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PowerCo SE today commissioned the Salzgitter gigafactory as planned and produced the first Unified Cells "made in Europe". The commencement of production marks a milestone for the Volkswagen Group and the European battery industry: PowerCo is designing, developing and producing battery cells entirely in Europe for the first time, thus strengthening the company's technological sovereignty. The cells will now be delivered to the Volkswagen Group brands for final road tests. Their debut is planned for next year in the Electric Urban Car Family of Volkswagen, ŠKODA and SEAT/CUPRA.

Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, states: "The PowerCo Gigafactory in Salzgitter sends a strong technological signal for Europe and serves as a cornerstone on our path to becoming a global automotive tech leader. We are the first European carmaker to establish our own battery cell development and production. This step strengthens our position and independence in the global competition."

Technological leap in battery technology
Within the Volkswagen Group, PowerCo is expected to cover around 50 per cent of the demand for Unified Cells, with the other half supplied by external suppliers. The standardised cell architecture enables worldwide use across all brands and regions and offers economies of scale, cost advantages and technological flexibility – from lithium iron phosphate (LFP) to nickel-manganese- cobalt (NMC) and solid state, all relevant cell technologies are possible.

The first PowerCo Unified Cell is based on NMC technology and is one of the most powerful battery cells in the volume segment. Compared to previous cells, it delivers around 10 per cent more energy density. Furthermore, it is perfectly synchronised with Volkswagen’s new cell-to-pack battery system and thus offers advantages in range, efficiency and performance. It is produced in Salzgitter. More variants will follow, for example the PowerCo Unified Cell with LFP technology.

Thomas Schmall, Group Board Member for Technology, emphasises: "With PowerCo, we are consistently expanding our know-how in battery technology. In combination with the new battery system, the Unified Cell "made in Salzgitter" brings a real technological leap for our customers.

This puts us in the driver’s seat when it comes to a key technology for e-mobility.”

Salzgitter becomes Europe's leading battery centre
Production of the PowerCo Unified Cell will be gradually ramped up in the coming year. In the first step, an annual production capacity of up to 20 GWh will be built up in Salzgitter, which can be expanded to up to 40 GWh if required. Salzgitter will serve as the lead plant for the following PowerCo gigafactories in Valencia (Spain) and St. Thomas (Canada), all of which are based on PowerCo's standard factory concept. The experience gained in Salzgitter will then be transferred to Valencia and St. Thomas. The exchange of know-how and personnel has already begun.

At the same time, the Research & Development centre in Salzgitter continues to grow: Since 2022, the laboratory, testing and development capacities have been strategically expanded. Another test field is currently under construction, which is scheduled to go into operation at the beginning of 2026. As a result, Salzgitter is increasingly developing into the leading battery hub in Europe.

Frank Blome, CEO PowerCo SE, says: "In just three years, we have built an entirely new company, developed a competitive product, and completed a cell factory along with its upstream supply chain. At the same time, we are already constructing the next cell factories in Spain and Canada. In short: we deliver. This achievement is the result of an outstanding team effort by many colleagues at PowerCo and Volkswagen – and I’m deeply grateful for that."

New standards in sustainability and digitalisation
The Gigafactory Salzgitter is also setting new standards for low-CO₂ cell production. Production is running entirely with renewable energy from wind and solar. For the first time, the energy- intensive clean and drying rooms will also be operated with green electricity. In the industry, fossil fuels are typically used for this purpose. In total, the Salzgitter Gigafactory emits up to 115,000 tons less CO₂ annually than comparable, conventional factories.

Highly automated production combined with comprehensive real-time data analysis is the key to continuously improving process stability, efficiency and quality. Thousands of data points from machine and building monitoring enable seamless traceability and form the basis for AI-supported quality control.

Article source: www.vwpress.co.uk

With the new T-Roc, another Volkswagen model has achieved the maximum rating of five stars in Euro NCAP tests. The outstanding overall score is proof of the compact SUV’s holistic safety concept, which meets the current, particularly demanding test procedure. The new T-Roc is therefore among the best vehicles in its class. Euro NCAP (the European New Car Assessment Programme) announced the latest results of its safety tests this morning.

The new T-Roc achieved high scores in tests conducted by the renowned European consumer protection institute. These included protection of adult occupants, protection of children and protection of vulnerable road users as well as pedestrian protection. In addition, the Euro NCAP test team places great emphasis on accident prevention. In this area, too, the compact SUV – which is equipped with numerous standard driver assistance and emergency braking systems even in the basic version – earned good marks from the test commission.

