In the long run, the VW Group will launch more than 25 new EVs by 2030 when it estimates 55% of annual new car sales will be represented by models without a combustion engine. Leading the way will be the ID.4 electric SUV set to enter series production later this year at the Chattanooga factory in Tennessee.

The hotly anticipated ID. Buzz van will hit stateside in 2024 and will be followed from 2026 by a series of new electric SUVs. Meanwhile, the Mexican factories in Silao and Puebla are going to be upgraded to accommodate the assembly of EVs and electric motors by 2025. Not only that, but the VW Group is working towards localizing major engineering and design duties by the end of the decade.

Future EVs from the VW core brand as well as Audi and other marques sitting underneath the same corporate umbrella will ride on the MEB platform and the forthcoming SSP. From May 2022, the Chattanooga-based Battery Engineering Lab (BEL) will be up and running following a $22-million investment. It’ll be used to test and validate batteries for all VW-badged EVs to be sold locally.

As far as R&D is concerned, the Center of Excellence (CoE) NAR Battery will be working closely with Quantumscape to make solid-state batteries feasible for large-scale production. At the same time, CoE is collaborating with 24M to perfect battery cell design for greater efficiency and packaging.

To support the new wave of EVs, the VW Group will ramp up battery cell production in the United States.

Source: Volkswagen Group

The post VW Group To Launch More Than 25 EVs In North America By 2030 appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

The Skoda Enyaq iV was fourth with 44,700 vehicles, with the VW e-up! fifth with 41,400 sales. Rounding off the top six is the Porsche Taycan sedan, which together with the Sport Turismo and Cross Turismo, found 41,390 new homes during the last 12 months. By nearly doubling its EV sales, the VW Group claims it had no issues with meeting the European Union’s increasingly stricter fleet target regarding CO2 emissions.

The German automotive conglomerate is proud to say one in four EVs sold last year in the EU was a model coming from the VW Group. According to internal estimations, the fleet average dropped to 118.5 g/km in 2021, which is approximately 2% lower than the target imposed by the European Union. The latter will issue the final numbers at a later date, but it looks like the company will avoid paying fines for exceeding emissions levels.

However, it should be mentioned the fleet average achieved by the VW Group does not include emissions coming from gas-guzzling cars sold by Lamborghini and Bentley. That shouldn’t be much of a difference since the two high-end marques are selling far fewer vehicles than mainstream marques such as the VW core brand or Skoda.

2022 is shaping up to be an even better year to decarbonize the lineup with the rollout of the VW ID. Buzz, Skoda Enyaq iV Coupe, and the Cupra Born. In addition, there are new versions of the Porsche Taycan while the ID.5 / ID.5 GTX will be more generally available across Europe. In the long run, the group aims to spend €52 billion in EVs and another €8 billion in hybrids until 2026.

Ultimately, VW reminds us it was the first automotive group to sign the Paris Climate Agreement about becoming carbon neutral by 2050.

Source: Volkswagen Group

The post EV Boom Helped VW Group Overfulfil European Union CO2 Fleet Target appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

If you’re wondering which EV was the VW Group’s most successful model last year, the answer shouldn’t come as a big surprise. The ID.4 compact crossover achieved the number one spot by racking up 119,600 units. The ID.3 hatchback had to settle for second place with 75,500 units while the Audi E-Tron / E-Tron Sportback large SUV took the last place on the podium with 49,200 units.

The VW ID.4’s Czech equivalent, the Skoda Enyaq iV, was fourth with 44,700 cars, followed by the e-up! city car with 41,400 units or 100 more than the Porsche Taycan (including Sport Turismo and Cross Turismo). For the first time ever, the latter managed to outsell the 911 sports car, beating the Panamera and 718 in the process to grab the third spot, behind the Macan and Cayenne SUVs.

