Volkswagen is taking a further step in the direction of fully networked factories. A local 5G standalone network (“campus network”) is now available at its main plant in Wolfsburg that initially covers the main production development center and the pilot hall. The pilot project will test whether the 5G technology meets the demanding requirements of vehicle production with a view to developing this for industrial series production in the future. A dedicated 5G radio frequency will be used to safeguard secure, delay-free transmission of data. The Transparent Factory in Dresden has also put a so-called “5G island” into operation. Volkswagen undertakes setup and operation of the 5G infrastructure itself in a move designed to build up competitive expertise in using this important technology of the future and ensure data security.

“In implementing our ACCELERATE strategy we are working at full speed to transform our Volkswagen sites into smart factories. Our goal is to continuously optimize our production and make it even more efficient and flexible. We believe that 5G technology has great potential for innovation, from the use of intelligent robots and driverless transportation systems to networked control of plant and machinery in real time up to wireless software flashing of manufactured vehicles,” said Christian Vollmer, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Brand responsible for Production and Logistics.

Real-time data transfer for production of the future

There are already around 5,000 robots at the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg, as well as many other machines and systems. Secure, delay-free transmission of data will be required in the future to control and monitor these. Latency, i.e. the time it takes for data to be sent through the network, is significantly reduced with 5G networks versus other wireless communication technologies such as WLAN. 5G technology provides extremely short latency times of up to one millisecond, data transmission rates in the gigabit range and considerable reliability even with high utilization. This real-time wireless communication will make many smart factory applications possible for the first time.

One scenario to be tested in the pilot phase under real-life laboratory conditions in Wolfsburg is the wireless upload of data to manufactured vehicles. With ever higher levels of digitization and fully connected vehicles, the production process requires large amounts of data to be transmitted to the cars. 5G makes it possible to perform this much more quickly and at any time during production.

Setup and operation of the 5G network by Volkswagen itself

“Efficient wireless communication in real time will be crucial for flexible production in the future. 5G has the potential to be one such driver of the Industrial Internet of Things. Our aim is therefore to build up extensive experience in the operation and industrial use of 5G technology,” said Beate Hofer, CIO of the Volkswagen Group. In the long term, the campus network at the Wolfsburg site is expected to cover large parts of the 6.5 square-kilometer plant site.

Volkswagen is setting up and operating the local 5G infrastructure itself. For the campus network in Wolfsburg, the company applied for and was allocated a private radio frequency at 3.7 to 3.8 GHz with 100 MHz bandwidth by the Federal Network Agency. Exclusive spectrum is a key enabler for 5G campus operations at the manufacturing site. Interference-free, high-availability wireless transmission requires a dedicated frequency that will be used exclusively by Volkswagen for production purposes. The network equipment for the 5G pilot network is supplied by the Finnish telecommunications group Nokia.

Transparent Factory in Dresden tests system control using 5G

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand is part of a 5G competence network in the Volkswagen Group. At the Transparent Factory in Dresden, a pilot factory for the Volkswagen brand that is testing innovative technologies in normal operation for the pilot-scale ID.3 series, a 5G island has been put into operation as well. Networked control for a driverless transportation system is being developed further in collaboration with Porsche, Audi and the Dresden University of Technology. The sensors in the driverless transportation system transmit the environment data to the cloud computer using 5G. This calculates the route to an ID.3 body and sends back the information in real time. The project in Dresden is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

Strong performance of the all-electric Volkswagen ID.3 after its first year in the European market: “The car is an absolute hit. It appeals to customers and has shot from zero to take top positions among new registrations in a large number of countries,” says Klaus Zellmer, Board Member for Sales, Marketing and After Sales at Volkswagen. By the end of September, the car had already been ordered around 144,000 times in Europe – 50 percent of buyers had not driven a Volkswagen before and were new to the brand, found a study commissioned by the company. “The ID.3 has tapped into an above-average number of new buyer groups for Volkswagen. Some 70,000 new customers are strong proof that we are exactly on the right track with this vehicle and our electric mobility strategy,” continues Zellmer.

