Volkswagen’s volume brands set up regional production network
Within the Brand Group Core (BGC), the Volkswagen Group consolidates its volume brands: Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Škoda, Seat, Cupra, and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. “The new BGC Future Production Governance management model with 22 locations is characterized by lean processes in the plants supported by high-performance central functions. Within this system, the regions will become more independent, more efficient and more flexible,” Volkswagen states. “The objective is to ensure a sustained long-term improvement in the competitiveness of BGC-automobile production with cross-brand steering and regional responsibility to master the future challenges.”
The stated goal is to bolster the long-term competitiveness of the Brand Group Core in automotive manufacturing through cross-brand governance and regional accountability, while addressing future challenges. According to the Volkswagen Group, the Production and Logistics division is thus “setting new industry standards.”
Initially, the new governance model will be implemented at the plants in Spain and Portugal—specifically those sites where the forthcoming battery-electric compact cars will enter production. Regional leadership will oversee cross-brand and cross-country functions, including central planning, product management, project and launch coordination, and logistics, Volkswagen explains.
For the Iberian Peninsula, André Kleb will assume the role of Chief Production Officer for regional production and logistics, effective 1 January 2026. Kleb currently serves as Head of Planning and Production Technology for the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand. In his new position, he will report to both Christian Vollmer, Board Member for Production & Logistics at Volkswagen and a member of the extended Group Management, and Markus Haupt, CEO of Seat and Cupra.
Thomas Hegel Gunther will succeed Kleb in Wolfsburg, taking over as the new Head of Planning and Production Technology for the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand at the start of 2026. Currently, Hegel Gunther serves as Managing Director and Plant Manager of Volkswagen Autoeuropa, the VW plant in Palmela, Portugal, where the T-Roc is currently manufactured and the production version of the ID.EVERY1 will be assembled in the future. Effective 1 March 2026, Anabel Andión Lomero, previously Head of the Pre-Series Centre at Seat and Cupra in Spain, will assume this role. “She played a key role in the establishment of the Vorseriencenter (VSC) at SEAT&CUPRA, which is the starting point for the start of production of the Electric Urban Car Family. She will contribute her specialist expertise from the overarching VSC and from past cooperation projects to the Palmela plant in the future,” Volkswagen notes.
VW highlighted that, under Thomas Hegel Gunther’s leadership, the Palmela plant “transformed into one of the most efficient production locations of the Volkswagen brand over the past few years” in recent years. “Following the successful start of production of the new T-Roc, now is the right time to benefit from Thomas Hegel Gunther’s expertise for the introduction of efficient production structures. He will therefore play a key role as the new Head of Planning and Production Technology,” stated Vollmer.
“With our new structure of five production regions, we are positioning ourselves more efficiently and flexibly, laying the groundwork for the next generation of production,” says Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand and Head of the Brand Group Core. “The reorganization of our management model on the Iberian Peninsula is the beginning – with our new, cross-brand steering model, we intend to leverage further synergy effects and regional cost benefits, boosting the strength of the Brand Group Core.”
This article was first published by Sebastian Schaal for electrive’s German edition.
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