\n<\/p>\n
Volkswagen\u2019s $2.1 billion plan to launch a dedicated electric-vehicle factory in Wolfsburg, Germany <\/span>is kaput.\u00a0<\/p>\n The automaker instead reportedly plans to modify its existing plants<\/a> in Zwickau and <\/span>Wolfsburg to handle production of a new flagship EV \u2014 the postponed Project Trinity<\/a> \u2014 and an all-electric Golf hatchback.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This tracks with an earlier statement from VW passenger cars boss Thomas Schaefer, who said last year<\/a> that an additional factory might not be necessary as VW produces fewer combustion-engine vehicles over time. Still, this isn\u2019t just about making space for EVs; the automaker is in cost-cutting mode.<\/p>\n Really, that\u2019s putting it lightly. In July, Schaefer said VW\u2019s \u201croof is on fire<\/a>\u201d in a meeting with senior leaders, citing the company\u2019s need to overhaul its \u201ccomplex, slow, and inflexible\u201d processes. A big factor here was VW\u2019s delayed embrace of EVs<\/a>, which led it to lose serious ground to BYD<\/a> in China.<\/p>\n VW still hasn\u2019t really proved itself in electrics \u2014 in fact, just a couple days ago Reuters reported that the automaker would temporarily pause production<\/a> of two EVs \u2014 the ID.3 and Cupra Born \u2014 due to decreased demand.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n