By selling nearly twice as many battery-powered EVs as the year before, the share in sales of cars without a combustion engine rose from 2.5% in 2020 to 5.1% in 2021. The VW Group is happy to report it sells the most electric cars in Europe than any other automaker “by a large margin” and occupies second place in the United States where it’s trailing behind Tesla and has a market share of around 7.5%.

VW also had a great 2021 in China where 92,700 BEVs were delivered in the last 12 months, more than four times than in 2020. Globally, plug-in hybrids were a hit among VW Group customers as demand for PHEVs rose by 61% to 309,500 examples in 2021.

In the long run, the company estimates roughly 50% of all the cars it will sell annually by 2030 will be EVs.

Source: Volkswagen Group

The post Volkswagen Group nearly doubled electric car sales in 2021 appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

What does that actually mean in terms of charging times? Well, the OTA update will shave off as much as nine minutes from the time it takes to replenish the battery pack from 5% to 80%. In addition, the software revision comes along with a new Battery Care Mode that once activated, it won’t allow the owner to charge the battery to more than 80%. Doing so will increase the battery life’s, therefore changing the pack should be less of a concern.

The revised software will be baked into newly assembled ID.3, ID.4, and ID.5 models going forward, meaning future owners won’t have to download the OTA update after taking delivery of the vehicle. The changes planned by VW for its trio of dedicated electric models available in Europe also include support for bidirectional charging, but once again, only for the vehicles fitted with the 77-kWh battery.

Also on the way is an updated infotainment system structured in a clearer way. For example, the charging menu will be displayed at the top level. There’s an Online Route Calculation built into the navigation system that automatically calculates multi-stop route planning for extended trips in such a way as to reach the destination as quickly as possible. It does the necessary calculations based on the provided traffic and route data and how much battery charge the driver still wants to have at the end of the journey.

The tweaks will arrive in the near future and chances are equivalent EVs from Audi, Skoda, and Cupra will follow suit.

Source: Volkswagen

The post Volkswagen ID. models to charge at up to 150 kW, offer bi-directional charging appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

We’re talking about the long-awaited production version of the ID. Buzz, which was originally unveiled as a concept car nearly five years ago. Yes, VW took the wraps off the concept way back in January 2017 at the Detroit Auto Show. Fast forward to today, the German automaker promises it will “talk about [the road-going model] at the beginning of next year.” Hopefully, that means we are only a couple of months away from seeing the production-ready electric van.

Click play below and the video will take you straight to the moment when VW provides a glimpse of the final ID. Buzz coming in 2022.

You can easily tell it’s the version we will be seeing in showrooms soon by the regular door handles as well as traditional side mirrors whereas the concept had cameras. It differs from the showcar by featuring an LED light bar in the same vein as other recent VW, electric or not. In addition, the headlights are larger than those of the concept before it while the bumper has lost the honeycomb-shaped LED elements.

As a reminder, the ID. Buzz will initially arrive in Europe next year – likely with two wheelbase options –before going on sale in the United States only in the stretched configuration in 2023. The modern take on the Microbus is said to receive a six-passenger interior layout with individual rear seats on the Old Continent while the US-spec model is reportedly getting two seats facing forward and another two facing rearward.

Needless to say, VW Commercial Vehicles is also developing a cargo version for commercial purposes and is believed to mainly target parcel delivery companies. The production-ready ID. Buzz will be assembled in Hannover and logic tells us it will come in rear- and all-wheel-drive configurations with single and dual electric motors, respectively. The beefier version could have nearly 300 horsepower as is the case with the AWD-equipped ID.4 GTX and ID.5 GTX.

An autonomous version is earmarked for a 2025 release, and it is already part of a pilot program in Hamburg for autonomous ride-pooling services. The same city will be the first location where the driverless variant will be deployed in 2025, with other important cities in Europe and the United States to follow.

