(Updated with details and statements)
FRANKFURT, July 22 (Reuters) – Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess will leave the group, the carmaker announced on Friday, in a major change at the helm of one of Germany’s biggest companies in the world. world.
He will be replaced by Oliver Blume, who will assume this role as of September 1.
His departure comes as Volkswagen seeks to accelerate its plans to transition to electric to compete with new players like the American Tesla, as well as to catch up on software.
The German manufacturer also wants to IPO its luxury car subsidiary Porsche in order to finance the transition from thermal engine sports cars to electric ones.
“After a really tough first half of 2022, many of us are looking forward to a well-deserved summer break,” Herbert Diess wrote in a LinkedIn post ahead of his departure announcement.
His successor Oliver Blume said in a statement that he wanted to “focus on customers, brands and products”. (Report Tom Sims, French version Diana Mandiá)