Karl-Thomas Neumann, VW Group CO for Electric Traction

German carmaker Volkswagen has just established a new position within its ranks, Group Chief Officer for Electric Traction, being perhaps among the first carmakers to do so. As the name suggests, the man which will fill the position will be in charge with the development of electric traction vehicles.

Volkswagen has already decided on a name for the position, namely 48-year old Karl-Thomas Neumann. He will take office on december 1 and will report directly to the chairman of the board, Martin Winterkorn.

"Electric traction is a crucial technology for the Volkswagen Group and offers enormous potential. Dr. Neumann is a top-class expert on our industry and in this field. He will be instrumental in supporting our company to systematically further develop this particular area of innovation," Winterkorn said in a release announcing the appointment.

Neumann comes from within the Volkswagen group, which he joined as electronics research and electronics strategy chief in 1999. He studied electrical engineering at the universities of Dortmund and Duisburg and bagan his professional career as nan engineer for Motorola Semiconductor prior to joining VW.

Later, he became electrics/electronics head for Volkswagen Passenger Cars and member of the executive board for the Automotive Systems Division of Continental.

He was chairman of the Continental board from August 2008 to September 2009, when he was removed from his position by a Schaeffler manager, following this year's skirmishes between Continental and Schaeffler.