The Volkswagen Group has announced the appointment of former VW chief operating officer Ralf Brandstätter as the brand’s new chief executive.

In a statement issued this morning (June 9) the German car manufacturer said that CEO of the Volkswagen Group, Dr Herbert Diess, will receive greater leeway for his tasks as Group CEO as a result of the new appointment

Diess will retain overall responsibility for Volkswagen Passenger Cars and the Volume brand group under the changes, which come into force from July 1, it said.

The Volkswagen Group said that the objective would be a stronger focus on the tasks at the top level following the laying of strategic foundations with consistent orientation towards e-mobility and the creation of structures for the digitalisation of the automobile.

Deiss said: “Ralf Brandstätter is one of the company’s most experienced managers. Over the past two years, he has already led Volkswagen successfully as COO and played a key role in shaping the trans- formation of the brand.

“I am therefore very pleased that Ralf Brandstätter will be forging ahead with the development of the brand as CEO following the far-reaching strategic decisions of the past few years.”

Volkswagen said in its statement that it has now successfully completed the first phase of the Transform 2025+ strategy and was now embarking on the next phase, paving the way to zero-emission mobility for everyone.

By 2025, at least 1.5 million electric cars are to be sold, it said.

Brandstätter said: “For Volkswagen, the course towards the future has been set. On the basis of the Transform 2025+ strategy, the brand is developing into one of the leading providers of carbon-neutral mobility and is on the way to becoming a digital technology company.

“I would like to thank the entire Volkswagen team for their tremendous commitment. We will follow our path resolutely together.”

Brandstätter initially trained as a shopfitter at the Volkswagen plant in Brunswick having studied industrial engineering and joined the Volkswagen Group in 1993.

Following positions in international project steering in the procurement division, he became an assistant to the Board of Management in the General Secretariat of Volkswagen AG.

In 1998 he took charge of metal procurement for chassis and powertrain components and was made project manager for new vehicle projects in 2003.

In 2005 he moved to Spain as head of procurement at Seat and later became the member of the Seat executive committee responsible for purchasing in 2008, head of group procurement exterior in 2010.

He was appointed head of group purchasing new product launches in 2012 and was made a General Representative of Volkswagen AG in October 2015.

Brandstätter was appointed a member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand in December 2015 and has been COO Volkswagen Passenger Cars since August 1, 2018.