogue,” Diess said, speaking to CNBC’s Julianna Tatelbaum on Thursday.
Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess and Tesla’s Elon Musk
He goes on to say: “We have to accept that Tesla sets the new benchmarks [on] … the EV side. Not only technology wise, but also when it comes to productivity, speed.
“I very much appreciate that he’s coming to Germany,” Diess continued, referring to Tesla’s new Gigafactory in Grünheide. “He will challenge us, but we will try to follow as fast as possible.”
If the saying “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” comes to mind, you’re not alone.
Volkswagen has a lofty goal of having 50 per cent of sales come via EVs by 2030 and nearly 100 per cent of their offerings to have zero-emissions by 2040 in primary markets.
There have been a long string of collaborations between manufacturers throughout automotive history and perhaps to achieve the aforementioned goals, Volkswagen should plug-in and give serious consideration to a partnership with Tesla.