Source: Volkswagen News / YouTube

The post Volkswagen ID. Buzz production version teased during ID.5 premiere appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

The surprising disclosure was made by Johan De Nysschen, Volkswagen Group of America’s Chief Operating Officer, in a recent talk with the press. Motor Trend says the German automaker is interested to roll out a Scout model as a rugged SUV offered exclusively with electric power. Such a vehicle would compete with EV versions of the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler, both of which are expected to hit the market in the coming years.

It’s unclear whether it will be badged as a VW or the company plans to create a separate Scout brand and sell the model through a different dealership network. Even if it has been green-lighted for production, the all-terrain SUV is likely many years away seeing as how other electric vehicles rank higher on the list of priorities: ID. Buzz van, ID. Aero sedan/wagon, ID.1 small hatchback, and the flagship Trinity.

Another missing piece of the puzzle is the platform that would underpin such a model. It’ll be interesting to see whether it will ride on the MEB architecture shared with the ID.3 and ID.4 or adopt the SSP hardware debuting on a mass-market model with Trinity in 2026. Rugged SUVs represent an increasingly popular niche, and since we’re on the dawn of an EV era, it would make sense for VW to try and lure in customers looking for a zero-emissions and highly capable SUV.

Previous rumors had referred to the model as the Ruggdzz and T-Rug, but we’d argue Scout is a much better choice thanks to its heavy dose of nostalgia. It won’t be called the International Harvester Scout since the rights to the first two words are owned by Case IH, an agricultural company founded in 1985 when Tenneco bought the agricultural division of the ill-fated International Harvester.

Source: Motor Trend

The post Volkswagen hints at electric Scout model for rugged SUV appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

Sales boss Klaus Zellmer told German newspaper Muenchner Merkur that VW will stop selling cars with combustion engines in Europe at some point between 2033 and 2035. He went on to explain ICE vehicles will still be sold after the middle of the next decade in Africa and South Africa since the EV infrastructure won’t be ready by then.

As far as China and the United States are concerned, Zellmer said the switch to electric cars will happen “somewhat later” after VW will kill off gasoline and diesel engines on the Old Continent. It’s part of the VW Group’s plan to have a carbon-neutral lineup by 2050, with Bentley making the switch to EVs as early as 2030.

Earlier this week, Skoda’s CEO Thomas Schäfer was asked by the media during the “Next Level – Skoda Strategy 2030” presentation when the Czech brand aims to end ICE sales, but the head honcho said a cutoff date has not been established. Meanwhile, three new EVs will be launched by the Czech manufacturer before 2030, all of which will be smaller and cheaper than the Enyaq iV.

Porsche is also ramping up its EV onslaught by working on an all-electric Macan to join the Taycan and Taycan Cross Turismo, while the 718 Boxster and Cayman sports cars are expected to switch to EV power in the coming years. Even the 911 will be electrified by gaining a hybrid powertrain, but an all-electric model won’t happen this decade.

As for SEAT, the VW Group’s Spanish division has been tasked to develop an entry-level EV coming in 2025 and expected to spawn Skoda and VW equivalents. Even the mighty Bugatti brand will embrace electrification sooner or later, with rumors suggesting Rimac will be involved in Molsheim’s future.

Source: Muenchner Merkur via Automotive News Europe

The post Volkswagen will become a purely electric brand in Europe by 2033-2035 appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

Speaking with Automotive News, Volkswagen of America’s executive vice president for sales and marketing Duncan Movassaghi explained why it doesn’t make sense to pursue a gasoline-fueled small truck. Because the company’s top priority is to invest in electrification and maintain the current combustion-engined vehicles competitive, the timing just isn’t right.

He went on to refer to the ICE-powered compact truck segment as being a niche, therefore it wouldn’t be able to build a solid business case for a Maverick competitor. That being said, it could happen in the long run as Duncan Movassaghi expressed his interest in developing a small pickup, one that would do away with the combustion engine altogether: “As we transform our lineup to BEV, an electric pickup could for sure be an option.”

