Volkswagen has just ‘one shot’ to survive in the digital era game: CEO

Diess’s warning comes as the car industry is grappling with tough new EU emissions rules that came into force in 2020

Volkswagen needs to make urgent changes to become more of a tech company as the industry enters the digital era, CEO Herbert Diess said Thursday, warning that the German car giant had just “one shot” at staying in the game. “The time of the classic car manufacturer is over,” Diess said in a speech to senior executives, as the industry undergoes “radical transformation” to make cars greener and smarter than ever before.

“Volkswagen‘s future lies in becoming a digital technology company,” Diess said. He singled out US tech firm and electric car pioneer Tesla as an example of the kind of fierce and unorthodox competition the company was up against. Diess’s warning comes as the car industry is grappling with tough new EU emissions rules that came into force in 2020, pushing automakers to accelerate their costly switch to hybrid and electric cars.

At the same time, companies are pouring billions of euros (dollars) into new technologies like self-driving and internet-connected “smart” cars — just as carmakers are smarting from weaker global demand. To master the challenges, Diess said the group needed “a shared understanding of the radical nature of the changes” and be prepared to “slaughter holy cows” — a possible nod to future cost cuts.

Scouting partner for Jaguar-Land Rover, Tata Motors approaches BMW, Geely

India’s largest conglomerate has said it’s open to finding partners for JLR to save on costs and share the burden of investing in electric vehicles

Tata Group, the owner of Jaguar Land Rover, has approached carmakers including China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. and BMW AG as it seeks partnerships for the beleaguered British automotive business, people with knowledge of the matter said.

India’s largest conglomerate has said it’s open to finding partners for JLR to save on costs and share the burden of investing in electric vehicles. The deliberations were at an early stage and Tata could still approach other potential partners, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. It wasn’t immediately clear how receptive Geely and BMW were. “There have been no talks with Tata or JLR,” Geely said in a statement. BMW declined to comment, as did Tata, whose chairman has previously ruled out an outright sale of the unit.

Any tie-up with a Chinese automaker could potentially help JLR in that market, where its struggles led to a $3.9 billion writedown earlier this year. Deeper ties between the British luxury brand and BMW would build on an existing collaboration to develop engines and electric-drive technology, though the German carmaker’s former chief executive officer in August ruled out any equity investment.

“Carmakers need to invest a lot of money in developing new technology, and Tata doesn’t have deep pockets to keep funding development,” said Deepesh Rathore, an independent auto analyst in Bangalore, India. “You don’t want to be left behind, especially in the luxury segment, and at the same time, Tata doesn’t want to let go of JLR, which is its crown jewel.”

Read More: Jaguar Land Rover

Mercedes-Benz forays into luxury MPV with V-Class: Check prices, features

Continuing Mercedes-Benz’s BS-VI transition efforts, the V-Class will be available in a 2-litre BS VI-compliant diesel engine

Automobile News: German auto major Mercedes-Benz Thursday made a foray into the luxury multi-purpose vehicles segment in India with the launch of its V-Class at a starting price of Rs 68.40 lakh. The V-Class will be available in both six-seater long-wheelbase (Exclusive) and seven-seater extra-long-wheelbase (Expression) variants, Mercedes-Benz India said in a statement. While the V-Class Expression starts at Rs 68.40 lakh, the V-Class Exclusive starts at Rs 81.90 lakh (all prices ex-showroom India), it added.

Continuing Mercedes-Benz’s BS-VI transition efforts, the V-Class will be available in a 2-litre BS VI-compliant diesel engine, the company said.”The launch of the V-Class in India firmly underscores our pioneering spirit as we introduce the ‘Luxury Multi-Purpose Vehicle’ segment for our discerning Indian customers,” Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Martin Schwenk said.

The V-Class is targeted at a wide array of potential customers comprising large families, sports enthusiasts and businesses, he added. Schwenk further said in 2019, Mercedes-Benz completes 25 years in India and this milestone will be marked with “a wide range of product offensive, starting with the V-Class”…Read More