Southern Company and Ford Pro have completed a six-month project demonstrating efficient EV fleet charging, while Volkswagen and Audi accelerate North American manufacturing investments to mitigate tariff impacts and boost market share amidst a changing trade landscape.
Southern Company and Ford Pro have wrapped up a six-month pilot project aimed at optimizing how fleets charge their electric vehicles (EVs). By blending Ford Pro’s cutting-edge software platform with real-time data pulled from vehicles and chargers, the program showed it’s possible to cut down on energy demand—without messing with the fleet’s ability to operate smoothly. According to what they found, managed charging schedules can really help boost energy efficiency. This offers some useful insights for fleet managers who are either planning or speeding up their switch to electric vehicles. Basically, this project is a good example of how the commercial aftermarket is evolving—trying to balance sustainability goals while still meeting the strict demands of fleet operations, which, you know, can be quite rigorous.
At the same time, the larger automotive aftermarket scene is going through some significant shifts, especially as tariffs become more of a concern. Volkswagen, for example, has reported that tariffs in the U.S.—which are currently at 27.5%—have hit their bottom line pretty hard. CEO Oliver Blume shared that the company’s paid several billion euros extra this year because of these tariffs, with brands like Porsche and Audi feeling the pinch the most. The lack of local U.S. manufacturing facilities in those brands has made things worse—they’ve absorbed most of the burden. This tariff burden has led to earnings pressures, with Audi taking a €600 million hit in the first half of 2025 alone and Porsche losing about €300 million during the spring months. It’s kind of a tricky situation, because Volkswagen is now weighing whether to make more investments in the U.S., including expanding manufacturing facilities—something that might get a boost with upcoming tax incentives being discussed by the government.
Volkswagen’s broader plan for the U.S. aims to counteract declining sales in China and Europe. They’re aiming for some pretty bold growth targets—trying to bump their U.S. market share from around 4% up to 10% by 2030. Part of that strategy involves investing heavily, like their €4.8 billion battery plant in Ontario, Canada, which is meant to supply EVs for North America. But of course, there’s some uncertainty because tariffs could be extended to add taxes on imports from Mexico, Canada, and Europe. That could make supply chain planning quite complicated. Still, Volkswagen expects its profit margins to stay stable this year. They’re also getting ready to roll out new EV models, including an electric version of the Scout pickup truck—an important move into the U.S. market’s popular SUV and electric segments.
Audi, which is part of the Volkswagen Group, is also working to deal with tariff-related issues by expanding its production facilities in North America. They’re expected to decide on exactly where to build these plants sometime this year. The idea is that increasing local manufacturing will help soften the blow from tariffs, especially since they’re supported by incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act. This move is also in line with broader market trends, where demand is shifting toward electric and SUV models—so Audi’s strategy is really trying to adapt to those changing preferences.
All these tariff pressures and strategic shifts highlight a pretty complex environment for automakers and parts suppliers alike. Companies are juggling evolving trade policies, the need for investment, and the push toward electrification—all at once. The Southern Company and Ford Pro pilot adds to this narrative by demonstrating how tech can improve fleet efficiency operationally, while Volkswagen and Audi’s moves reflect the geopolitical, economic, and market forces reshaping how vehicles are made and sold in North America.
It’s definitely a busy space these days, and it’ll be interesting to see how everything unfolds. Honestly, these developments—both technical and strategic—are pretty fascinating, don’t you think?
Source: Noah Wire Services