Back in May, the Volkswagen Tayron had already received the coveted five-star rating. Furthermore, the 2025 Euro NCAP re-assessments of Golf, ID.3 and ID.4 confirm that these Volkswagen models also continue to achieve five-star levels thanks to ongoing improvements. All awards once again demonstrate that Volkswagen lives up to its “safety4all” claim: the company deploys high-tech assistance systems not only in premium models but especially in its high-volume models, thereby further enhancing the comfort and safety of individual mobility.

Standard assistance systems of the new T-Roc at a glance:

• Oncoming vehicle braking when turning and swerve support
• Driver attention monitor and driver alert system
• Auto hold function for the electronic parking brake
• Hill start assist
• Park distance control (warning signals for obstacles at the front and rear)
• Electronic stability control
• Light Assist main-beam control
• Predictive speed limiter
• Cruise control system, with adaptive cruise control (depending on trim)
• Front Cross Traffic Assist
• Autonomous emergency braking Front Assist with pedestrian and cyclist monitoring
• Park Assist Plus (standard for Style and R-Line)
• Rear-view camera system (standard for Life equipment line and above)
• Lane keeping system Lane Assist
• Lane change system Side Assist with rear traffic alert and exit warning system
• Dynamic road sign display

Optional assistance systems available for the T-Roc:

• Parking package with:
  - V2X
  - Memory function for Park Assist Plus
  - Park Assist Pro with remote function
• IQ.DRIVE technology package with:
  - Travel Assist including Lane Assist and Emergency Assist
  - Proactive occupant protection system
  - Area view including rear-view camera
  - Head-up display

Bestseller improved in all areas. The first T-Roc was launched in 2017 and is Volkswagen’s most successful SUV worldwide after the Tiguan. The newly presented second generation has been improved across the board. With consistently new hybrid drives, a new and very high-quality interior including next-generation infotainment, cockpit and operating systems, more space in the interior and luggage compartment, and assistance systems on the level of higher vehicle classes, the T-Roc has made a major leap forward. Matching this: the new, clean and charismatic design.

Euro NCAP – the benchmark for safety. Euro NCAP is an independent European organisation that has been assessing the safety level of new vehicles since 1997. It is supported by European transport ministries, automobile clubs and insurance associations and provides car buyers with comprehensive information on the safety of new models. The test procedures and requirements for standard assistance systems and passive safety are tightened at regular intervals – approximately every two years. Detailed information on the respective tests can be found at www.euroncap.com.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

01. T-Roc 1.5 eTSI (110 kW/150 PS) - Energy consumption: combined 6.0-5.6 l/100 km; CO₂ emissions: combined 136-128 g/km, CO₂ class: E-D

02. Within the system limits: the driver must always be ready to override the assist system and is not released from the responsibility of driving the vehicle with due care and attention

03. Information applies to the German market

The countdown to the new ID. Polo is on: Just a few months before its world premiere, a fleet of almost production-ready ID. Polo prototypes is covering the final test kilometres in numerous regions worldwide. The goal: to achieve the highest quality and perfection in detail, as well as fine-tuning the driving characteristics.

Thomas Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Brand Group Core and CEO of the Volkswagen brand, said: “The ID. Polo marks the beginning of a new generation of Volkswagen: with fresh design, intuitive operation, top quality and first-class driving characteristics – and finally with a proper name again. With an entry-level price starting at 25,000 euros, we are making electric mobility accessible to many people in Europe. And this is just the beginning: In 2026, we will launch six new electric models – all 100 per cent Volkswagen!”

A new era – 50 years after the first Polo. With the ID. Polo, Volkswagen is focusing on familiar strengths: intuitive operation, functionality, quality and affordability. At the same time, the ID. Polo is the first model to feature the new ‘Pure Positive’ design language by Head of Design, Andreas Mindt. The result is a compact electric model offering more space and precise driving characteristics on the level of the next higher class of vehicle. In addition, it is the first model in the electric ID. family to bear the established Volkswagen name Polo.

Four power outputs, two battery sizes, up to 450 km range. At its debut in spring 2026, the ID. Polo will be available in three power outputs: 85 kW (116 PS), 99 kW (135 PS) and 155 kW (211 PS). The sporty ID. Polo GTI with 166 kW (226 PS) will follow later in the year.

