Volkswagen to invest 50 billion euros over next three years FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany's Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) plans to invest 50.2 billion euros ($64.7 billion) in its automotive business in the coming three years as it strives to become the world's largest car maker this decade. "Despite the challenging economic environment, we are investing more than ever before to reach our long-term goals," Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn said in a statement on Friday. Of the overall figure earmarked for 2013 to 2015, 24.7 billion euros will go toward modernizing and extending the product range for Volkswagen's (VW) 12 brands. Stepping up investments on products and technology is seen allowing VW to consolidate its lead over stricken Mediterranean peers, which have slowed or shelved whole vehicle programs, engine technologies and platform revamps while grappling with high fixed costs in a shrinking European market. As the company strives to replace Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) as the world's No.1 auto maker no later than 2018, it keeps increasing its presence outside Europe, building or planning new factories in markets such as China, Mexico and Russia. Under the new investment plan, some 14.5 billion euros will go toward cross-product investments such as a new plant for Audi in Mexico, expansion of Porsche's Leipzig plant and increased production of automatic gearboxes, VW said. Last year, VW had said it would invest 62.4 billion euros in the five years from 2012 until 2016. In addition, 9.8 billion euros will be invested in new production facilities and products at joint ventures in China from 2013 to 2015. As these joint ventures are not consolidated, their spending is not part of VW's overall plans. $1 = 0.7761 euros Reporting by Maria Sheahan; Editing by Mark Potter