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15:29

Volkswagen CEO on the challenges facing the UK’s favourite car brand

Thomas Schäfer is Volkswagen brand CEO and head of the brand's core group (including Skoda, Seat and Cupra).

He joins The Independent in Volkswagen's latest new car, the VW Tayron, to discuss everything from the Chinese challenge to the restructure of the Volkswagen business and the role of plug-in hybrids in the transition to electrification.

And his passion for a certain British rock band...

Watch more from Drive Smart on Independent TV.

Up next

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Katie Amess rejects Kneecap’s ‘kill your MP’ apology as ‘excuses’

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Editor’s Picks

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The kiss that broke football

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Travel Smart

What to do when you visit Jamaica

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What to do when you visit Jamaica

How to make the most of your trip to Italy’s Amalfi Coast

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How to make the most of your trip to Italy’s Amalfi Coast

Here’s where to avoid the tourist crowds in Spain

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Here’s where to avoid the tourist crowds in Spain

How to make the most of your city break in the USA

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That Dress

How Melania and Donald Trump’s awkward kiss got everyone speculating

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How Melania and Donald Trump’s awkward kiss got everyone speculating

The Brookside kiss that made a lesbian storyline mainstream

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The Spider-Man kiss was an ordeal for both actors but it was worth it

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The Spider-Man kiss was an ordeal for both actors but it was worth it

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Binge Watch

The kid from Jojo Rabbit is all grown up

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The kid from Jojo Rabbit is all grown up

Gangs of London cast reveal behind-the-scenes secrets

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Gangs of London cast reveal behind-the-scenes secrets

How filming took an actor to the Sahara and Arctic Ocean

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The ‘intense challenge’ of filming Netflix’s American Primeval

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The ‘intense challenge’ of filming Netflix’s American Primeval

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Music Box

Lemoncello perform ‘Old Friend’ in Music Box session

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Lemoncello perform ‘Old Friend’ in Music Box session

Lemoncello perform ‘Sunflower’ in Music Box session

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Lemoncello perform ‘Sunflower’ in Music Box session

Boston trio Tiny Habits perform ‘Wishes’ for Music Box session

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Boston trio Tiny Habits perform ‘Wishes’ for Music Box session

Boston trio Tiny Habits perform ‘Mudroom’ in Music Box session

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Boston trio Tiny Habits perform ‘Mudroom’ in Music Box session

On The Ground

Searching for the ‘Whitby Woman’

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Searching for the ‘Whitby Woman’

On the campaign trail with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg

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On the campaign trail with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg

Life at 50C: Delhi’s streets struggling to cope with heatwave

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Life at 50C: Delhi’s streets struggling to cope with heatwave

Indian farmers use election to make voices heard against Narendra Modi

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Indian farmers use election to make voices heard against Narendra Modi

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Behind The Headlines

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

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What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

When will the Cost of Living Crisis end?

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When will the Cost of Living Crisis end?

How airlines greenwash the skies

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How airlines greenwash the skies

Is it time to panic over AI? | Behind The Headlines

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Is it time to panic over AI? | Behind The Headlines

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Decomplicated

What is tactical voting - and why could it be a powerful tool?

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What is tactical voting - and why could it be a powerful tool?

Are ultra-processed foods bad for you?

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Are ultra-processed foods bad for you?

Why are UK councils going bankrupt?

07:30

Why are UK councils going bankrupt?

What causes the winter flu and how does it differ from other types?

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What causes the winter flu and how does it differ from other types?

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Sport

Woman runs London marathon topless after her double mastectomy

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Woman runs London marathon topless after her double mastectomy

Ryan Reynolds goes wild in stands after Wrexham’s promotion

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Ryan Reynolds goes wild in stands after Wrexham’s promotion

Teary-eyed Conor Benn says Chris Eubank Jr defeat ‘hard to swallow’

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Chris Eubank Jr makes sad admission about father

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Chris Eubank Jr makes sad admission about father

Climate

Surfers ride powerful 13ft waves amid weather warning

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Surfers ride powerful 13ft waves amid weather warning

Floodwaters rage across Yelville as residents evacuated from homes

00:33

Floodwaters rage across Yelville as residents evacuated from homes

Greece shuts down Acropolis as temperatures hit almost 40 degrees

01:00

Greece shuts down Acropolis as temperatures hit almost 40 degrees

Eerie tornado sirens ring through downtown Chicago

00:31

Eerie tornado sirens ring through downtown Chicago

Culture

Tom Hardy tells off radio presenter as actor defends small Welsh town

01:02

Tom Hardy tells off radio presenter as actor defends small Welsh town

Stacey Solomon fights back tears as she shares update on dog Teddy

05:00

Stacey Solomon fights back tears as she shares update on dog Teddy

Irish PM: Kneecap must clarify alleged ‘kill Tory MPs’ comments

01:27

Irish PM: Kneecap must clarify alleged ‘kill Tory MPs’ comments

JoJo Siwa reveals one question that led to CBB wrap party breakup

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Lifestyle

Wind in the willows! Beaver caught farting on wildlife camera

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Wind in the willows! Beaver caught farting on wildlife camera

Meghan Markle shares rare clip of Princess Lilibet making summer treat

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Meghan Markle shares rare clip of Princess Lilibet making summer treat

Beyoncé’s mother Tina fights back tears over emotional toll of cancer

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Beyoncé’s mother Tina fights back tears over emotional toll of cancer

Meghan responds to critics with behind-the-scenes Prince Harry video

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Meghan responds to critics with behind-the-scenes Prince Harry video

Will Bayley's Electric Road Trip

Paralympian Will Bayley puts his “Range Anxiety” to the test

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Paralympian Will Bayley puts his “Range Anxiety” to the test

The feel-good perks of living the Electric Vehicle lifestyle

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The feel-good perks of living the Electric Vehicle lifestyle

Paralympian Will Bayley checks the performance of electric vehicles

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Paralympian Will Bayley checks the performance of electric vehicles

To EV or not to EV? Paralympian Will Bayley considers electric cars

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To EV or not to EV? Paralympian Will Bayley considers electric cars

Saudi Cup

Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

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Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

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Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

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Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

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Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

Galaxy The Ripple Effect

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Finance coach Ellie Austin-Williams on the psychology of money

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Big In America

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SGI ‘seems like a nest of harmony’, journalist says

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SGI ambitions are ‘extremely high’, says Saudi climate envoy

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Saudi Green Initiative aims to ‘not just preserve, but create’

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AlUla

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Gérard Mestrallet on the challenges of bringing infrastructure to the region of AlUla

Sir George Iacobescu, chairman of the Canary Wharf Group on the investment into the historic region of AlUla

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Sir George Iacobescu, chairman of the Canary Wharf Group on the investment into the historic region of AlUla

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Oliver Ripley of sustainable hotel group Habitas talks about how AlUla challenged his preconceptions of Saudi Arabia

Thomas Kaplan of wild cat conservation charity Panthera on the mission to save the Arabian Leopard

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Thomas Kaplan of wild cat conservation charity Panthera on the mission to save the Arabian Leopard