Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
  • Tire Business
web
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • Silicone
    • Latex
    • Coronavirus
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Opinion
    • Technical Notebooks
    • Women in Tire & Rubber
    • ITEC
    • International Elastomer Show
    • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Israel's Tactile Mobility launches tire insight technology
      Bidirectional EVs could lend a hand in power crisis
      WDK: German rubber industry set for double-digit growth in 2021
      Dana acquires electronics and software provider Pi Innovo
    • Israel's Tactile Mobility launches tire insight technology
      Goodyear joins EASE Logistics, Ohio city to launch connected mobility pilot program
      Goodyear to raise prices on passenger tires
      Ryan Patterson to lead Goodyear-Cooper integration efforts
    • Smithers opens doors to new medical device testing lab
      Maine's Poly Labs doubles work force
      Foam shortage a major concern for auto makers, seating suppliers
      New Products: Kraiburg launches advanced, ‘supersoft' TPEs
    • Emerald to close Illinois rubber additives site
      Smithers opens doors to new medical device testing lab
      Dana acquires electronics and software provider Pi Innovo
      Gelest's Barry Arkles enters National Academy of Engineering
    • Gelest's Barry Arkles enters National Academy of Engineering
      ECO starts 'first' U.S. silicone rubber recycling plant
      New legacy taking shape at Stockwell Elastomerics
      Fenner opens new textile treatment line in Pennsylvania
    • Ohio firm focuses on making better masks in U.S.
      U.S. to increase NBR, make gloves using Defense Production Act
      Tire Cologne canceled; rescheduled for 2022
      Tire Technology Expo canceled for 2021
    • Ryan Patterson to lead Goodyear-Cooper integration efforts
      New legacy taking shape at Stockwell Elastomerics
      Davis-Standard promotes Andrew Alaya to aftermarket sales role
      Harwick Standard adds Flores to West Coast sales team
    • Bidirectional EVs could lend a hand in power crisis
      Braskem Idesa reopens PE complex in Mexico with new contract
      To boost U.S. microchip production, Biden administration must find supply chains weaknesses
      TIA among associations against increase to minimum wage
    • Column: Value is the stuff in custom mixing
      New legacy taking shape at Stockwell Elastomerics
      Column: Discussions of race, equality may mean uncomfortable moments
      Column: Business trips possible because of essential workers
    • Part 2: Studying RPA ASTM methods for detecting compound quality differences
      Studying RPA ASTM methods for detecting compound quality differences
      Damage mechanism in oil and gas formulations during downhole testing
      Advancements in synchronous drive belt design for industrial and consumer markets
    • Rubber Division introduces WORD webinar series
      WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      New video celebrates women in rubber industry
      ITEC panelists say women can thrive in tire industry
    • Goodyear recognized by Lockheed Martin as 'elite supplier'
      EV tire advancements to help secure future
      Lambillotte: Only question on AVs is timing
      CAR official says EV future brighter than autonomous
    • Rubber Division introduces WORD webinar series
      Rubber Division seeks abstracts for 200th Technical Meeting
      WORD panelists say evolution, authenticity keys to success
      IEC keynote: Communication key to logistics
    • Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Faster Access to Your Polymer Compounding Experts Around the World
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Take a walk thru a HEXPOL Lab
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      HEXPOL offers a unique selection of High Performance Elastomers to match your application requirements
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      It’s what you can’t see that makes the Difference at HEXPOL
  • Blogs
    • Products
    • Wacky World of Rubber
    • New Products: Kraiburg launches advanced, ‘supersoft' TPEs
      New Products: Mahr Inc. introduces MarForm MMQ 500 Form Tester
      New Products: Starrett expands field-of-view for multi-sensor vision system
      New Products: Nova thinks outside the box with sealing tech
    • Wacky World of Rubber: How Trelleborg, teens sealed a spot in the world record book
      Wacky World of Rubber: Of chicken and feet, but not chicken feet
      Wacky World of Rubber: Time to go mattress shopping
      Wacky World of Rubber: Because nothing says football like 'frunk' shrimp
  • Newsletters
    • Rubber in Automotive
    • Silicone News
    • Latex News
    • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Israel's Tactile Mobility launches tire insight technology
      Bidirectional EVs could lend a hand in power crisis
      WDK: German rubber industry set for double-digit growth in 2021
      Dana acquires electronics and software provider Pi Innovo
    • Gelest's Barry Arkles enters National Academy of Engineering
      ECO starts 'first' U.S. silicone rubber recycling plant
      New legacy taking shape at Stockwell Elastomerics
      Fenner opens new textile treatment line in Pennsylvania
    • Top Glove eyes new expansions with Hong Kong listing
      Sri Trang Gloves starts major capacity expansion
      Synthomer dismisses takeover reports
      Combined Goodyear-Cooper Tire company has tire technology, sustainability edge
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Directory
  • Resources
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
    • HB Chemical
      Sponsored By HB Chemical
      The HB Chemical and Ravago Partnership: Taking Customer Service to a New Level
      Sponsored By HB Chemical
      Above and Beyond with HB Chemical
      Sponsored By HB Chemical
      The Company Behind the Inventory
      Sponsored By French Oil Mill Machinery
      Process Improvement, Cost Reduction with Custom Press Systems
    • Sponsored By Uncountable Inc.
      Labs of the Future: How to Choose a Laboratory Information Management System in 2021
      Sponsored By Uncountable Inc.
      Cooper Standard deploys lab informatics platform to synchronize R&D
      Sponsored By Elkem
      LSR Select™: A solution to improve your financial impact in molding applications
      Sponsored By HEXPOL Compounding
      Peroxide Cureable Silicone Injection Molding
  • Data
  • Events
    • RPN Events
    • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • ITEC Library
    • International Silicone Conference Library
    • 2021 Healthcare Elastomers Virtual Edition
      2021 Rubber in Automotive Virtual Edition
      2021 International Latex Conference Virtual Edition
      2022 ITEC
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Coronavirus
June 26, 2020 10:33 AM

