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VW considering single, cheaper li-ion cell for all plug-in vehicle batteries

Volkswagen is finding rapid success in the battery electric vehicle market; especially in Europe where the e-Golf is already the segment sales leader. Recent concepts like the C Coupe GTE, Sport Coupe GTE and Cross Coupe GTE suggest more plug-in hybrids from the company are on the way, too. To make future models more economical, the German automotive giant is considering switching to a standard design for its lithium-ion battery cells. Using standardized parts is a long-accepted principle in production because it leads to economies of scale, and a company can pass on the savings to buyers or pocket the money to boost profits. VW is aiming for a massive 66-percent drop in costs by switching to a unified design, according to Heinz-Jakob Neusser, the board member in charge of development, to Automotive News. While the cells would be uniform, they could be crafted into different modules to fit each specific model. VW currently buys cells from Panasonic and Samsung for various models, but under the new plan all of the automaker's brands would switch to a single one. "We have a clear understanding in the group of a common cell," Neusser said, according to Automotive News, without suggesting when a change might happen. VW also has a few months decide on a different future for its EVs. The automaker is reportedly considering whether to use sold-state lithium-ion batteries from a US-based supplier for upcoming models. The next-gen tech could potentially give a massive boost in range while also being fireproof.

FCA to pay buyers $1,700 to swap out of scandal-mired VWs

FCA is trying to gain some sales from arch-rival VW in the competitive European market by offering potential buyers in Italy up to $1,700 to swap into an FCA group car. While the promotion isn't specifically targeted at TDI owners affected by the emissions scandal, it is clearly intended to turn dissatisfaction with VW's defeat device cheat into additional sales, Bloomberg reports. The 500-1,500 euro incentive (roughly $560-1,700, depending on vehicle) stacks on top of any other rebates or deals applicable, and applies if a buyer brings in any of Volkswagen Group's cars – including Audi, Skoda, and SEAT, among (many) others. As Bloomberg notes, it's normal for automakers to offer "conquest" deals – giving a buyer cash for trading in a competitor's vehicle. Those deals aren't usually limited to one company's products, however; FCA's program looks specifically to take advantage of VW's legal and public relations nightmare. FCA isn't the only automaker trying this trick in Italy. Automotive News Europe also reported that Ford is offering approximately $840 in incentives across its entire range to owners of VW vehicles seeking to trade in for a Ford. No word of yet as to whether these incentives will spread beyond Italy or to other automakers.Related Video:

VW to relax ambitious US sales targets?

The Volkswagen brand sold 407,704 cars last year, a 6.95-percent decline compared to 2012, and it's down a further 8.36 percent through the end of April 2014 compared to this time last year. In order to to put the sales football between its Strategy 2018 goal posts, the brand would need to add 100,000 more sales every year to achieve the lofty 800,000-unit target. Coming to grips with how unreasonable that is, VW US CEO Michael Horn has said, "For now, we have to have realistic targets."
The reasons for the brand's slow-down are imprecise, but lots of folks are throwing lots of reasons around. Last November, VW Group Chairman Ferdinand Piech told Bloomberg, "We understand Europe, we understand China and we understand Brazil, [but] we only understand the US to a certain degree so far." Analysts say the brand hasn't had midsize and compact SUV offerings, especially an overdue retail version of the CrossBlue, and the ones it does have are priced too high for their segments. It "didn't introduce enough new engines, or alternative technologies or model variants" for the Passat and Jetta. It devoted so many resources to China that the US market suffered. It was being outspent two-to-one on advertising by competitors. Its J.D. Power dependability ratings aren't high enough to overcome its past. It "has never really taken the US customer seriously." And so on.
There's still no official admission of defeat concerning the target, but reading between the lines there are some VW execs that appear to accept it won't happen short of some deus ex machina. Still,