Achtung Tesla! German Automakers Try To Compete With Elon Musk Elon Musk trying out a brand new VW - Herbert Diess via LinkedIn Volkswagon and other German car companies want to develop their own software systems and thus close the e-car technology gap with Tesla. But success will depend on a cultural change in the established auto sector. INGOLSTADT — It's all systems go in Ingolstadt, where Volkswagen has invested billions of dollars in setting up a new subsidiary. The plan is for the organization Car.Software to soon employ 10,000 people and become the "second largest software company in Europe, after SAP," according to CEO Herbert Diess.