ID.4

Make
Volkswagen
Segment
SUV

Herbert Diess doesn't hide the fact that he is a big admirer of Tesla. In the past, the VW Group chief executive has expressed his respect for the automaker, commending its forward-thinking approach. While it's odd to see two rival CEOs enjoy a close friendship, this hasn't stopped Volkswagen from eyeing Tesla's position as the world's top seller of EVs.

But in a recent LinkedIn post, Diess yet again voiced his admiration for Musk's company. He wrote, "By the way: Elon's new factory [...] is impressive: 1.2 km long, 400m wide: all under one roof, no logistics from cell production to the final assembly. Once up and running it will very likely set some new benchmarks."

Diess is working on a new state-of-the-art factory itself. Situated near Wolfsburg, it will be a powerhouse of efficiency, with the brand aiming for a 10-hour production time for its upcoming Trinity EV. "I am so happy that we decided [on] a new plant for Wolfsburg. Without that - no chance to compete," he added.

Diess shared his thoughts following a visit to Austin, Texas where the South by Southwest festival took place. It is here that the all-new Volkswagen ID.Buzz made its first public debut, the electric minivan stirring up much interest from passersby. The CEO described feedback as "remarkable" and noted that Americans are "falling in love" with the retro-styled vehicle. "It's putting a smile on everybody's face," he wrote.

While it's clear that Diess is an admirer of the work done on Tesla's Texas Gigafactory, he remains a businessman focused on the goal of surpassing the American carmaker. The new plant, which is slated for completion in 2026, will reportedly boast a yearly production capacity of a quarter-million vehicles.

If Volkswagen is serious about clinching the number one spot, it will have to start offering more electrified products in key markets, such as here in the US. Currently, the brand offers just the ID.4 SUV with the aforementioned ID.Buzz to follow in time.

On the other side of the coin, Tesla's upward trajectory continues to soar. Its new Berlin-based factory was given the green light to start mass production of EVs, with the factory reportedly able to spew out as many as 500,000 cars per year. This has got to be worrying for local manufacturers, with one industry expert expecting the EV maker to overtake Mercedes-Benz in the next few years. VW and the rest had better watch out.