Thomas Ulbrich to lead Volkswagen Group’s R&D operations in China

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Volkswagen Group ("the Group") announced on Jan. 29 that Thomas Ulbrich, previously a Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Brand for "New Mobility," will assume the position of leading Technical Development for the Group in China starting from April 1, 2024.

In his new role, Ulbrich, who has already held two managerial positions for the Group in China, will continue to promote the technological localization of the portfolio. He takes over from Marcus Hafkemeyer, who, leveraging his extensive experience in China, will contribute to the company's transformation in a new role within the Group.

"The Volkswagen Group's 'In China, for China' strategy is about systematically adapting to the dynamic changes taking place in China’s automotive industry. A high degree of localization will allow us to cater to the wishes of our Chinese customers. I would like to thank Marcus Hafkemeyer, whose outstanding personal commitment and broad expertise in China have really moved forward Technical Development’s regional focus, for example through the establishment of our new development center in Hefei," said Ralf Brandstätter, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG for the China region and CEO of Volkswagen Group China.

Thomas Ulbrich; photo credit: Volkswagen Group

"Thomas Ulbrich, one of our top development and software experts, will now continue to advance the localization and networking of our Group's development activities in the region. Ulbrich has exceptional expertise in important future technologies and excellent connections in the company and the China region. One of his priorities will therefore be to further strengthen the collaboration with our joint venture companies FAW-Volkswagen, SAIC Volkswagen and Volkswagen Anhui. I firmly believe that this will be an important source of impetus in our transformation to smart e-mobility", Brandstätter added.

In his new capacity, Thomas Ulbrich will additionally serve as the CEO of Volkswagen China Technology Company ("VCTC") located in Hefei, eastern China. VCTC, the largest development center for the Group outside of Germany, functions as the central development unit for Volkswagen Group China, with a specific emphasis on the advancement of intelligent, fully connected electric vehicles.

VCTC will play a crucial role in the development of tailor-made models for the Chinese market. Among the ongoing projects is the creation of the inaugural local electric platform, serving as the foundation for upcoming Volkswagen-branded models in China starting in 2026.

Harnessing streamlined development methodologies and cutting-edge technologies, VCTC is set to slash the time to market for vehicles and components by an impressive 30%. The achievement of this goal will be facilitated through tight integration of development efforts with joint venture entities SAIC Volkswagen, FAW-Volkswagen, and Volkswagen Anhui, along with strategic collaborations with Gotion High-tech (specializing in batteries) and the Chinese automaker XPENG. Additionally, key partners including Horizon Robotics (specializing in autonomous driving), ARK (focusing on user experience), and Thundersoft (specializing in infotainment) will be seamlessly integrated into the collaborative ecosystem. This collective effort will work in tandem with Volkswagen's software division, CARIAD, ensuring a holistic and synergistic approach to technological innovation in the automotive sector.

Following a groundbreaking phase, the "New Mobility" department of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand's Board of Management will be seamlessly integrated into the Technical Development (TE) division as part of the planned strategy, ensuring streamlined structures and enhanced collaboration. Thomas Ulbrich played a pivotal role in piloting and establishing novel software development processes for electric vehicles based on the MEB platform within the "New Mobility" department. The seamless transition of these initiatives to MQBevo has been successfully executed as per the initial plan, marking the accomplished mission of the “New Mobility” division. Kai Grünitz, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen brand responsible for Technical Development, will spearhead technical project management for future technologies and developments, consolidating these endeavors under a single roof.