Volkswagen is initiating a significant restructuring of its automotive development processes, aiming to streamline complexity and enhance efficiency across its diverse brand portfolio. Newly appointed Group Development Director, Werner Tietz, revealed in an interview with business magazine “Capital” that the technical landscape of Volkswagen’s vehicles had become “very complex” in recent years.
Tietz’s primary mandate involves simplifying this environment, explicitly stating his role is to eliminate what he describes as “special solutions”. He attributes the current complexity to divergent development paths pursued by individual brands, including Audi, Porsche, Skoda and Seat/Cupra, where “each brand and region wanted to add something here, modify something there.
The Volkswagen Group has long pursued a strategy of utilizing standardized platforms and components to achieve economies of scale. This principle dictates that vehicles sharing the same powertrain, chassis and software systems should be delivered under distinct brands and designs, facilitating cost-effective development and production. However, Tietz acknowledges that the Group has, until now, fallen short of fully realizing this objective.
Having previously served as Development Director for the Volkswagen subsidiary Seat/Cupra, Tietz officially assumed his new position on July 1st, replacing Michael Steiner, who has been appointed Vice President of Porsche’s sports car division. Reporting directly to Group CEO Oliver Blume, Tietz is now a member of Volkswagen’s extended management board, signifying the importance placed on this strategic realignment.