Audi Makes Change at Top Spot

Grumblings by senior leaders at the Volkswagen Group about Audi’s performance came to a head Thursday as the premium brand’s CEO Markus Duesmann was given his walking papers.

former Audi CEO Markus Duesmann REL
Markus Duesmann’s time as the head of Audi ended due to poor results.

He will be replaced by VW Group strategy chief Gernot Döllner starting Sept. 1, according to Audi. Duesmann, a former BMW executive who was named CEO in 2021, was thought to be in the hot seat.

VW Group CEO Oliver Blume grumbled about Audi’s performance in certain areas of the business recently, in particularly, innovation. Speaking at VW Group’s Capital Markets Day last week, he said the brand was “lagging the competition.”

To hasten change at the Audi Group, which includes Bentley, Lamborghini and Ducati, the brands were reclassified as progressive, reported Automotive News Europe. The move aimed to accelerate the pace of innovation and change.

Blume also told investors the brand was not only falling behind its competitors, like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, but also it wasn’t living up to its potential. He specifically pointed to sales in China and developing electric vehicles more quickly as areas in need of improvement. At that point, it seems only a matter of time for Duesmann.

Paying the dues, man

Duesmann and Blume REL
Duesmann, left, and VW Group CEO Oliver Blume were all smiles recently.

“I would like to thank Markus Duesmann for all the important work he has done during his tenure at Audi,” said the Chairman of Audi’s Supervisory Board, Manfred Döss. 

“He has brought great foresight and vision to planning and driving forward key strategic decisions, including, first and foremost, the electrification strategy. Audi will be able to build further on these cornerstones in the future”

“At this point in time, Gernot Döllner is the right person to further strengthen the company’s product strategy and its position in key markets. Together with the entire Board of Management, he will add the next chapter to Audi’s successful strategy implementation.”

Döllner has overseen the VW Group’s Product and Group Strategy and the General Secretariat since 2021. He joined Volkswagen as a Ph.D. candidate in 1993 and subsequently served in a number of management roles at Porsche AG, including as head of Concept Development and head of the Panamera Series.

“I’m honored and excited to be taking on this new role,” said Döllner in a statement. “Audi is a fantastic company with a rich history. I look forward to shaping the company’s future together with the entire team at Audi.”


Auto Lovers Land

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Another Tesla Driver Killed in Collision with Fire Truck

Image
Another Tesla driver died  over the weekend , this time in California. The collision occurred when a Tesla rammed a fire truck parked across two freeway lanes to protect first responders who were preparing to tow a disabled vehicle at about 4 a.m. Saturday.  Another Tesla crashed into a parked emergency vehicle over the weekend in California. Authorities do not yet know if the driver had Autopilot or Full Self Driving (FSD) engaged. A passenger in the Tesla was also injured in the collision.  The incident is certain to raise additional concerns about Tesla’s advanced driver assistance systems, which are already the subject of intense scrutiny at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to  the Los Angeles Times , Tesla reported 516 collisions involving its ADAS systems over the period from July 1, 2021 to Nov. 30, 2022. In the same period, Ford reported seven such collisions, and GM reported just two for its products. When equali...
Read more

Sherpa Auto Transport: Reviews, Costs and More (2022)

Image
Affiliate Disclosure Sherpa Auto Transport is a recent newcomer to the car shipping industry, but it gets high marks from customers for its locked in pricing and other benefits. This article will showcase Sherpa Auto Transport reviews, shipping services and costs to aid you in making the most informed decision possible when choosing an auto shipping provider. With so many car transport options available, deciding on the best one for your situation can be a challenge. That’s why we’ve reviewed the best car shipping companies to help you compare services from leading providers across the nation. Best Car Shipping Companies The Detroit Bureau reviewed the top car shipping companies to find the best. BEST PROVIDER Our first choice for car shipping with great rates and service. 866-882-8614 844-601-0286 GET PRICE LOCKED-IN PRICING This shipping company won...
Read more

First Drive: 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

Image
Whether it’s to carry kids to a soccer match or to add some extra cargo space, American motorists have avidly embraced three-row SUVs – and automakers have rushed to respond. Once rare, they’re an increasingly common sight, more and more coming to market each year. With the Sequoia, Toyota was an early entrant into the segment. For the coming model year, it’s adding another option, a three-row version of the popular Highlander. Toyota’s looking to take advantage of the shift toward three-row SUVs with the new 2024 Grand Highlander. While the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander uses the same platform as the two-row model, it’s more than just a stretched edition. It adds not only more room but significantly more features. And buyers will have the option to get the beefy new Hybrid Max powertrain that delivers 265 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. To get a sense of what the new Grand Highlander is all about, I set off for the Big Island of Hawaii where Toyota set up the first media...
Read more