The 85 kW and 99 kW versions will come as standard with a 37 kWh (net) LFP (lithium iron phosphate) high-voltage battery. This battery can be charged at DC rapid-charging points with up to 90 kW. The 155 kW and 166 kW versions will be powered by an NMC (nickel manganese cobalt) variant of the new PowerCo unified cell, with an energy content of 52 kWh (net), enabling ranges of up to 450 km and charging at up to 130 kW DC.

The ID. Polo features a newly developed front-wheel drive. It is based on the further developed Modular Electric Drive Matrix: MEB+. The completely new, highly efficient electric drive reduces complexity, the number of components and weight – parameters that allow Volkswagen to reduce costs and consumption. In addition, the electric front-wheel drive offers clear space advantages. Key modules include a highly efficient Volkswagen electric motor of the latest generation, called APP 290. Integrated flat in the underbody is a new battery generation: the PowerCo unified cell, which uses cell-to-pack technology. This eliminates the intermediate step via module housings and combines the cells directly into a battery pack – reducing price, installation space and weight while increasing energy density by about 10 per cent. The benefit: more range.

Democratising innovations. With MEB+, not only the latest electric drive technologies but also numerous next-generation assistance systems make their way into the ID. Polo. These include the significantly enhanced Travel Assist: the system can enable assisted lateral and longitudinal guidance and assisted lane changes on motorways. In addition, Travel Assist in the ID. Polo will for the first time offer traffic light and stop sign recognition.

Key data of the new ID. Polo. The ID. Polo is 4,053 mm long, 1,816 mm wide and 1,530 mm high. Its wheelbase measures 2,600 mm. Although its size is roughly comparable to the classic Polo (MQB, Modular Transverse Toolkit), the electric ID. Polo offers clear space advantages thanks to the compact drive modules of MEB+: passengers benefit from an extra 19 mm of interior length, particularly noticeable in the rear. Interior width and headroom have also increased. The luggage compartment volume has grown by 24 per cent compared with the classic Polo – from 351 to 435 litres. With the rear seatbacks folded down, the load volume rises to 1,243 litres (compared with 1,125 litres in the classic Polo). This extra space makes the always four-door, five-seater ID. Polo more versatile than any of its predecessors – perfect for city life and everyday use with friends and family.

Brand Group Core harnesses Europe’s full innovative power. The development of the ID. Polo is a collaborative project within the Brand Group Core: SEAT & CUPRA led the project, and the ID. Polo was designed at the Volkswagen Design Centre in Wolfsburg. Key technologies – such as software, assistance systems, drive, chassis and steering – come from Volkswagen’s MEB+ platform. The ID. Polo will be built at the SEAT & CUPRA plant in Martorell, Spain.

Article source: www.volkswagen-newsroom.com

01. ID. Polo - Near-production concept car

02. Near-production concept car. The model is not yet available for sale

03. Forecast values

04. ID. Polo and ID. Polo GTI - Near-production concept cars

05. ID. Polo GTI - Near-production concept car

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ new Transporter has been named ‘Medium Van of the Year’ thanks to its everyday practicality and reliability, as well as taking home the ‘Safety Award’ at the What Van? Awards 2026.

Impressing judges with its 1.28-tonne payload1 and up to 6.8m3 load volume, the new Transporter came out on top at yesterday’s awards ceremony.

Judged by an independent panel of experts on factors including driver experience, running costs, functionality and desirability, the new Transporter was recognised for its practicality as an everyday workhorse and its excellent safety rating.

The new Transporter also took home the ‘Safety Award’, sponsored by Euro NCAP. Fitted as standard with a range of safety and driver assistance systems such as intelligent cruise control system and lane assist, the new Transporter is available with autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system and radar-camera fusion technology.

The previous generation Transporter was also Highly Commended in the Used Van category, receiving praise for its high residual values, enduring quality and reliability. 

The annual What Van? Awards celebrate the very best of the UK’s light commercial vehicle industry.

Commenting on the award, James Dallas, Editor at What Van?, said: “The Volkswagen Transporter is the most accomplished and best to drive medium van on the market in both ICE and electric modes. Commendably, it has also gained top marks for safety.”

John Ricardo-Neto, Head of Product Planning at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, added: “We’re thrilled to see the Transporter win both ‘Medium Van of the Year’ and the ‘Safety Award’. This year we’re celebrating 75 years of the VW Bus, and the Transporter's continued success demonstrates its unmatched performance and practicality as the perfect companion for van drivers.”

For more details on Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ new Transporter, visit www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk.

Article source: www.vwpress.co.uk