Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller is being replaced by Volkswagen brand chief Herbert Diess, in a week full of news for the German-based auto and commercial vehicle maker.
by Staff
April 13, 2018
2 min to read
Newly named Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess (center) speaks at a technology conference in Germany last year. Photo: Volkswagen
The repercussions of Volkswagen’s admission in 2015 that it had installed “cheat software” on millions of diesel engines in an end-run around global emissions standards reverberate to this day. The global car, truck and bus manufacturer announced Thursday, April 13, that CEO Matthias Mueller would be replaced by Volkswagen brand chief Herbert Diess.
Mueller took over the CEO slot at VW in the wake of the fallout from the emissions scandal and was tasked with restoring public and shareholder confidence in the company. Fallout from the scandal has cost VW an estimated $30 billion over the past two years.
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Diess currently heads the firm's namesake Volkswagen division, but now takes over a larger parent company that owns brands including Porsche, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti and Lamborghini.
Volkswagen, which employs over 640,000 people, turned aggressively to electric cars under Mueller's leadership, as well as inking agreements with Navistar to explore electric truck development in North America.
In September, VW announced it would spend over $62 billion on emerging battery technologies as it pushes to electrify all 300 models in its range by 2030. It has promised more than 80 new electric and plug-in hybrid models by 2025.
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Earlier in the week, Volkswagen’s Truck and Bus division announced a long-term strategic partnership with Hino to develop electric trucks, alternative fuel vehicles and autonomous vehicle control systems. Meanwhile, the company apparently is preparing for a potential spin-off of its truck and bus operations.
These strategic moves and partnerships bolster the views of industry analysts who have been predicting VW’s entry into the North American commercial vehicle market in the future; it's already got a wide-ranging partnership with Navistar.
In other company news, there are indications VW is considering listing its Truck & Bus division as a separate stock listing in order to gain access to capital markets, including options for a partial listing and bond sales. The potential move comes as VW announced a new organizational structure at an April 13 press conference, with the company being divided into six business units with a distinct Chinese operation.
Along with unveiling its EPA 2027-compliant MP13 engine, Mack outlined powertrain changes across its Class 6-8 lineup, including new Cummins-based X10 engines.
Kodiak AI and Roehl Transport have begun autonomous freight operations on a regular Dallas-Houston route, marking another step toward Kodiak’s planned driverless launch by the end of 2026.
Volvo says advances in combustion and aftertreatment helped its new EPA 2027 D13 engine avoid the fuel-economy penalties many once expected from tighter NOx emissions limits.
Fleet Advantage’s latest Truck Life Cycle Data Index shows fleets operating older Class 8 trucks could face significantly higher costs as diesel prices rise, while newer 2028 equipment may deliver savings of more than $12,000 per truck annually.
Tesla’s Semi chief at ACT Expo outlined production growth, lower-cost models, charging expansion, and why the company believes fleets are leaving money on the table by waiting on electric trucks.
Mack Trucks is introducing ImpactShield, the first Class 8 truck windshield to use Corning Fusion5 Glass, designed to improve durability, reduce damage and help fleets minimize downtime.
Volvo Autonomous Solutions and Aurora expand their freight network with a new Dallas–Oklahoma City route, moving closer to scaled driverless operations.
Westport and Volvo are demonstrating a 500-hp truck with diesel-like efficiency — one that also offers what Westport says is a better pathway to using hydrogen fuel in trucks.
