As a visitor of the favored CBS Information present “60 Minutes” on Sunday evening, Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess spoke to host Lesley Stahl about electrical vehicles, the automaker’s challenges within the US, penalties of the battle in Ukraine, and aggressive strain from Tesla, amongst different subjects.

It’s an fascinating interview that includes easy questions and solutions, with EVs and the corporate’s US technique taking centerstage. Concerning the latter, Diess admitted that VW misplaced floor within the US as a result of it did not give attention to the particularities of the market. 

“We misplaced floor right here within the US. I believe we did not take the US buyer significantly sufficient. No? We tried to promote the European product right here within the US.”

The CEO added that VW is dedicated to turning into related once more within the US and he stated the corporate was on the precise path. Electrical automobiles will play a key function in that, with new merchandise just like the ID. Buzz, Aero B sedan and a big SUV coming to the US over the subsequent few years.

Requested about whether or not VW additionally plans to convey an electrical pickup truck stateside, Diess replied “not but,” suggesting that the automaker is contemplating it for later.

VW of America CEO Scott Keogh, Texas governor Greg Abbott and VW Group CEO Herbert Diess with the VW ID. Buzz

The chief famous that electrification is the one possible method ahead to decarbonize the automotive sector, although he admitted that is not a straightforward factor to do within the face on growing competitors not solely from different automakers but additionally tech firms like Apple.

“It’s a large problem. And traditionally there have not been too many circumstances the place the profitable firms within the outdated world might reveal that they’re nonetheless profitable within the new world.”

Talking of latest world, Tesla and Elon Musk inevitably got here up within the dialogue, with the host noting that VW Group offered extra electrical vehicles of every kind final 12 months than anybody besides Tesla. Diess as soon as once more acknowledged the US EV maker’s deserves in advancing the electrification of the auto business.

“We’re second worldwide. Tesla is kind of forward at the moment, and so they’re rising quick, I’ve to confess. He’s taking extra dangers than we are able to. He is now constructing a plant in Berlin. It is 200 kilometers from our plant and I believe it’s totally wholesome for us to have a brand new competitor.”

Then, when Lesley Stahl talked about that some VW employees do not like the truth that Diess is setting Elon Musk up because the benchmark and speaking about it, Diess laughingly replied: “Yeah, really, you are proper. They do not prefer it.”

For extra subjects, together with how VW Group is affected by the battle in Ukraine, the closure of Russian factories and criticism over working a plant within the dwelling province of the Uyghur Muslim minority in China, take a look at the complete interview within the video above.