Volkswagen has appointed Thomas Ulbrich, a veteran of more than 30 years at Germany’s biggest automaker, as the new chief technology officer in China, hoping to foster the local development of new models to meet the growing demand for intelligent, connected electric vehicles. Effective April 1, Ulbrich will also serve as the chief executive of Volkswagen China Technology Company, the company’s largest research and development center outside Germany, where it has been working with Xpeng Motors on two new models scheduled for launch in 2026. The German carmaker has set a goal of selling at least 30 all-electric vehicle models in China by 2030, while another 30 locally-built models, including plug-in hybrids and gas-powered cars will be available by 2027 in collaboration with manufacturers such as SAIC and FAW. It is also looking to shorten the development cycle by 30% for cars with key components, ranging from batteries to automated driving systems, with assistance from partners including Gotion High-Tech and Horizon Robotics. [Volkswagen release]
