Volkswagen Raises Target for EVs in U.S. Product Mix

Volkswagen is accelerating its electric vehicle plans, with CEO Ralf Brandstätter pledging more than 50% of the German brand’s sales in the U.S. will be fully electric by 2030.

Previously, Volkswagen had announced EVs would comprise 35% of its U.S. sales by the end of this decade.

The German automaker also suggests up to 70% of its cars sold in Europe and 50% of models sold in China will be fully electric by 2030.

Speaking at a media presentation of VW’s new Accelerate strategy, Brandstätter, who was promoted to CEO in September, says it is “time to ramp up” previous EV sales targets to make Volkswagen “the most attractive brand for sustainable mobility.”

He says VW wants to launch at least one electric vehicle under its new ID. sub-brand per year to meet its revised sales targets.

In 2021, it plans the introduction of three ID.-badged SUV models: the all-wheel-drive ID.4 GTX (pictured below), the ID.5 and the Chinese-market ID.6. They will be followed in 2022 by production versions of the ID. Buzz MPV and ID. Vizzion luxury wagon concepts.

Brandstätter also confirms an entry-level ID. model, likely to be sold under the name ID.1, is planned to be launched in 2025 – some two years later than originally planned.

Heading the ID. lineup will be a new ID. flagship model presently at an early stage of conception at Volkswagen’s headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany, under the working title “Project Trinity.” Due out in 2026, it likely will be based on the PPE electric vehicle architecture being developed by sister Volkswagen Group companies Audi and Porsche.

The new Accelerate strategy supersedes the Transform 2025+ strategy unveiled by Brandstätter’s predecessor, Herbert Diess, in 2016. The 52-year-old German says it is based on three key points: brand value, scalable platforms and valuable enterprise.

Alongside greater investment in EVs, Volkswagen says it will continue to invest heavily in the development of software and digital technology – including autonomous driving systems in partnership with Ford, saying it hopes to make fully autonomous driving available to customers by 2030.

“The automotive industry is changing fast,” Brandstätter says. “We will fundamentally change Volkswagen in the coming years. We intend to define our market leadership in a clear position: Volkswagen will be the most attractive brand for sustainable mobility.”

Despite the heavy focus on electrification, though, Volkswagen contends combustion-engine models will continue to play a key role in its global sales with Brandstätter confirming key models such as the Golf and Tiguan have been committed to long-term production with successor models already in the pipeline.

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