The landscape is changing with the arrival of new players.
Volkswagen has made a lot of progress since its original plan to redesign its lineup with fully electric and hybrid vehicles. The company plans to add 75 pure-electric models by 2029. Many of these vehicles will be riding on the Group’s MEB platform. There are many new players and potential rivals that have changed the landscape. Thomas Ulbrich is the VW board member responsible for electric mobility. He discusses what’s next in VW’s EV efforts in an interview with .
Ulbrich mentions Rivian in the interview. He says that VW has been interested in Rivian’s efforts to create an all-electric pickup. He told the publication that he believes it is possible because of his research and step-by-step investigation. An electric VW pickup is the most likely option. Amarok Ulbrich also mentions this. However, the future of The Amarok is not yet known .Ford is responsible They signed a partnership agreement in 2019 that included Ford providing VW with a second-generation Amarok truck. However, there are no rumors about an all-electric next generation Ranger. A plug-in hybrid is also possible. This would fit in with the Group’s plan to offer 60 hybrids along with its EVs, if the two powertrains are shared.
The platform will also include cars that slot below the ID.3 which is currently the smallest MEB-based vehicle. Ulbrich stated to Autoblog that the company plans to launch the first small car with a MEB-based engine in 2023 or 2024. This confirms a rumor that Ulbrich told em>Autoblog last month that the company would launch a subtype ID.3 model, the ID.1, in 2025. The concept is expected to arrive in 2023.
It will reportedly produce several variations and replace the VW e.Up! The ID.3-like vehicle will likely be the successor, although Ulbrich stated to Autoblog it would use the same MEB platform. VW has a lot of flexibility with the platform, which allows it to cater to large D-segment vehicles such as the ID Vizzion or the stretched sedan that will soon be entering the Chinese market. However, flexibility is not a panacea for engineers and designers.