Tag Archives: Döllner

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Audi CEO on his greatest challenges: “I’ve never seen anything like it”

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When Gernot Döllner arrived in Ingolstadt in September final 12 months to start out his new position as CEO and chairman of Audi, he most likely discovered fairly the to-do record in a bulging in-tray. 

Shortly earlier than Döllner’s appointment, Volkswagen Group chair Oliver Blume described Audi as “lagging [behind] the competition”. That’s why the job had turn into vacant within the first place: former boss Markus Duesmann was sacked, stories counsel, due to quite a few delays to the flagship Q6 E-tron.

But getting the Q6 E-tron undertaking again on monitor was only one problem dealing with Döllner. Audi was gearing up for the largest wave of product launches in its historical past, whereas dealing with an elevated problem from new Chinese rivals, attempting to maintain tempo with BMW and Mercedes-Benz, dealing with a slowing marketplace for electrical autos and coping with ever-changing rules.

Whereas Duesmann had jumped throughout from BMW to supervise Audi in 2020, Döllner wasn’t a flashy rent. The 55-year-old has been on the Volkswagen Group since 1993, with the majority of his profession spent at Porsche, the place he labored with Blume.

Among different roles, he was product supervisor for the 918 Spyder and the Panamera mannequin collection. Since 2021, he has been VW’s group technique boss – a key if considerably back-room position.

That appears to suit Döllner’s fashion – and explains why he doesn’t appear in any respect fazed by the challenges forward of him at Audi. In truth, his manner is a good match for the model: it’s not about being showy; it’s about being environment friendly, thought of and decisive.

Since he began at Audi six months in the past, Döllner and his board have spent their time laying out a brand new technique for the corporate, which has been referred to as the Audi Agenda. See, informed you he wasn’t flashy.

The agenda is meant to assist sort out the important thing points affecting the agency. “We’re currently managing the biggest model initiative in Audi’s history,” he says, “while at the same time driving forward a fundamental transformation.”

News

Audi plots ‘versatile’ swap to EVs based mostly on demand

Audi remains to be planning to section out all of its ICE vehicles by 2033, however boss Gernot Döllner hasn’t dominated out shifting that date again if electric car demand doesn’t decide up.

While a number of automotive makers have scaled again or delayed plans to transition to an all-electric line-up within the wake of weakening demand for EVs, Dollner stated there was “no doubt” that “the future of the vehicle is electric”.

Audi will start a serious product offensive this yr, with the brand new Q6 e-tron electrical SUV the primary of 20 fashions – with each ICE and EV powertrains – that can launch in 2024 and 2025.

It might be adopted later this yr by a brand new A6 e-tron electrical saloon and new variations of the A4 saloon and property (rebranded A5) and Q5 SUV.

Audi is aiming to have an EV in “all core segments” by 2026, with the goal to additionally launch its last new ICE automotive that yr, working in the direction of a beforehand introduced date to section out non-EV gross sales in 2033.

Asked at Audi’s annual media convention about that 2033 date, Döllner stated the agency was “fully committed to e-mobility” but it had to be “ambidextrous” in its future planning, hinting that plug-in hybrids can even play a key position.

“We have and will ensure that a combination of battery-electric and clean, efficient combustion engines and plug-in hybrid powertrains will be available for the transition period [towards electric],” stated Döllner.

“We are renewing our total portfolio, so we’re very flexibly positioned.

“The plan is for the last combustion and PHEV premieres to take place in 2026, and in 2033 we plan to conduct the phase-out of combustion vehicles – but if there are any ups and downs, we can flexibly react to it.”

Motorsport

Gernot Dollner Becomes New Audi CEO, Replaces Markus Duesmann

Gernot Döllner is taking over as the Chairman of the Board of Management at Audi, replacing Markus Duesmann. The transition will occur on September 1. After leading Audi since April 2020, Duesmann will be departing the automaker.

Döllner expressed his honor and excitement about his new position, stating that Audi is an exceptional company with a rich history. He looks forward to working with the entire Audi team to shape the company’s future.

Since joining the Volkswagen Group in 1993, Döllner has steadily climbed the ranks. His journey began as a systems analyst for VW. In 1998, he moved to Porsche, where he led the Vehicle Concepts and Package department from 2001 to 2010. During this time, he also served as the project manager for developing the Porsche 918 Spyder. From 2011 to 2018, Döllner was in charge of the Panamera series before becoming the head of the Product and Concept department.

In 2021, Döllner returned to the Volkswagen brand, holding leadership positions in Group Strategy, Group Strategy Product, and the General Secretariat. He reported directly to VW Group’s then-CEO Herbert Diess.

Recently, Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume criticized Audi during a presentation, acknowledging severe software problems that caused delays in launching electric products. Blume also mentioned that Audi’s products are not competitive enough in the Chinese market, with sales down by 16% in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.

These software issues have also led to delays in several premium EVs. For instance, Audi had to postpone the introduction of its Audi-branded EV until 2027, initially planned for 2024. Bentley faced a similar delay, pushing its version to around 2030 instead of 2025.

Despite these challenges, Audi is gearing up to launch a range of A6 E-Tron EVs in the near future, with the first model expected to debut before the end of the year. Additionally, the Q6 E-Tron is also in the pipeline.

Volkswagen

Gernot Döllner appointed as the new CEO of AUDI in Volkswagen’s Group Board of Management

Gernot Döllner will become the new CEO of AUDI AG and will join Volkswagen AG’s Group Board of Management on September 1, 2023. He will be taking over from Markus Duesmann, who will step down from Group management at the same time. This decision was made by the Group Supervisory Board today.

The Chairman of Volkswagen’s Supervisory Board, Hans Dieter Pötsch, expressed gratitude towards Markus Duesmann for his contributions at Audi. Duesmann played a pivotal role in implementing an ambitious electrification strategy, achieving a significant milestone with the E-Roadmap, and leading the way for a complete transition to e-mobility. Pötsch also emphasized that Gernot Döllner, with his extensive experience within the Group and its products, will effectively advance and develop Audi’s strategy.

Gernot Döllner, who hails from Lower Saxony, studied mechanical engineering and joined Volkswagen as a doctoral student in 1993. He held various managerial positions at Porsche AG, including head of Concept Development and head of the Panamera series. Döllner has been responsible for Product and Group Strategy, as well as the General Secretariat in the Volkswagen Group since 2021.