For comparison: On average, the ratio of new customers for other Volkswagen models is around 36 percent. In the first half of 2021, the strong demand for the ID.3 and other ID. models made Volkswagen the market leader for battery-electric vehicles in Europe within a very short time. In August, the car was the most popular electric car in many markets including Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Austria and Switzerland. Based on new registrations, the ID.3 also ranked top in Western Europe overall in August. In order to meet the strong demand, some 1,200 of the best-selling electric cars are leaving the production lines in Zwickau and Dresden every day, with Zwickau operating three shifts on both production lines. Moreover, production for the local market has started in Anting in China – the car will be launched on the Chinese market in the fall of this year.

Volkswagen recently surveyed its ID.3 customers in Germany about the reasons for their purchase and their user behavior. The main criteria for buying or leasing an ID.3 were environmental performance (60 percent) and innovative technology (51 percent). Another important criterion for customers was the personal support provided by Volkswagen’s dealer and service network.

For almost 80 percent of German customers, the ID.3 is the most frequently used vehicle in their household. “This underscores that the vehicle is highly suitable for daily use,” comments Silke Bagschik, Head of Sales and Marketing, Product Line e-Mobility. For most users, charging their vehicles at home is already fully carbon-neutral. Around 70 percent of them use only green electricity, either from their own photovoltaic system or from their electricity supplier – and increasingly from the new Volkswagen Naturstrom Connect. Given the fact that ID.3 production in Zwickau and Dresden is also net carbon-neutral, “we’ve come a very big step closer to achieving our goal of net carbon-neutral mobility,” according to Silke Bagschik. The ID. family therefore makes an important contribution to the success of the Way to Zero. At the heart of the Way to Zero is the brand’s new ACCELERATE strategy aimed at stepping up the pace of the electric offensive. The goal is the full electrification of the new vehicle fleet. By 2030, at least 70 percent of all Volkswagen’s unit sales in Europe will be all-electric vehicles – that’s substantially more than one million vehicles. In North America and China, the share of electric vehicles in sales should be at least 50 percent. In addition, Volkswagen will be launching at least one new electric car each year.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

The Volkswagen Group will present solutions for the efficient, sustainable, safe and convenient movement of people and goods at the ITS World Congress in Hamburg, the world’s largest industry event for intelligent transportation systems, from October 11 to 15, 2021. The focus will be on autonomous driving, the intelligent use of vehicle data and the integration of electric vehicles into the power grid. Together with its Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, MOIA, CARIAD, Elli and MAN Truck & Bus brands, the Group will provide a forum for interested parties and experts with live demonstrations of pioneering pilot projects, discussion panels, lectures and expert talks.

Gernot Döllner, Senior Vice President Group Strategy at Volkswagen: “Intelligent transportation systems play a key role in future-proof mobility in cities and beyond. They are the basic prerequisite for carbon-neutral, connected, safe and tailored mobility solutions and key factors in our NEW AUTO Group strategy. Together with our partners, we will make the mobility of people and goods even more efficient, sustainable and convenient.”

Autonomous ridesharing as a driver of the mobility revolution

For the Volkswagen Group, autonomous driving is a key technology that enables new mobility solutions and improves road safety. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, MOIA and ARGO AI are currently testing an autonomous ridesharing system in a pilot project in Hamburg, which is planned to go into series production in 2025. At ITS, MOIA will use an interactive simulation to show how large-fleet autonomous ridesharing can contribute to the mobility revolution. Using a 1:2 model of the ID.BUZZ AD, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will also allow visitors to experience various usage scenarios of self-driving shuttles for the transportation of goods and people. MAN Truck & Bus and Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) will present the results of their joint “Hamburg TruckPilot” project. The two companies have demonstrated in the HHLA container terminal Altenwerder that the use of autonomous trucks is technologically possible in real-world applications and that they can be integrated efficiently in logistics processes.

Data sharing for greater safety and efficiency in traffic

CARIAD will provide insights into data-based services that help improve traffic safety and flow at the World Congress. For example, anonymized data from Group vehicles enable authorities in Europe and the U.S. to optimize road maintenance and winter services already today. By 2030, up to 40 million Group vehicles will be connected to the cloud, providing the basis for secure access to anonymized vehicle and environmental data. Volkswagen is also participating in the newly created Mobility Data Space, which will present initial use cases at the ITS. Via the data space, companies and organizations are able to exchange date securely and sovereignly in order to enable and advance innovative mobility concepts.

