Brand Group Core: cross-brand steering model for production reaches implementation phase – AutoMart Canada

The Brand Group Core within the Volkswagen Group – the organizational unit including the volume brands Volkswagen, Škoda, SEAT&CUPRA and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles – is strategically reorienting its production and establishing a high-performance regional production network.

As a first step, André Kleb, to date Head of Planning and Production Technology of the Volkswagen brand, is to assume responsibility for the regional management of production and logistics as the Chief Production Officer for the Iberian Peninsula with effect from January 1, 2026. In the spirit of overall cross-brand responsibility, this newly created function will report to Christian Vollmer, Member of the Board of Management for Production & Logistics of the Volkswagen brand and member of the extended Group Executive Board, and also to Markus Haupt, CEO SEAT&CUPRA.

The new structure for the Iberian Peninsula will include all the plants of the Volkswagen Group in Spain and Portugal. Overarching functions such as central planning, production steering, project and start-of-production management as well as logistics will be anchored within the regional management.

In connection with the reorganization, Thomas Hegel Gunther, currently Managing Director and plant manager of Volkswagen Autoeuropa, is to succeed André Kleb as new Head of Planning and Production Technology of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand in Wolfsburg.

Anabel Andión Lomero, to date the Head of the Pre-Series Center at SEAT&CUPRA in Spain, will become Managing Director and plant manager of Volkswagen Autoeuropa in Portugal with effect from March 1, 2026.