As a refresher, Ford’s new entry-level truck in the United States comes as standard with a hybrid powertrain that aims to deliver 40 miles per gallon in the city and cover 500 miles before refueling. VW believes it’s too late now to be investing in a small truck with an internal combustion engine, electrified or not.

If a purely electric VW truck is indeed on the agenda, it’s not going to happen anytime soon. That’s because the Wolfsburg-based automaker has bigger fish to fry, such as rolling out the ID.5 coupe-SUV towards the end of the year and finally bringing the ID Buzz to the market in 2022. In addition, an entry-level electric car – potentially called ID.1 – has been moved forward by a year and will be coming out in 2025. Also planned for the coming years are an electric wagon along with the Trinity sedan serving as VW’s technological flagship.

Source: Automotive News

The post Volkswagen hints at compact electric truck, but it will take a while appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

JATO Dynamics points out the ID.4 is the very first SUV to top the EV sales chart in Europe, which has been previously dominated by hatchbacks. With VW finally offering a zero-emissions product in the increasingly popular sports utility vehicle segment, it’s no wonder the ID.4 is the new sales leader. Corroborated with ID.3 deliveries, VW grabbed a whopping 34 percent of all EV sales on the Old Continent in April.

Sales of electric vehicles are on a rise, fueled by the introduction of new models such as the Peugeot e-208, which took fourth place last month in 3,533 units. It was followed closely by the Hyundai Kona Electric with 3,383 sales and the new Fiat 500 with 3,240 vehicles. The top 10 was completed by the Kia Niro (3,150), VW e-up! (2,925), Smart EQ ForTwo (2,610), and the Nissan Leaf (2,394).

Automotive News Europe is quoting JATO senior analyst Felipe Munoz saying the addition of electric SUVs will further boost demand for EVs, especially since more affordable models are being introduced. He goes on to say traditional vehicles equipped with combustion engines will continue to lose their appeal, a trend that will be accelerated by higher taxes on gasoline and diesel powertrains.

Munoz estimates sales of plug-in hybrids and EVs could represent a quarter of all car sales in Europe by the end of 2021. That said, ICE-powered cars are still very much important for automakers as sales of gasoline- and diesel-fueled vehicles fund the major investments being made to develop new electric cars.

Source: Automotive News Europe

The post Volkswagen ID.4 is the first SUV to become Europe’s best-selling EV appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.

VW Commercial Vehicles doesn’t go too deep into details about the plug-in hybrid arrangement but we do know it will be linked to a dual-clutch automatic transmission as all T7 versions will come exclusively with the DSG. Another important detail revealed today is the Multivan’s front-wheel-drive configuration, which means the PHEV version lacks a rear-mounted electric motor.

The e-motor will work closely together with a turbocharged gasoline engine (TSI) for a plug-in hybrid setup likely adapted from the VW Golf eHybrid or the more powerful GTE. Expect the combustion engine to be a 1.4-liter unit since other VW Group products offered with a PHEV configuration have this four-cylinder engine. Relevant examples include the SEAT Leon e-Hybrid, Skoda Octavia iV, and the Audi A3 E-Tron.

VW Commercial Vehicles explains the lithium-ion battery pack sits within the van’s underbody to save up space inside the cabin and also to lower the center of gravity to improve handling. The charging port is located in the front fender on the right-hand side and owners will get a charging card to “fill up” the Multivan T7 at public charging points. In addition, wall boxes with fast-charging support are going to be available.

Based on the MQB platform, the T7 goes official sometime in June and will go on sale in Europe in the second half of 2021. Thankfully, the Multivan eHybrid will be available right away alongside conventional gasoline and most likely diesel powertrains. VW Commercial Vehicles will still offer the old T6.1-based Transporter as the workhorse is sticking around for a couple of years.

Source: Volkswagen Commercial Services

The post 2022 Volkswagen Multivan eHybrid teased with PHEV powertrain appeared first on EVGLOBE - News on Electric Vehicles and Hybrids.