Amid a steady, broad consumer shift away from cars, VW is dropping the midsize sedan to focus on EVs and utility vehicles, sources familiar with the brand's future product plans said.

The news that Svolt will build a factory in Germany is a huge boost for the German state of Saarland, which suffered a blow when Ford said it would end production of the C-Max at its factory there.

The automaker's finance chief, Frank Witter, told analysts that the company has set aside funds to cover the likely costs of the fine.

Peter Altmaier, Germany's economic minister, said Europe will have to produce nearly one-third of the world's battery cells by 2030 to remain competitive. 

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised a new target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Automakers fear the tougher target will require massive additional investments at a time when the industry has been badly hit by the coronavirus crisis.

Klaus Zellmer is tasked with boosting VW brand's volume as the new head of sales and marketing.

Hiltrud Werner, the VW Group executive board member responsible for integrity and legal affairs, discusses the company's efforts to change its culture to be more transparent.

It could become the first car to offer motorists Level 3 autonomy, but major markets, including the U.S., are not ready for the technology.

The retooled flagship sedan, scheduled to go on sale in February, features autonomous technology that allows full control of the car in congested highway traffic, as well as a virtual assistant capable of conversing with the driver.

Former Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche is due to become the automaker's chairman next year, but some shareholders are not happy about the plan.

Bugatti President Stephan Winkelmann said a decision on whether to go ahead with such a costly project has been postponed because even very wealthy customers may not be prepared to buy an ultraluxury car during a global recession brought on by the pandemic.

The Daimler subsidiary says its full-electric rival to the Model S will travel more than 700 km (435 miles) on a single charge, based on the WLTP testing cycle.

The BMW iX3 is the brand’s first electric vehicle targeted at a sweet spot of the premium market -- the midsize SUV segment -- where it will compete with the Jaguar I-Pace and Tesla Model Y. The vehicle will not be sold in the U.S., according to current plans.

The role of a former U.S. deputy attorney general appointed to monitor VW's compliance with a diesel-rigging settlement is expected to end in September.

The CEO is on precarious footing after missteps around the new Golf and other issues.