The Volkswagen brand is to create an additional board of management division to oversee its electric mobility programme, launching on 1 February.

Thomas Ulbrich

Headed by Thomas Ulbrich, currently board of management member for the carmaker’s production and logistics, the division will be responsible for plug-in variants and new models on its modular MEB electric mobility platform. It will also develop what’s said to be Europe’s largest competence centre for the electric vehicles, based in Zwickau.

The division launches as Volkswagen prepares to launch the first of its all-electric I.D. range; a production version of the Golf-sized I.D. hatchback and I.D. Crozz crossover are due in 2020, while the Microbus-inspired I.D. Buzz is scheduled for a 2022 debut. All use the MEB platform. Group-wide, Volkswagen is planning 300 “electrified” models by 2030.

Ulbrich, a Group employee since 1989, previously held senior roles with FAW-Volkswagen in China, Shanghai-Volkswagen, as well as serving as a board member for the brand’s commercial vehicle production. His successor is Dr. Andreas Tostmann, currently executive vice president for production at Seat, who joined the Group in 1990.