These cars will be the brand’s main combustion-powered vehicles.
Volkswagen today announced that it will transform itself into a software-driven mobility provider. This is a significant shift for the company and the industry as it strives to create an electrified, digitalized future. This transformation will take some time and VW will still rely on combustion engines in the future.
Its gas-powered decade will still rely on its core products: Golf and Passat. T–Roc and Tiguan. Ralf Brandstatter, VW CEO, stated that while the company may still need combustion engines for some time, they should also be as efficient as possible. The boss of VW stated that the next-generation version of these products, which will be made available worldwide, will include the most recent plug-in hybrid technology. This will enable up to 100 km (62 miles) all-electric range.
The Arteon is not mentioned in VW’s core lineup. This is not surprising. Late last year, a report stated that a second generation model is unlikely to happen because the company’s focus is on SUVs and crossovers. The Arteon was positioned by VW as a stylish and sleek sedan. However, sales have been poor. Although it received a facelift from VW, it still feels like a product that is in decline. Consumers are still not a fan of sedans.
Even though VW invests EUR16 million in “e-mobility hybridization and digitalization”, its digital transformation will not happen overnight. This means that we will see more new products in 2019, such as the all-wheel drive ID.4 GTX, then the ID.5 in 2021. China will also see the arrival of the ID.6X/Crozz this fall. A new model will be slotted below the ID.3, whose arrival was delayed by two years to 2025. VW has a very busy decade ahead of it.