Volkswagen will introduce 10 new electrical autos by 2026 and can stop European manufacturing of combustion-powered autos by 2033.
Volkswagen Passenger Vehicles CEO and Volkswagen AG board member Thomas Schäfer introduced these plans on a LinkedIn publish as he celebrates 100 days within the high job.
Whereas EVs will proceed to proliferate within the Volkswagen line-up, he says the model will concentrate on core fashions and can simplify its product vary over the following 10 years.
By 2030, he expects EVs to account for 70 per cent of Volkswagen gross sales in Europe.
“Volkswagen goes electrical: VW will solely be constructing electrical automobiles in Europe from 2033 on the newest!” stated Mr Schäfer in his LinkedIn publish.
“Alongside this, we’re stepping up our e-campaign, introducing ten new e-models by 2026.”
Volkswagen had beforehand stated it could stop manufacturing of ICE autos in Europe by 2035.
Whereas Volkswagen already has a number of electrical autos in Europe, none have made the journey to Australia but. That may change in late 2023 when the ID.4 and ID.5 electrical crossovers contact down regionally.
We don’t know the whole listing of recent EVs Volkswagen will introduce by 2026, however some have already been introduced.
ID.1 and ID.2
In his LinkedIn publish, Mr Schäfer confirmed “our new entry-level e-car will are available in two variations – as a small automotive and as a sporty crossover variant”.
These could also be known as ID.1, and ID.2 or ID.2 X, and can function electrical counterparts to the Polo and T-Cross however use a devoted EV structure being known as MEB Entry.
Whereas Volkswagen previewed an upcoming electrical mild hatch with final yr’s ID. Life idea, a subsequent teaser exhibits a decidedly different-looking automobile that’s stylistically extra in step with the ID.3 hatch.
The entry-level VWs will enter manufacturing in Spain alongside a manufacturing model of the Cupra UrbanRebel and an upcoming Skoda, probably known as the Elroq.
In revealing its ID. Life idea final yr, the Volkswagen model spoke of a beginning value equal to $30,000.
The Volkswagen Group is “mobilising” a €10 billion (A$14.83bn) funding in Spain, establishing a battery Gigafactory in Sagunto, retooling the Martorell and Pamplona crops to help EV manufacturing, and making a provider ecosystem.
Cupra CEO Wayne Griffiths stated late final yr the intention is to provide greater than 500,000 city electrical automobiles per yr within the Martorell manufacturing unit for the totally different Group manufacturers.
ID.3 facelift
It’s anticipated Volkswagen’s 10-by-2026 determine consists of updates of present fashions.
Volkswagen has confirmed it should launch a facelifted ID.3 in 2023, and that is the model we’ll lastly see on Australian shores.
“We’ve listened very rigorously to the ID.3 group, and we’re bringing ahead the facelift of our first MEB [platform] mannequin to 2023,” stated Mr Schäfer.
“The brand new Volkswagen ID 3 is taking a big and noticeable leap ahead by way of high quality, supplies and system stability.”
The comment about system stability seems to be a nod to the well-publicised software program points that plagued the ID.3. Certainly, Volkswagen’s Cariad software program division continues to battle, and has been liable for the delays of upcoming merchandise just like the Porsche Macan EV.
The ID.3 may additionally acquire push-button steering wheel controls, with Mr Schäfer asserting Volkswagen was dropping its controversial touch-capacitive steering controls.
ID.3 X
Mr Schäfer says Volkswagen is “wanting into making a compact SUV primarily based on the ID.3”, and this might reportedly put on the ID.3 X nameplate as Volkswagen realigns its naming construction.
Shifting ahead, Volkswagen will reportedly use the X suffix to differentiate its SUV fashions; the corporate can also be weighing how one can stability its legacy names with its more and more recognised ID. nameplates.
Whereas it isn’t anticipated to appear like the ID.3, it is going to be comparable in measurement. The connection between the 2 fashions will due to this fact be much like that of the combustion-powered Golf and T-Roc.
