Top executives at Cariad, the Volkswagen Group software company that has been blamed for delays in the introduction of new electric cars, have been sacked in a change of management.
Three top executives have been fired from Cariad, the Volkswagen Group’s autonomous driving and infotainment software company, after it was blamed on long delays of key new electric cars.
Peter Bosch, current production manager at vw Group subsidiary Bentley – will replace Dirk Hilgenberg as CEO, with the aim of accelerating software and electric motor developments at the German car giant after recent delays in key models such as the new porsche macan and Audi Q6 E-tron Electric SUVs.
These vehicles, in the popular midsize SUV class, were due to be unveiled and introduced last year but have since been pushed back to later this year or 2024.
Cariad’s CTO Lynn Longo and CFO Thomas Sedran will also vacate their positions, the Volkswagen Group confirmed in a statement to the media.
As of June 1, 2023, Mr. Bosch will become the CEO of Cariad and will also oversee the Finance, Procurement and IT departments of the Volkswagen Group’s software division as a “super board member”, assuming many of the charges of Ms. Longo and Mr. Sedran. responsibilities.
Rainer Zugehör, Cariad’s current ‘Personnel Director’, will remain in his position.
“Peter Bosch is the right CEO at the right time,” Oliver Blume, Volkswagen Group CEO and Chairman of the Cariad Supervisory Board, said in a press release.
“He is a strategist, an implementer and a team player, as he has shown during his successful tenure at Bentley. He has a solid understanding of the Volkswagen Group and has extensive experience in consulting and change management.”
The Volkswagen Group has confirmed that Bosch will be supported by two new software experts on the board of directors. However, they are yet to be named.
Making the announcement, Mr. Blume emphasized that Cariad, established in 2020, “will continue to be open to partnerships.”
Recent media reports have suggested that the Volkswagen Group is close to announcing a partnership with MobileEye, a software company owned by computer chip giant Intel, in the field of autonomous driving, following the dissolution of VW’s Argo AI joint venture with Ford.
This was not mentioned in the media statement, but experts told the US publication. automatic wards that talks between the two companies are ongoing.
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