VW to go fully electric in Europe from 2033

The core brand Volkswagen Passenger Cars wants to build only pure electric cars in Europe from 2033 at the latest. Brand CEO Thomas Schäfer is thus bringing forward the previous goal of exiting the internal combustion vehicle business in Europe between 2033 and 2035. What’s more, a compact SUV based on the ID.3 could arrive by 2026.

The previous timeframe of 2033 to 2035 had been announced by Klaus Zellmer, the then Brand Sales Director, in June 2021. Thomas Schäfer was still CEO of Skoda at the time – Zellmer now holds the chief post in Mlada Boleslav because Schäfer was brought to Wolfsburg as brand boss.

However, the new combustion engine end date of 2033 still only applies in Europe. In other sales regions, such as China or North America, VW does not intend to switch completely to electric drives until a later date.

Schäfer also announced a reorganization of production. While the focus has so far been on individual models, the factories will henceforth be organized more according to cross-brand vehicle platforms. One example: At the MEB plant in Zwickau, VW builds two compact models (VW ID.3 and Cupra Born), but also four mid-size SUVs (VW ID.4/ID.5 as well as the Audi Q4 e-tron and its Sportback offshoot). With the new grouping of models per plant, Schäfer wants to make production easier and save costs. In addition, the brand boss announced a new attempt to curb the (also cost-driving) variety of models.

According to Schäfer, VW is planning ten new electric models by 2026. Schäfer added that Volkswagen is “shedding old habits” in terms of its product line-up, and will be focusing on core models in the future, “noticeably simplifying our model range and packages over the next ten years”. Still, VW plans to offer a portfolio ranging from “the entry-level e-car with a target price of under €25,000 to the Volkswagen ID Buzz and the new flagship Volkswagen ID Aero, we will have the right offer in every segment” in order to have a suitable offering in every segment.

ID.3 X compact SUV to arrive before 2026

Schäfer also announced a specific model in this context: Below the ID.4, there will also be a compact SUV based on the ID.3 in the future. However, the VW brand boss did not provide any further details, nor did he mention a possible year for a market launch. The only thing that is clear is that it will be before 2026.

However, the British portal Autocar claims to have obtained some further information on the upcoming models. The new compact SUV will be technically based on the ID.3, but it will look completely different from the first MEB model. Autocar refers to statements made by Schäfer. The brand boss also emphasized that the MEB is always being developed further – there has been “significant progress” in terms of range, performance and “helpful functions”.

There are to be two versions of the planned entry-level electric vehicle, a classic small car and a sporty crossover variant – i.e. similar to the Polo and T-Cross combustion engine models. For the production version of the ID. Life concept, the model designation ID.2 was recently under discussion.

In another article, Autocar writes that VW is apparently also discussing an adjustment of the nomenclature for the MEB models internally. In order to create a distinction between flatter models and the electric SUV, the SUVs could receive the name suffix ‘X’. The compact SUV would thus be an ID.3 X.

Again, the source is Thomas Schäfer. “It’s one option and not an unlikely option that the SUV part is an X but it’s not 100%,” said the brand CEO. “It has to be consistent across the range, and because our range is still quite big and overlapping here and there, we need to sort it out. But it looks as if it would make sense with the numbering and X.” But, he said, there are also thoughts about using familiar names like Golf or Polo after the internal combustion models are phased out.

reuters.com, autocar.co.uk (models), autocar.co.uk (nomenclature)