Volkswagen brands are creeping closer together

Over the years, the Volkswagen Group has launched many different models with strong mutual similarities. Think of the Volkswagen Polo and Seat Ibiza, the Skoda Superb and Volkswagen Passat, but of course especially the Up/Citigo/Mii triplets. A close family has developed on the modular MQB basis, in which the mutual kinship is sometimes very clear. Yet there is still a bit too much distinction, according to the CEO of the Volkswagen brand, Thomas Schäfer.

Schäfer late to news agency Bloomberg know that the brands need to move more towards each other. Technically, at least. “In the past, we wasted too much time targeting each other. However, the competition is outside the company, not within it.” More ‘synergy’ in the group should increase efficiency. The CEO thinks that an efficiency gain of 20 percent is possible.

They want to achieve this by exchanging even more technology between the brands than is already the case. It is also possible that trim levels and option packages will run more parallel, which of course can simplify production. Volkswagen wants to bring the production of closely related models together under one roof as much as possible. That will already happen, for example, with the next Volkswagen Passat and Skoda Superb, which will roll side-by-side off the production line in Slovakia.

So will a Skoda become even more of a Volkswagen with a slightly more down-to-earth jacket? And a Seat a Volkswagen with some more frosting? It appears so. Nevertheless, Schäfer emphasizes that there is indeed a clear distinction. The design departments of the various brands are given more freedom to pour their own sauce over it. This is already happening, but will become even more important in the future to prevent cannibalism within the Volkswagen Group.