10 Most Valuable Automotive Companies in the World
Re: 10 Most Valuable Automotive Companies in the World
Volkswagen AG (OTC: VWAGY)
Founded in 1937 and headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany, Volkswagen is renowned for the iconic Beetle. Another classic, the Microbus, was reimagined in 2022 as the electric "ID Buzz." Volkswagen also owns several premium brands, including Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley and Porsche.
Volkswagen has dropped in ranking in the last year, slipping from No. 9 to No. 10. Since its March 2021 debut into EVs, the stock has declined largely due to an inability to garner significant market share in the highly competitive Asian markets, posting an 8.3% decline in sales in China, its largest market, in 2024. The much-anticipated Trinity EV, expected to redefine the company, has now been postponed until 2032. The ID.2, envisioned as a replacement for the popular Golf, remains on track for a 2025 unveiling as a 2026 model and will represent its most affordable EV priced under 25,000 euros. Volkswagen's financial situation had become so dire that the company scrapped plans for a $2.2 billion factory and reportedly considered the unprecedented step of closing plants in Germany.
However, Volkswagen's partnership with Rivian Automotive Inc. (RIVN) has proven mutually beneficial, with additional plans to deepen their collaboration recently disclosed. Rivian contributes cutting-edge technology, while Volkswagen provides scale, strengthening their shared platform initiatives. In early January 2025, Volkswagen also announced a promising new joint venture with XPeng Inc. (XPEV) to deploy 20,000 charging piles spanning 420 Chinese cities. A charging pile differs from a charging station as a stand-alone unit that can be placed in residential homes, commercial buildings and public roadways. Discussions about co-branding charging stations are also underway. Founded in 2014 and catering to tech-savvy drivers, XPeng officially launched the world's first artificial intelligence-defined vehicle in November 2024.
In December 2024, a massive data breach involving Volkswagen's software subsidiary, Cariad, exposed sensitive location data and personal contact details of more than 800,000 customers. This incident highlights the growing cybersecurity challenges automakers face as vehicles increasingly collect and store vast amounts of customer data.
Founded in 1937 and headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany, Volkswagen is renowned for the iconic Beetle. Another classic, the Microbus, was reimagined in 2022 as the electric "ID Buzz." Volkswagen also owns several premium brands, including Audi, Lamborghini, Bentley and Porsche.
Volkswagen has dropped in ranking in the last year, slipping from No. 9 to No. 10. Since its March 2021 debut into EVs, the stock has declined largely due to an inability to garner significant market share in the highly competitive Asian markets, posting an 8.3% decline in sales in China, its largest market, in 2024. The much-anticipated Trinity EV, expected to redefine the company, has now been postponed until 2032. The ID.2, envisioned as a replacement for the popular Golf, remains on track for a 2025 unveiling as a 2026 model and will represent its most affordable EV priced under 25,000 euros. Volkswagen's financial situation had become so dire that the company scrapped plans for a $2.2 billion factory and reportedly considered the unprecedented step of closing plants in Germany.
However, Volkswagen's partnership with Rivian Automotive Inc. (RIVN) has proven mutually beneficial, with additional plans to deepen their collaboration recently disclosed. Rivian contributes cutting-edge technology, while Volkswagen provides scale, strengthening their shared platform initiatives. In early January 2025, Volkswagen also announced a promising new joint venture with XPeng Inc. (XPEV) to deploy 20,000 charging piles spanning 420 Chinese cities. A charging pile differs from a charging station as a stand-alone unit that can be placed in residential homes, commercial buildings and public roadways. Discussions about co-branding charging stations are also underway. Founded in 2014 and catering to tech-savvy drivers, XPeng officially launched the world's first artificial intelligence-defined vehicle in November 2024.
In December 2024, a massive data breach involving Volkswagen's software subsidiary, Cariad, exposed sensitive location data and personal contact details of more than 800,000 customers. This incident highlights the growing cybersecurity challenges automakers face as vehicles increasingly collect and store vast amounts of customer data.