VW CEO wants to beat Toyota
Volkswagen is abuzz with excitement after new Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn took the reins of the company in January this year. In an interview with German newspaper Süddeutschen Zeitung, Winterkorn announced that Volkswagen will be better than Toyota. This is quite a challenge when you consider that Toyota is the most profitable carmaker in the world. Just how will Winterkorn go about achieving this goal?
Winterkorn told the Süddeutschen Zeitung of his proposal to develop a new four-seater subcompact model. The economy car will be initially offered in Europe, and then marketed to other countries like China and India, where price is a major factor in vehicle purchases. In a surprise move for a company focused on improving diesel technology, Winterkorn has revealed plans to develop hybrid engines for the smaller car ranges like the Polo and Golf. This decision appears to be the result of the lukewarm reception for Volkswagen’s Lupo 3L TDI. The vehicle, while light and fuel efficient, costs too much to produce. To boost company morale, Winterkorn has also promised a halt to the rounds of job cuts affecting 20,000 employees.
Volkswagen beating Toyota remains to be seen but it seems that Volkswagen’s new boss is serious in fulfilling his claim.