Trinity
Volkswagen introduced earlier this yr it could construct its new Trinity EV at a brand new manufacturing unit in Wolfsburg, Germany, with plant building to start in 2023 and autos to roll off the manufacturing line in 2026.
The corporate has launched solely a single shadowy teaser of the mannequin, which contains a modern, fastback silhouette. Whereas regarded as a flagship for the model, Autocar experiences it should as an alternative function a Tesla Mannequin 3 rival and should put on the ID.4 identify as Volkswagen delineates its SUVs with the ‘X’ suffix.
Trinity is getting used as a take a look at mattress for brand new improvement and manufacturing processes, which is able to progressively be filtered elsewhere.
At the beginning of manufacturing, Volkswagen goals to provide a Trinity each 10 hours. Volkswagen says it’ll attain these targets by having fewer parts, extra automation, leaner manufacturing traces and new logistic ideas. It’ll additionally provide a restricted variety of Trinity variants to scale back manufacturing complexity.
ID. Aero
Volkswagen will begin manufacturing of a brand new giant electrical sedan in 2023, each in Germany and in China.
Revealed earlier this yr in idea guise, the sedan measures 5m lengthy – 225mm longer than the defunct Passat sedan – and has a drag coefficient of simply 0.23.
It shares its MEB structure with the likes of the ID.3 and ID.4, and the manufacturing mannequin might be known as the ID.7.
Beneath the idea’s cabin sits a 77kWh lithium-ion battery, and Volkswagen says the ID. Aero could have as much as 620km of vary on the stricter WLTP cycle, making it the longest-range Volkswagen-branded EV but.
Volkswagen had beforehand previewed a big electrical sedan with the 2018 ID. Vizzion, which preceded a wagon idea in 2019 known as the ID. House Vizzion.
It’s unclear whether or not a wagon model of the ID. Aero is forthcoming to enhance the next-generation combustion-powered Passat, which is predicted to be provided solely as a wagon.
ID. Buzz LWB
Whereas not a brand new nameplate, Volkswagen will develop its ID. Buzz vary with key new variants.
The German carmaker revealed some preliminary pictures of the long-wheelbase ID. Buzz and the seven-seat short-wheelbase variant as a part of a latest investor presentation.
It additionally teased the upcoming, high-performance ID. Buzz GTX, which was confirmed to be within the works again in June this yr. Volkswagen will provide sporty GTX variations of all its ID. fashions.
Up to now, all variations of the ID. Buzz folks mover and ID. Buzz Cargo van have solely been out there in short-wheelbase kind with a 150kW/310Nm rear-mounted electrical motor.
This single-motor rear-wheel drive powertrain is utilized in sure variants of the Volkswagen ID.3, ID.4, and ID.5, Cupra Born, Audi This autumn e-tron, and Skoda Enyaq iV.
It’s unclear if this long-wheelbase all-wheel drive ID. Buzz variant will share the identical dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain with the ID.4 Professional 4Motion with 195kW, or the sporty ID. 4 GTX 4Motion with 220kW, or one thing else fully.
This long-wheelbase Volkswagen ID. Buzz will probably be be first mannequin the North American market receives, with it anticipated to launch someday in 2024. We’ll additionally possible be ready till that point to see the ID. Buzz in Australia, although what the native line-up will appear like is unclear.
Different prospects
The Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 crossovers will probably be due for a facelift over the following few years like their ID.3 stablemate. They’re lastly set to return to Australia earlier than the top of 2023.
The ID.4 entered manufacturing in 2020 and the ID.5 adopted in 2022, which by conventional lifecycles would imply they’ll obtain a mid-life replace someday earlier than 2026.
Former Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess confirmed final yr the corporate’s namesake model will provide a big crossover known as the ID.8, sized equally to the Mazda CX-9-rivalling Atlas/Teramont.
There was no additional info launched about this automobile, and prototypes have but to be spied testing.
At the moment, the model’s largest electrical SUV is the ID.6, a three-row crossover on the MEB structure that’s provided solely in China.