VW Works Council Chairwoman Cavallo calls for more support for e-mobility and adherence to phasing out combustion engines

VW works council chairwoman Daniela Cavallo is calling for more support from the federal government for the ramp-up of electromobility. "Policy must also support this, not just set directives which are correct," Cavallo said at the dpa Editors' Conference on Monday in Berlin. Otherwise, the goal of having 15 million electric cars on the road in Germany by 2030 would be hardly achievable. "This is a huge challenge and requires the plan to be progressively developed." She doesn't currently see this happening.

The short-term cessation of e-car subsidies last year is just as unhelpful as discussions about technological neutrality. This only creates new uncertainties, Cavallo criticized. Companies need planning security to be able to manage the switch to electric. She therefore considers any backing away from the planned phase-out of combustion engines by 2035 to be wrong.

"That would be fatal. I view it critically if discussions are now taking place that the plan might be softened."

With regard to her own brand, Cavallo admitted that an affordable entry-level electric model is still missing. "From my point of view, we absolutely need a vehicle under 20,000 euros," she said. "Volkswagen is a company that should offer broad mobility. And in that sense, we are missing this in our portfolio, and it is absolutely necessary." However, it will take "a few more years" until such a vehicle comes, said the works council chairwoman. VW has announced an e-model for under 25,000 euros for 2026. For a model under 20,000 euros, which is also in development, the brand has not yet given a date.