Oliver Blume

Chairman of the Board of Management (CEO), Volkswagen AG, Volkswagen AG

Search every verified Oliver Blume interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, spoke at the Paris Automotive Summit on October 13, 2026, addressing the challenges facing European volume car manufacturers. He stated that the business model of selling large numbers of cars at relatively low margins is under pressure in Europe, but argued that the region's automotive ecosystem cannot rely on luxury vehicles alone. Blume identified three simultaneous goals for the industry: making cars fully electric, truly European, and affordable, while noting that electric vehicle demand is rising, citing a more than 60% increase in battery-electric vehicle orders in Europe in the third quarter. He also called for regulation adapted to market conditions, improved charging infrastructure in cities and regions, and competitive energy prices to encourage electromobility adoption. During the discussion, Blume responded to questions about Europe's competitiveness, attributing challenges to a lack of demand rather than blaming Chinese competitors or regulation. He expressed optimism about Europe's market of 450 million people, citing its innovation power, technology knowledge, and qualified workforce. Blume also detailed Volkswagen's operations in China, noting that the company generates 60% of its sales there through partnerships, including technology joint ventures such as one with Horizon Robotics for autonomous driving. He mentioned that Volkswagen has built an engineering center outside Germany with over 3,000 engineers and developed a China-specific software architecture, positioning the company to act like a local original equipment manufacturer, potentially exporting to the southern hemisphere or bringing Chinese cars to Europe in certain segments. Blume said no European joint venture was currently necessary, though he acknowledged this decision could change in the future.