Oliver Blume, CEO of $348 billion automotive giant Volkswagen, lives life in the fast lane. The dual boss of luxury automaker Porsche made a name for himself by helping the supercar giant double its sales and profits after taking over in 2015. Since 2022, he has been managing Volkswagen’s 650,000 global employees, increasing its electricity commitments and tackling a global competition. The growing threat from Chinese rivals to make the automaker the largest company in Europe. Two years after taking up his post, his courage is truly tested. Blume is mounting a €10 billion ($11 billion) cost-cutting drive as the automaker grapples with persistent profit warnings and falling revenues. With pressure from investors to reduce Volkswagen’s German workforce, regain lost competitiveness and consider the role of dual CEO of Volkswagen and Porsche, Blume will hope the need for speed will be enough to turn the automaker around before it’s too late.