NEWS

Beijing/Hefei, 21st September 2022 – Dr. Erwin Gabardi, CEO of Volkswagen Anhui, underlined its unwavering commitment to enhancing the development of a sustainable and robust NEV eco-system in Anhui, during the Sino-Germany NEV Industry Development Forum at the 2022 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei. After a productive 12 months during which Volkswagen Anhui has hit a number of exciting milestones, the NEV-focused joint venture is sprinting towards the pre-series production of its first model next month and is well on track to deliver SOP of the first car in 2023. Contributing to the growth of the local value chain and the prosperity of Anhui’s NEV eco-system, while exploring sustainable solutions to reduce its carbon footprint, are key priorities for Volkswagen Anhui. 

“Thanks to the impressive ‘Anhui speed’, Volkswagen Anhui is on a path which will place it at the forefront of the NEV industry in the next few years,” said Dr. Erwin Gabardi. “We hope our success can be everyone’s success. Therefore, we have been sparing no efforts to bring companies throughout the value chain to Anhui and take comprehensive measures to minimize the impact on the environment, with the goal to grow the local eco-system sustainably for the benefit of all parties.”

Demonstrating its efforts to date, Volkswagen Anhui has identified over 1,500 potential suppliers and brought over 260 production suppliers on board. Among them, 16 were based in Anhui, while 37 suppliers moved to Anhui with Volkswagen Anhui and invested in the area. Dr Gabardi told delegates that 17 of Volkswagen Anhui’s partners have already moved into the specialist supplier park built beside the joint venture’s MEB plant, including Volkswagen Anhui Components Plant, which will supply battery systems to the joint venture.

In a move that will also help strengthen the local value chain, Volkswagen Group China earlier this year established a new digital sales and services company in Hefei, which will scale up Volkswagen Anhui’s digital competitiveness in sales and aftersales, providing tailor-made mobility and vehicle connectivity services for customers. 

Aside from producing the most competitive cars for the market and contributing to the formation of an advanced industry value chain, Volkswagen Anhui also shares a vision with Anhui and China for a low carbon future and is a key pillar in carrying out Volkswagen Group’s decarbonization strategy in China and globally. 

Together with partners, Volkswagen Anhui is making huge efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, starting with production. The new MEB plant will be powered by green energy and incorporate a number of energy-saving strategies to reduce overall carbon emission. The Forum heard how discharged wastewater from the paint shop contains not a single trace of phosphorus, contributing to the ecological protection of Chao Lake in Hefei. This is the first time Volkswagen Group has achieved this standard globally.

Volkswagen Anhui also initiated together with partners in a smart logistics project as part of a shared vision to transform Hefei into a low-carbon, smart city. The pilot project will introduce a connected e-truck logistics fleet and city shuttle bus with Level 4 autonomous driving capability to the facilities of Volkswagen Anhui and local suppliers.

Alongside the rapid business progress, Volkswagen Anhui has also been working closely with Anhui and Hefei governments and local partners to nurture new local talents for the wider benefit of the local business ecosystem.

The efforts to integrate the German ‘dual education’ into China’s higher education system reached a key milestone this year, when 26 talented students completed Volkswagen Anhui’s intensive technical training program and became part of the team that will bring Volkswagen Anhui’s first model to market. 

Supported by diversified talent recruitment and development initiatives, Volkswagen Anhui is embracing a wide range of talents on this journey and targets at a workforce of over 3,500 by the end of 2023, including 1,300 R&D engineers.

Dr. Erwin Gabardi, CEO for Volkswagen Anhui, delivered a speech