WOLFSBURG (dpa-AFX) – World premieres at works council meetings are a tradition at VW: in 2023, the then-new Tiguan was unveiled here, and last September, employees were the first to see the ID. Polo, just days before its global debut at the IAA. Now, there has been a first glimpse of the upcoming all-electric Golf 9. However, it was only presented as a black-and-white silhouette on the big screen in front of several thousand employees.
The side profile looks almost identical to the current Golf 8. According to works council chair Daniela Cavallo, this means the Golf will remain a true Wolfsburg model in its ninth generation as well. She described the unveiling of the first sketch here as a "tremendous sign of appreciation for the workforce."
VW plans to shift production of the current combustion-engine model to Mexico in the second half of 2027, making room in Wolfsburg for the conversion to electric models. By the end of the decade, the main plant is expected to start producing the fully electric successor. There is no need to worry that VW might change these plans, Cavallo said. The E-Golf from Wolfsburg is "already firmly decided – no ifs or buts."
"A Mess" at Audi and Porsche
On the other hand, Cavallo demanded that subsidiaries like Audi and Porsche AG should be kept on a tighter leash by the group. "Wolfsburg must once again become more of a central hub for the entire group," she said, according to a speech transcript excerpts of which were made available to Deutsche Presse-Agentur. "We simply cannot afford solo efforts by individual brands anymore," Cavallo said.
"At the moment, it is often a real mess," she criticized. "There is a lack of discipline!" She called on the group leadership under Oliver Blume to lay down the law, "to rein in brand egotism." Only then could synergies within the group be leveraged. "We need common goals." For this, clear directives and the necessary authority from the group board are required.
Brand Chief Schäfer: "We Are on the Right Track"
Brand chief Thomas Schäfer, looking ahead to half a dozen world premieres in 2026, described it as a crucial year for VW. "The Volkswagen brand is making progress, and the figures show we are on the right path," he said, according to a statement. "We have worked hard to reach this point. The direction is right, but we are not at the finish line yet and must not let up now."
Group CEO Oliver Blume, who was not originally scheduled to speak, also addressed the workforce with a brief statement. "We are moving forward in the mobility of the future," he said, according to the statement. This is the achievement of the entire workforce and at the same time an incentive for the group. "For this, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart – on behalf of the entire board."
Decision on Recognition Bonus Still Pending
According to Cavallo, no decision has yet been made on the recognition bonus she demanded for all VW employees covered by collective bargaining agreements. The board will only decide on this after the works council election, which takes place next week, she said. The reason for the demand is the unexpectedly strong cash position the group reported in January. Cavallo subsequently called for the workforce to share in the six billion euro cash flow./fjo/DP/stw
