“The Volkswagen Group’s ‘In China, for China’ technique is about systematically adapting to the dynamic modifications going down in China’s automotive trade. A excessive diploma of localization will permit us to cater to the desires of our Chinese language prospects. I wish to thank Marcus Hafkemeyer, whose excellent private dedication and broad experience in China have actually moved ahead Technical Growth’s regional focus, for instance by way of the institution of our new improvement middle in Hefei,” stated Ralf Brandstätter, Member of the Board of Administration of Volkswagen AG for the China area and CEO of Volkswagen Group China.
“Thomas Ulbrich, considered one of our prime improvement and software program specialists, will now proceed to advance the localization and networking of our Group’s improvement actions within the area. Ulbrich has distinctive experience in necessary future applied sciences and wonderful connections within the firm and the China area. One in every of his priorities will due to this fact be to additional strengthen the collaboration with our three way partnership corporations FAW-Volkswagen, SAIC Volkswagen and Volkswagen Anhui. I firmly consider that this shall be an necessary supply of impetus in our transformation to sensible e-mobility”, Brandstätter added.
In his new position, Thomas Ulbrich will even be the CEO of Volkswagen China Know-how Firm (VCTC) in Hefei in japanese China. The Group’s largest improvement middle outdoors Germany is the central improvement unit of Volkswagen Group China, which focuses squarely on clever, totally linked electrical automobiles.
VCTC will due to this fact play a key position within the improvement of particular fashions for China. One of many issues being developed there’s the primary native electrical platform, which can type the idea for brand new Volkswagen model fashions in China from 2026.
By implementing environment friendly improvement processes and utilizing state-of-the-art applied sciences, VCTC will scale back the time to marketplace for automobiles and elements by 30 p.c. Additional synergies shall be leveraged by intently interweaving improvement work with the three way partnership corporations SAIC Volkswagen, FAW-Volkswagen and Volkswagen Anhui in addition to with Gotion (batteries) and Chinese language automaker XPENG. Companions Horizon Robotics (autonomous driving), ARK (person expertise) and Thundersoft (infotainment) will even be included, working intently with Volkswagen’s software program arm CARIAD.
After a pioneering part, the “New Mobility” Board of Administration division of the Volkswagen Passenger Automobiles model shall be transferred to Technical Growth (TE) as deliberate to make sure environment friendly constructions and stronger networking. Thomas Ulbrich particularly examined and established new software program improvement processes for electrical automobiles based mostly on MEB within the “New Mobility” division. The switch of those actions to the MQBevo has already taken place as deliberate, and the “New Mobility” division’s mission has been achieved. Kai Grünitz, Member of the Board of Administration of the Volkswagen model liable for Technical Growth, will in future handle the technical mission administration for future applied sciences and improvement below one roof.
Further Data
Thomas Ulbrich studied automotive engineering at Hamburg College of Utilized Sciences. In 1992, the engineering graduate began his profession in plant logistics at Wolfsburg, the place he assumed a administration position in 1995.
In 1996, he grew to become head of logistics at FAW-Volkswagen in Changchun, China. Two years later he assumed duty for meeting “section II” on the Wolfsburg plant earlier than turning into head of plant logistics at Emden in 1999.
The following stage of his profession took him to AUTO 5000 GmbH in Wolfsburg, the place he was technical managing director and speaker of the administration board from 2001 to 2008. He grew to become Board of Administration member for Manufacturing at Volkswagen Business Automobiles in Hannover in 2008.
Ulbrich moved to SAIC VOLKSWAGEN, China, as Technical Government Vice President in 2010, taking cost of improvement in addition to manufacturing and logistics at a complete of 5 places.
From April 2014 till January 2018, Thomas Ulbrich was liable for Manufacturing and Logistics as Member of the Board of Administration of the Volkswagen model. From February 2018 till January 2021 he was Member of the Board of Administration of the Volkswagen model liable for E-Mobility. Since February 2021, he has been a member of the Model Board of Administration liable for Technical Growth at Volkswagen Passenger Automobiles and took over the newly created “New Mobility” Board perform at Volkswagen Passenger Automobiles efficient October 1, 2022.