Integration of electric vehicles in the energy system saves costs and CO2

Another core topic is the systematic switch to e-mobility. Elli is creating a comprehensive energy ecosystem around the vehicle, from wall boxes to digital services. At ITS, the Group company will also demonstrate how electric vehicles are becoming part of the energy system as mobile storage devices through the use of high-voltage batteries. Bidirectional charging is also strengthening the driving role of e-mobility for the energy transition: self-generated electricity from renewable energy sources can be stored in the vehicle and fed back into the house as needed. Not only does this make customers less dependent on the public power grid, it also saves costs and CO2. The brands of the Volkswagen Group will likely offer this technology from 2022 onwards in models based on the MEB modular electric drive matrix.

Cooperation as a success factor for the transformation

For Volkswagen, cooperative projects with cities, industry partners and public institutions are key for creating an integrated, future-proof transportation system. The Group has had a particularly close city partnership with Hamburg since 2016. In addition to implementing specific projects, Volkswagen supported Hamburg’s application for hosting this year’s ITS World Congress. As a main partner, the Group has been actively involved in the organization and planning of the ITS and offers visitors a diverse congress program. From October 12 to 14, 2021, at 10 a.m. each day, Volkswagen will welcome visitors to “Future Mobility Sessions” at its booth (B5210). A single ride for MOIA Classic to visit ITS on October 14, between 12 noon and 8 p.m. (Public Day) will be one euro only.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

The new Golf R Estate is Volkswagen’s most powerful and dynamic Golf Estate so far. Sportiness meets everyday practicality. Top performance meets flexibility, with a spacious interior. The 235-kW (320-PS) Golf R Estate remains true to the tradition of its predecessors: a flexible all-rounder, comfortable leisure and family estate, and a sporty companion with impressive dynamics – thanks in part to the 4MOTION all-wheel drive system, including R Performance torque vectoring with wheel-selective torque control on the rear axle.

Breath-taking agility and optimum everyday practicality – that is what the new Golf R Estate offers. The sport estate features impressive performance, thanks to the 4MOTION all-wheel drive and R Performance torque vectoring. The Golf R Estate also sets visual benchmarks with its sporty interior and exterior design. The Golf R Estate is the perfect combination of the compact Golf R and a spacious estate. Sportiness, performance and emotions meet space, flexibility and top quality.

Driving dynamics in a new dimension

Like the compact Golf R, the Golf R Estate also comes with the newly-developed 4MOTION all-wheel drive system, including R Performance torque vectoring with wheel-selective torque control on the rear axle. This not only distributes the power between the front and rear axle as needed, via a new rear-axle differential, but also between each rear wheel. The innovative drive system significantly increases the agility of the new Golf R Estate, particularly in corners. At the same time, it also increases safety, as more power is guided to the outer wheel at the rear of the car when cornering. This provides the car with a high level of traction, whilst maintaining neutral handling characteristics.

The 4MOTION all-wheel drive system is linked through the Vehicle Dynamics Manager to other chassis systems, like the electronic differential lock (XDS) and optional Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC), which allows various configurations. The result: an extremely precise and neutral driving experience, optimal traction, and outstanding agility. In short: maximum driving pleasure. The final fine-tuning of the new Golf R Estate took place on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.

With the optional R-Performance package, the high-performance estate has two additional driving profiles: in the “Special” mode, all the key drive parameters are designed for the Nordschleife and other similarly demanding racetracks. The “Drift” driving mode offers new driving dynamics away from public roads and considerably increases fun and safety levels when drifting sideways.

The Golf R Estate is powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo engine from the EA888 series. Now in its fourth generation, this engine generates 235 kW (320 PS) and allows the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds. The standard top speed of 250 km/h can be increased to 270 km/h with the optional R-Performance package.

A true performer, even in day-to-day use

Even with the R-specific sport chassis and sporty design, the Golf R Estate by no means comes up short when it comes to everyday practicality. For example, the “Comfort” mode – one of four standard driving profiles – is designed for optimal comfort, achieved using the engine, transmission, damper and steering parameters, as well as R Performance torque vectoring.

The dynamic estate car also boasts a generous amount of space. The long wheelbase of the Golf R Estate – 50 mm longer than the Golf hatchback – allows a particularly spacious interior. Passengers in the rear of the car, in particular, benefit from the larger dimensions. The maximum boot capacity, when loaded to roof level and with the rear seats folded down, is a mighty 1,642 litres. The optional, electrically-retractable trailer hitch rounds off the Golf R Estate as a high-performance estate car for everyday use.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com