Volkswagen to use Audi in electric-car war with Tesla

Volkswagen is looking to use its Audi brand to lead its growth in the electric-car market and take on disruptors like Tesla. 

Whether or not Herbert Diess gets the contract extension he's seeking from Volkswagen, the CEO has positioned one division of the car-maker to carry out his fixation with beating Tesla at its own game.

Mr Diess has tasked Audi with key roles to develop and share software and electric-car parts across VW's stable of 12 brands. That puts the division at the forefront of building up competencies that the CEO sees as pivotal to surviving disruption by Tesla and by other companies racing to bring battery-powered and autonomous vehicles to market.