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Volkswagen's supervisory board has approved an extensive cost-cutting plan, marking the largest restructuring initiative in the company's history. According to CNN and DW, the automotive giant aims to eliminate 50,000 jobs by 2030, halve its model lineup, and simplify vehicle manufacturing processes by roughly 75 percent. Furthermore, company representatives noted that maintaining competitiveness across four German plants between 2031 and 2034 will pose significant challenges.
Currently employing around 650,000 people, Volkswagen reported a 30 percent decline in net profit after tax during the first half of the year. This aggressive downsizing strategy comes in response to intensifying competition from Chinese automakers, declining sales in China, and rising import tariffs in the United States.
On-the-Go Power: Japanese Engineers Develop Wireless In-Road Charging for Electric Vehicles
10 Oct. 08:10In a major leap for electric mobility, Honda R&D, alongside Taisei Corporation and Taisei Rotec, has unveiled an innovative dynamic wireless charging system that charges electric vehicles as they drive. By embedding compact energy-transmitting modules directly into the road surface, the system transfers power via a magnetic field to receivers mounted underneath moving vehicles. Designed to withstand heavy commercial transport up to 20 tons, real-world road testing is scheduled to begin in Japan in April 2027.
The technology eliminates the need for full road reconstruction, as modules can be integrated directly into milled asphalt layers. Aimed at boosting charging power up to 150 kW in future iterations, this infrastructure solution promise to significantly reduce grid pressure on traditional charging stations, particularly for logistics and commercial fleets.
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