The performance programs Shafer mentions have already been discussed at the board level, though it’s unclear how these belt-tightening exercises will be implemented. However, it appears that Shafer will be relying on senior staff to find ways to streamline the car-building process. “Our structures and processes are still too complex, slow, and inflexible,” said Shafer. He then told said managers that the German automaker needs “team spirit more than ever.”
This comes as quite a surprise for multiple reasons. Recent sales results show that VW is in a good position, not to mention the spending spree it has been on in the USA. VW is building an all-new factory for Scout in the USA and a new battery plant for its models in Canada.
And thanks to Oliver Blume taking over as the VW Group CEO, the brand’s Scalable Systems Platform (SSP) is back on track.
