Thomas Ulbrich, CEO of Volkswagen’s e-mobility, will be leaving soon. Various stories circulate about the reason for his departure.
Thomas Ulbrich has been with Volkswagen since 1992 and in his current role is responsible for the brand’s electrical strategy. At the moment one of the most important tasks within the company. Ulbrich was at the cradle of the ID3 and the development of the further ID series. However, at the beginning of next year, he will leave the company he worked for for 28 years after his long and creditable career. Volkswagen declares to Automobilwoche that the departure is ‘purely for personal reasons’ because Ulbrich has had an ‘extremely intensive work period’.
However, other reasons emerge in German media. Handelsblatt reports on the basis of a statement from someone within Volkswagen that Ulbrich’s position has come under pressure due to the start-up problems with the ID3. There would be a camp that sees him as the one who solved the software problems, others hold him responsible for the problems. At the same time, the removal of his position would also play a role. Volkswagen reportedly wants to include its separate e-mobility department under regular production, now that EVs are no longer a niche product. Ulbrich would therefore have been offered a position at Volkswagen’s joint venture with SAIC in China, but seen it as demotion and thanked him kindly.
Whatever the reason really is, Ulbrich is an important leader less for Volkswagen. This while there has already been haggling about the position and future of the CEO of the Group, Herbert Diess. That repeated Thursday, according to Automobilwoche once again that he absolutely wants to stay longer than until 2023, when his contract ends. Earlier this week, the board of directors reportedly declined a CEO-initiated voting round on his position.