Volkswagen's rapid shift to electric raises earnings questions

Automaker runs head on into dilemma of making EVs both cheap and profitable

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A Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg, Germany

KOSEI FUKAO, Nikkei staff writer

FRANKFURT, Germany -- The German car giant Volkswagen has been rapidly shifting its focus to electric vehicles in the wake of a scandal over falsified emissions data on its diesel cars in 2015, and by China's clean-energy plans. But this sudden course change may be putting VW in an uncomfortable position -- how to procure batteries cheaply enough to make the cars affordable, while still turning a profit.

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