Showing an increased commitment to the environment, the Volkswagen Group has recently put much more effort into developing eco-friendly vehicles than ever before. As reported at MarketWatch.com, VW is now spending a record 10.2 billion Euros on green technology. That marks a dramatic 15% increase over its previous expenditures and puts the auto manufacturer on the threshold of developing some truly exciting new technologies.
Significant Progress in 2013
In recent years, VW has definitely put its money where its mouth is when it comes to creating eco-friendly cars, and the results are starting to show. New CO2 threshold limits will be in place in the EU beginning in 2015, but VW is already well under those standards, with their previous new vehicle fleet averaging only 128 grams of CO2 per kilogram. VW was also listed as the top industry force in a 2013 sustainability ranking. The auto company plans to go even further with its previous success, with a goal of 25% reduction in energy and water consumption as well as a matching reduction in CO2 emissions from all of its factories by the year 2015. Given their spending in the area, this goal is definitely reachable.
Modular Toolkits
One of the biggest strengths in the development of VW’s eco-friendly vehicles has been the company’s modular strategy. By using a modular approach that evaluates and develops the parts separately before assembling them together as a whole, VW has been able to improve its speed and flexibility during the design and manufacturing phases. For example, if the company wants an eco-friendly car that is more or less like an existing model but has one or two different components, that is easy to put together because the components are already built and ready to be installed. This has also given VW a major edge when it comes to dealing with rapid changes in the market.
Related Volkswagen Initiatives
The new goals for VW’s eco-friendly vehicles and factories aren’t the only initiatives the group is currently active in. The company became the first German auto manufacturer to join the Clean Shipping Network, which reduced the environmental impact of shipping cars and auto parts overseas. Its goal of a 25% reduction in CO2 emissions also extends to the partner companies associated with VW, although in the case of those companies the deadline is extended to 2020. Of the newest fleet of vehicles recently released on European roads, 54 model variants from VW have emissions of less than 100 grams of CO2 per kilogram. The newest investment means an even deeper commitment.
As a leader in the field of eco-friendly cars and their manufacture, VW is setting a very high bar when it comes to reducing emissions. Their newest investment in the field shows a renewed commitment that will help them progress even faster. As long as the company continues to turn a profit and show how beneficial these technologies can be, it is very likely that other manufacturers will follow suit.
