CARIAD Performance Improvement

In 2020, Volkswagen established CARIAD to consolidate software development activities across its brands. Despite its promising prospects, this subsidiary encountered two significant challenges:

a) Addressing the inherent difficulties of hiring and integrating over 4,000 individuals within 18 months, while the existing processes were not yet fully aligned with the business model; and

b) Providing software solutions for legacy platforms concurrently with the development of a future-proof software and electronics architecture within a highly intricate governance structure.

I joined the team in March 2022 and acted as CFO until May 2023. In this short time frame the most important results accomplished were:

• Introduced SAP S4/Hana to improve financial processes and decision making

• Delivered purchasing savings > €300m

• Negotiated M&A deals to strengthen in-house competencies (e.g. Horizon Robotics, Hexad)

• Improved performance of existing portfolio companies (e.g. Wireless Car, Cymotive)