Our Competence Centres bring together all the relevant aspects relating to the decisive future issues in the automotive industry: batteries, autonomous driving, and data handling. Using the specific results derived from them, we then act as thought leaders and central points of contact for top management in these focus areas. In addition, our Competence Centres address important innovation issues and identify their potential for the development of new business models.
Competence Centers
Multifaceted skill set for a common goal
Rethinking mobility requires holistic approaches that bring all relevant areas and aspects together. For us, this also means the right direction in terms of topics, projects, and ways of working. To ensure optimum support for and to drive the successful transformation of the Volkswagen Group, we have expanded our cross-functional expertise with practice groups across competence centers.
Cross-functional and visionary: our competence centers
Multiplying knowledge, promoting dialogue
In addition to this programme-based approach for strategic consulting along theme-based clusters, the Competence Centres act as the central contacts and multipliers that drive the exchange of knowledge within the company. They organise lecture series on current issues and promote interdisciplinary dialogue with universities and think tanks.
Competence center Battery
Powerful, efficient and sustainable batteries are the key to electrifying our industry and decarbonising mobility. In the Battery Competence Centre, we focus our expertise and experience on all aspects of battery technology. We cover the entire value chain, from raw materials, production, vehicle integration to recycling. Our technical and methodological input supports the Volkswagen Group in its strategic positioning in the battery environment.
Project examples:
- Development of battery concepts for the Group's flagship vehicles
- Battery cell strategies
- Development of the battery portfolio in Europe, North America and China
- Strategic safeguarding of the supply of raw materials and upstream materials along the value chain
“Our focus is on the topics new to the automotive industry, such as battery, charging infrastructure, and new business models beyond vehicle sales. Our analyses provide the security needed to make far-reaching decisions.”
Valentin Kratzsch, Lead Competence Center Battery
Competence center Data, Analytics & AI
Data and data-based decisions are a critical success factor for the entire Volkswagen Group. Together with top decision-makers, we develop solutions to apply innovative technologies within the Volkswagen Group, and thus contribute to safeguarding our long-term competitiveness. We use our knowledge of data, analytics and artificial intelligence issues to develop new projects, and act as a driving force for the entire Volkswagen Group.
Project examples:
- Establishment of a Group-wide AI lab including a partnering strategy with key tech players
- Development of the data and AI strategy with corporate IT
- Hedging strategy for regulatory risks within the context of the EU Data and the EU AI Act
“Only if companies act in an interdisciplinary manner will they be able to fully exploit the massive potential of the available data. This will then ensure quality along the entire value chain.”
Robert Seidel, Lead Competence Center Data & Analytics
Competence center Autonomous Driving
The Autonomous Driving Competence Centre systematically brings together our expertise and project experience in terms of ownership and Mobility and Transport-as-a-Service (MaaS/TaaS). Through our expertise in conjunction with our excellent network, we are actively involved in shaping the project portfolio for autonomous driving throughout the Volkswagen Group. Examples of projects include:
Project examples:
- Setup of “Automated Driving Alliance” between CARIAD and Bosch for Level 2-3 systems
- Collaboration on the development of the lighthouse projects Artemis and Trinity for Level 4 autonomous driving in large-scale production
- Spin-off of the "ADMT" unit to pool the AD MaaS/TaaS expertise of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
“The crucial phase of the rollout of autonomous driving and the development of viable business models is imminent. Helping the Volkswagen Group to position itself successfully in this emerging market is what drives us.”
Johannes Bruns, Lead Competence Center Autonomous Driving
The perfect match: Competence centers and practice groups
Perfectly positioned: with a combination of in-depth specialist expertise in the respective Practice Groups and issue-orientated cross-functional competence centres, we offer top-class consulting expertise on all strategically relevant questions.
