Two key Volkswagen executives leave as ID.4 goes into mass production in the U.S.

As Volkswagen begins producing the ID.4 compact crossover in the U.S., two seasoned, high-profile executives at the company are leaving for high-tech startups, foreign media reports said. Volkswagen brand kicks offelectric vehicletransition in the U.S.

Image source: Volkswagen Group

Matt Renna, 36, was Volkswagen Group's U.S. vice president of electric vehicles, but in March he became head of hardware at self-driving car company Nuro, according to a LinkedIn profile.Following Renna's departure, Dustin Krause, 37, who was previously head of Volkswagen Group's U.S. e-mobility division, became senior director of automotive partnerships at battery recycling startup Redwood Materials in May.

Both Renna and Krause have also previously worked at Tesla and helped launch the Model 3. The pair joined Volkswagen Group America in 2018 as VW geared up to launch the ID.4 in the U.S. in March 2021.

Renna revealed that he "had a great experience" at VW and left amicably.Krause said he left Volkswagen for "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the Redwood team."

The departures of the two executives come at a pivotal moment for VW to realize its electric vehicle ambitions.Last week, the first U.S.-built ID.4 rolled off the assembly line at VW's newly expanded Chattanooga assembly plant for painting and final assembly.The plant has been trial-producing the car for several months, and the product is not for sale, and the volume of ID.4 that Volkswagen's dealers have sourced from the Zwickau plant in Germany can't keep up with the growing demand from U.S. consumers.

Volkswagen of America CEO Scott Keogh said he expects supply and inventory of the ID.4 to increase significantly later this year, and even into 2023, asproductionramps up at the Tennessee plant .