It may come as a surprise for you, but I highly welcome the interest of Apple, Google and others in the automobile. Because that means, the car will gain more acceptance from ‘Digital Natives’.

—Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn

Winterkorn introduced Future Tracks at the Geneva Show in 2014, saying that over the next few years, the automotive industry will face one of the greatest upheavals since the invention of the automobile.

In his remarks before this year’s Geneva Show, Winterkorn called on industry in Europe to “show even more courage and even greater innovative strength. But there is also a need for greater openness and stronger backing from politics and society.”

Winterkorn stressed that “at Volkswagen, technology is never an end in itself. All these technologies serve people, our customers. Because they make driving safer and more comfortable, because they conserve resources and protect the environment, and because they bring together the mobile and the digital worlds.” That is why he would like to see “in Europe in particular, a climate where new technologies are not eyed with suspicion right from the outset”, but rather a climate “where innovations are truly welcome.” As a center of automotive engineering and manufacturing, Europe must, for example, drive forward core technologies such as piloted driving with determination and speed.

Under the umbrella of Future Tracks, Volkswagen is paying very close attention to the issues of the future for the automotive industry such as electromobility, the digitalization of vehicles, factories and retail, or social change, which is altering, and to a certain extent redefining, the role of the automobile.

Winterkorn pointed out that thanks to sensor technology and connectivity, the Group already has the largest networked fleet in the world on the road, adding that the automaker also has the world’s largest low-CO₂ fleet, with the present lineup including 57 model variants that already meet the 95 gram/mile target. The Group already offers the widest range of electromobility solutions in the automotive industry as well, with nine battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.

Winterkorn also emphasized that Volkswagen remains committed to its environmental goals, and noted that the present low level of oil prices would not change that.

Oil will not be as cheap as it is at the moment for ever. The CO₂ limits apply irrespective of fuel prices. And, more importantly, this is about our responsibility for protecting the climate. That is why our approach to drive diversity is the right one.

—Martin Winterkorn

He also stated that ever more efficient gasoline and diesel engines are indispensable, noting “Let me be very clear about one point: those who talk down diesel are jeopardizing CO₂ targets.”

The current status of the Group’s ecological realignment initiative launched in 2012 is very positive, and Volkswagen is well ahead of schedule with its most important environmental targets. For example, emissions by the EU new vehicle fleet were brought down to approximately 125 grams CO₂/km last year—13% less than 2010 and 31% less than 1995. This means the Group is already well below the legal limit for 2015.

Production processes have already been made 19% more environmentally compatible within the space of four years, well on the way to the target of 25%.

The second half will be tougher than the first. Every additional gram and percent we save will be a hard-fought battle.

—Martin Winterkorn

The company also made a good start to the year in terms of operating performance. The Volkswagen Group delivered over 1.5 million vehicles in January and February to customers for the first time in its history. Last year, the Group topped the ten million delivery mark for the first time.