Let’s move on to the new Golf. Where’s this model’s journey headed?

Yvonne Kuschel: I’ve been following the Golf my whole life long, since we were both born in the same year – 1974 (laughs). Since 50 years, the Golf stands for the democratisation of new technologies. The update of the Golf is also characterised by the next-generation infotainment system with super-fast processors, intuitive voice control and the integration of ChatGPT.

Apart from this classic that’s continually being reinvented, the ID.7 Tourer is a completely new model …

Hans Andree: An all-electric counterpart to the Passat has been high on the wish lists of key account managers for some time now; after all, long-distance estate cars in the luxury class play a key role when it comes to moving a fleet towards CO₂ neutrality. The new ID.7 Tourer fulfils these requirements perfectly. But above all, the all-electric range of up to 607 kilometres (depending on battery capacity) makes the ID.7 Tourer the ideal car for long-distance drivers. This means that we cover almost all operational use cases; nobody in field service really needs to have range anxiety any more.

“The all-electric ID.7 Tourer meets the needs of frequent drivers. For me, the car is the all-electric counterpart to the Passat – and now is the perfect time to put it on the road.”

Hans Andree
Head of Fleet Sales Germany, Volkswagen Passenger Cars

The first commercial customers have already been able to get a glimpse of the ID.7 Tourer in sneak previews. What was the feedback like?

Yvonne Kuschel: To be completely honest: extremely positive. At the events, it was the luxurious spaciousness of the vehicle that seemed to appeal to fleet managers. A maximum loading volume of more than 1,700 litres is already a real statement for an electric vehicle. But the vehicle also really impressed with all the innovation of its interior comfort. On the whole, what we have achieved here, I believe, is the perfect balance of creating something completely new with the vehicle while maintaining all that is “known and valued”.

The models are without question the centrepiece of electromobility. To what extent does Volkswagen support the transition to and operation of an electric fleet?

Hans Andree: Quite clearly – in the way that we are integrating all relevant factors of electric mobility into it. Because it isn’t just about the vehicles themselves when it comes to this highly consulting-intensive topic. There are other aspects to consider, such as the construction of unique charging infrastructure at company locations. To this end, we have the Group subsidiary Elli². At the same time, company car drivers worldwide want to be able to charge in a way that’s straightforward, and this is possible with the Charge&Fuel Card and app from LOGPAY³. Of course, there are also solutions for the reimbursement of business charging costs as part of the Home Charging Service⁴ when using wallboxes at home.

Yvonne Kuschel: We’re driving this holistic strategy in a European context, currently with a lot of attention being dedicated to intensive training for our importers with regards to electrification. You could put it like this: we don’t want to remain a “one for all”, we also want to become an “all in one” – in all matters relating to company mobility.