Macan

Make
Porsche
Segment
SUV

The Volkswagen Group has announced big personnel changes in its Cariad division. Peter Bosch, known for his work at Bentley and as a Volkswagen representative on the Scout Motors Board, has been appointed CEO of the software subsidiary.

Bosch will lean on support from an array of managers, software specialists, and technology specialists who will push Cariad to greater heights. "Peter Bosch is the right CEO at the right time," said Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume. "He is a strategist, an enabler, and a team player. He successfully proved that at Bentley. He knows the Volkswagen Group well and also has extensive experience in the fields of change and consulting," added Blume.

Rumors of a corporate reshuffling first hit the automotive grapevine last week, with various outlets reporting that the majority of the executive board would be dismissed.

While there's plenty of potential, Cariad has failed to meet the expectations of VW's big bosses. Development delays at Cariad have delayed several important electric vehicles, including the electric Porsche Macan and Audi Q6 e-tron, a luxury EV that should arrive this year.

These issues have hindered the development of Project Trinity and Project Artemis; Volkswagen and Audi's respective projects. Artemis is a self-driving program the luxury automaker has worked on for some time, but rumors suggest Audi could scrap the problem entirely over delays.

Bosch will replace Cariad's current CEO, Dirk Hilgenberg, on June 1. The new chief executive will be responsible for the restructuring of the company, and implementing a new leadership and team model.

Aside from that, Cariad will focus on the development of software-defined vehicles and the "accelerated execution of the E3 platforms."

If anyone can turn Cariad around, it sounds like Peter Bosch is the man for the job. He was on the Board of Manufacturing at Bentley since 2017, where he was instrumental in restructuring and reorganizing the prestigious marque. Prior to that, Bosch had occupied several managerial positions within Volkswagen. When he takes over at Cariad, Bosch will assume control of purchasing, finance, and IT within the software division.

"Cariad focuses on the development of digital future technologies for the Group brands. We are stepping up the pace and broadening our approach to partnerships. This is designed to combine our [competencies] with the best solutions on the market for the benefit of our customers. The outcome is even closer to software-vehicle development interaction," added Blume.