Volkswagen AG has named an executive from its luxury Bentley brand to lead its struggling software unit as new Chief Executive Officer Oliver Blume seeks to fix longstanding issues.
(Bloomberg) — Volkswagen AG has named an executive from its luxury Bentley brand to lead its struggling software unit as new Chief Executive Officer Oliver Blume seeks to fix longstanding issues.
Peter Bosch, who heads production at Bentley, will take the helm as Cariad CEO from June 1, replacing Dirk Hilgenberg, the German carmaker said Monday. He’ll be joined by “two acknowledged software experts,” VW said. Human resources head Rainer Zugehör will retain his role.
For Blume, leading Europe’s biggest carmaker since September alongside Porsche AG, improving Cariad is a central issue following delays to key models like the Audi Q6 e-tron and Porsche’s electric Macan. Plans for a cross-brand platform, meant to bolster Volkswagen’s Trinity project and deliver self-driving capabilities, have also been pushed back.
The move suggests that Blume is sticking with the concept of developing an in-house software platform, according to Bernstein analyst Daniel Roeska.
“Bringing in Peter (Bosch) from Bentley shows that this is still supposed to be a Volkswagen-led thing,” Roeska said. “Does this impact the premium platform delivery? That’s the only question that matters right now.”
Internal discord and overloading Cariad with tasks led to delays with software platforms, pushing back several EV models, as well as causing significant software glitches for the ID electric model range.
Bosch takes over from Hilgenberg, who was installed under ex-CEO Herbert Diess to oversee the unit’s ambitious push to create a scalable EV software platform completely in-house.
The two additional managers joining Cariad’s board are Thomas Günther, current motion and energy vice president, and Porsche software chief Sajjad Khan, a person familiar with the plans said, declining to be named discussing non-public information.
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