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Adform becomes OpenAI tech platform partner for ChatGPT ads in Europe.

Adform has been announced as one of OpenAI's technology platform partners as ChatGPT Ads expands into Europe, enabling advertisers to plan, control, and measure chat-based ad campaigns within its existing omnichannel platform. This integration provides a unified view of the customer journey by connecting conversions from ChatGPT with other Adform campaigns. Volkswagen and Vodafone are among the first companies testing the access, focusing on brand presence and channel performance. The rollout, which began in August 2026 across 31 European markets, supports ad formats on free and lower-cost plans, with paid plans remaining ad-free. Advertisers can utilize CPM, CPC, conversion optimization, geo-targeting, and custom audiences, while OpenAI ensures ads are clearly labeled and do not influence ChatGPT responses. Adform's partnership aligns with its broader AI-driven advertising strategy, including MCP support and collaboration with IAB Tech Lab on agentic standards.

• Adform is a technology partner for OpenAI's ChatGPT Ads in Europe, enabling ad campaign management and measurement.
• The partnership allows advertisers to buy ChatGPT inventory through Adform's platform and connect conversions with other campaigns.
• Volkswagen and Vodafone are early testers of ChatGPT Ads.

Volkswagen Sells Osnabrück Plant for Rafael Defense Technology

Volkswagen is selling its Osnabrück plant to Aurelius Capital, an Israeli investment firm, and the German state of Lower Saxony. The site will be converted from car manufacturing to producing components for air defense systems, with Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems as the anchor customer. The deal involves a letter of intent, subject to board and regulatory approvals. The conversion aims to address the plant's future amid Volkswagen's restructuring, which includes significant job cuts. Lower Saxony is contributing around €200 million. The plant will become a 'competence center for security and defense solutions,' with plans for Iron Dome-related manufacturing. The move has drawn criticism from peace groups but is seen as a way to preserve jobs and repurpose idle capacity in the defense sector.

• Volkswagen signs letter of intent to sell Osnabrück plant to Aurelius Capital and Lower Saxony.
• Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is the anchor customer for air defense components.
• Lower Saxony invests around €200 million in the deal.

Supervisory Board approves Future Plan 2030: A strong signal for Volkswagen Group

The Supervisory Board of the Volkswagen Group unanimously approved the Executive Board’s Future Plan 2030, enabling the Group to pave the way for sustainable long-term success.

Xpeng Aims High with Mainz 05 Sponsorship Deal

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng is stepping up its brand campaign in Germany through a two-year sponsorship deal with Bundesliga club Mainz 05. At an event in the Mewa-Arena, Xpeng Central Europe Managing Director Markus Schrick said the partnership is intended to raise brand awareness and position Xpeng as a premium mobility brand associated with high-tech, reliability, and modesty. Xpeng, in which Volkswagen holds just under five percent since July 2023, launched in Germany in 2024 and tripled sales to nearly 3,000 vehicles last year. The company targets 8,000 EV sales in Germany this year and 15,000 next year, and more than 100,000 vehicles across international markets by 2026. The contract with Mainz 05 is initially for two years with an option to extend. Schrick also discussed agency discussions and advertising plans in the video interview.

• Xpeng signed a two-year sponsorship deal with Bundesliga club Mainz 05 as premium and mobility partner.
• Xpeng targets 8,000 EV sales in Germany this year, up from nearly 3,000 last year.
• Xpeng considers 15,000 German sales possible next year and over 100,000 international sales by 2026.

Salesforce: LLMs reshape automotive product search

In an interview, Jessica Geutner (Vice President Strategic Customers, Salesforce) discusses how large language models (LLMs) are changing product search in the automotive sector and shifting responsibilities for OEMs and dealers. She argues that manufacturers must be discoverable within LLM-driven systems and connect those AI-initiated journeys into their CRM, sales and dealer processes. Geutner emphasizes that probabilistic generative AI cannot replace deterministically collected, consented customer data and that consent management and integrated data infrastructures are critical. Salesforce cites work with the Volkswagen Group to centralize customer data as an example of improved service efficiency.

• Jessica Geutner is Vice President Strategic Customers at Salesforce and spoke about AI and the automotive customer journey.
• The article states 77% of commerce leaders expect LLMs will help with product search in the future.
• Salesforce helped the Volkswagen Group centralize customer data, improving service efficiency according to Stefanie Paetow.