However, that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.
The Tarok Concept was revealed by Volkswagen in 2018 in Brazil, and again in New York in 2019. There were mixed reactions to it. Some people hoped for a compact pickup truck to hit the US market. Others weren’t so keen. The idea of a unibody truck at that time was unrivalled in the US.
Fast forward to today and the idea for a small lifestyle truck is already realized – not by VW but by Hyundai with their Santa Cruz, and then by Ford with its Maverick.
VW of America won’t join the fray, despite challenging the Blue Oval and South Korean automaker with an innovative concept.
In an interview with Automotive News, Duncan Movassaghi confirmed this fact.
Movassaghi stated that VW’s priorities are to maintain its existing ICE-powered vehicles and expand its electric vehicle range. Movassaghi stated that the brand shouldn’t invest in a specific segment at this point.
Movassaghi did not close its doors to the possibility of a small truck. He also stated that a VW-powered pickup could be an option for the compact truck segment.
An electric VW compact truck makes sense at a glance. The MEB platform is currently used by the automaker for its zero-emissions line in the US. A pickup made from the modular platform could prove to be a smart move by the automaker. Both the Maverick, Santa Cruz and the Maverick have internal combustion engines.
However, there is no way to know for sure. The German brand will likely confirm their willingness to make the leap with an electric vehicle in the future. For now, Santa Cruz and the Maverick can continue to battle it out in the budding segment.