On Wednesday, Volkswagen grappled with a significant IT disruption that resulted in a complete halt in production at its primary brand facilities in Germany. This outage’s repercussions also extended to encompass the entire Volkswagen Group, which includes Porsche AG and Audi brands.
A representative from Audi informed Reuters that their production division had likewise felt the impact and was presently assessing the full extent of the disruption.
Currently, Volkswagen is contending with reduced production levels at its all-electric Zwickau plant due to subdued demand for electric vehicles, prompting considerations of modifying the long-established three-shift schedule.
Volkswagen disclosed that an unspecified “IT malfunction of network components” had occurred at its Wolfsburg site in Germany, which serves as the company’s global headquarters, as reported by Reuters.
The IT disruption also had ramifications for German facilities located in Emden, Osnabrueck, Hanover, Dresden, and Zwickau, in addition to component factories situated in Braunschweig, Kassel, Chemnitz, and Salzgitter, according to the company’s statement.
The group conveyed, “The issue has persisted since 12:30 p.m. (CET) and is presently undergoing analysis. There are implications for facilities engaged in vehicle production.”
Volkswagen clarified that, according to current assessments, it is improbable that an external attack caused the system malfunction. The company stressed that resolving the issue was of paramount importance and that efforts were already underway.
Volkswagen has faced a series of challenges as it navigates the shift toward electric mobility. Despite the company’s substantial investments in electric vehicles, it has been affected by a sluggish global economy and limited demand, as reported by AFP.
Earlier this month, VW announced the elimination of 269 temporary positions at its flagship electric car plant in Zwickau, as per AFP reports.
The Volkswagen Group, with its diverse portfolio of ten brands, including Audi, Seat, and Skoda, confronts stiff competition in the electric vehicle sector, particularly in key markets like China. During the first half of 2023, Volkswagen’s vehicle deliveries in China declined by 1.2 percent compared to the previous year.