Volkswagen Board Members Say Company Is Existentially Threatened

A leaked internal survey of Volkswagen's top leadership has revealed unanimous alarm at the highest levels of Europe's largest automaker, with every single respondent calling for a radical change in direction.

The survey, first reported in detail by Manager Magazin and subsequently picked up by Der Spiegel, involved nine senior figures, including the 8 Volkswagen Group board members and incoming Porsche CEO Michael Leiters.

The findings, described internally as a "belief audit," expose a level of self-criticism rarely seen in a major corporation's boardroom.

No Executive Called the Situation Uncritical

Of the 9 participants surveyed anonymously, 6 rated Volkswagen's current situation as "existentially threatened". The remaining 3 described the company as "strained."

Not a single executive selected the option "uncritical." All 9 respondents backed what the survey described as a radical strategy change.

The Traditional Model Declared Outdated

The specific model under fire is the one VW has operated on for decades: developing vehicles in Germany, manufacturing across Europe, and selling globally.

According to Der Spiegel's reporting, all 9 executives who participated viewed this approach as outdated and no longer sustainable under current market conditions.

The company's strategies in China and North America drew particularly harsh criticism.

VW has faced mounting pressure in both markets - competition from Chinese EV manufacturers has undercut its position in what was once its most profitable market, while structural difficulties have continued to weigh on its US performance.

Declining Numbers Underpin the Internal Alarm

The survey was conducted in late 2025, against a backdrop of deteriorating financial indicators.

VW Group reported declining deliveries and a sharp drop in Q1 2026 profits, according to Deutsche Börse live data.

The group has already moved toward efficiency programs, capacity adjustments, and strategy updates targeting 2030, but the leaked survey suggests internal consensus that those steps have not gone far enough.