Coronavirus will boost electrification shift, VW and Bentley execs say

Automotive News Europe Report
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Andrew Roberts, Unsplash

    LONDON—Government incentives and auto maker investment decisions resulting from the coronavirus pandemic will accelerate the move to electrification, Volkswagen Group executives said.

    "Certainly you're going to see a faster transformation to electric mobility," Christian Dahlheim, VW Group's head of sales, told an online summit hosted by the United Kingdom auto association, the SMMT.

    The move will be driven partly by the public's desire to see the continuation of cleaner air experienced during the lockdown as life returns to normality, Dahlheim said.

    Increased government incentives "will push us in that direction," he said.

    Adrian Hallmark, who heads VW Group's Bentley ultraluxury brand, said the pandemic could be a "natural accelerator" for electric investment as auto makers are forced to make tough spending decisions to repair damaged finances.

    "If you have to prioritize and the future is uncertain, where do you place your bets? More (internal combustion engine) horsepower or more cell technology? We have done the latter," Hallmark told the conference.

    Bentley has said it will launch a full-electric car by 2026 and offer a hybrid version of all its models by 2023. However, Hallmark told Automotive News Europe in an interview earlier this month that the immediate effect of the coronavirus was to temporarily freeze the company's investments in future projects such as the electric car.

    "The short-term shock doesn't help because we did plan to generate more cash to be able to preinvest in the next generation (models)," he said. "But it didn't change the strategic direction."

    Sales of plug-in hybrid cars in Europe were already on the rise in 2020 as auto makers introduced more versions to help meet tougher CO2 reduction targets imposed by the EU.

    Sales of full-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids doubled to 167,132 cars in the first three months compared to the same period last year, according to industry association ACEA.

    Recent government incentive packages in France and Germany to boost demand for autos are heavily weighted toward promoting sales of plug-in hybrids.

    Dahlheim said sales of full-electric cars will be dampened by the slow rollout of charging facilities.

    "Half of our consumers are willing to drive electric, but the biggest hurdle is infrastructure," he said.

    The VW Group plans to invest nearly $34 billion across its 12 brands by 2024 in a push to become the world's largest electric car maker. VW brand alone has said it will invest more than $12 billion as it aims to produce 1.5 million electric cars a year in 2025.

    The VW brand will begin European deliveries of the battery-powered ID3 compact hatchback in September, the first car on the auto makers' MEB electric platform. The ID3 is a key launch for VW because it's the first of a new generation of affordable, long-range electric cars.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber & Plastics News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber & Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber & Plastics News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    web
    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Contact the Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • Silicone
      • Latex
      • Coronavirus
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • Opinion
      • Technical Notebooks
      • Women in Tire & Rubber
      • ITEC
      • International Elastomer Show
      • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Blogs
      • Products
      • Wacky World of Rubber
    • Newsletters
      • Rubber in Automotive
      • Silicone News
      • Latex News
      • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Multimedia
      • Videos
      • Photo Galleries
    • Directory
    • Resources
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Data
    • Events
      • RPN Events
      • RPN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • ITEC Library
      • International Silicone Conference Library
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION