Volkswagen Group expands electric car plans

The Volkswagen Group has expanded its electrification plans, and will launch almost 70 new full electric models in the next 10 years, up from the 50 previously planned.

The VW Group, whose brands include Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Seat, Skoda, Porsche and Volkswagen, had set the initial target of 50 EVs by 2030 as part of its 2017 ‘Roadmap E’ initiative. The group is gearing up to launch the first models on its new MEB bespoke dedicated electric architecture, starting with the Volkswagen ID hatch later this year.

Volkswagen boss Herbert Diess said expanding the number of electric models means the projected number of full electric vehicles the group will build by 2030 will increase from 15 million to 22 million, comprising around 40% of the group’s vehicle fleet. He added that the new goal was part of an effort to make the VW Group CO2-neutral “in all areas from fleet to production to administration” by 2050.

Car firms are facing increasingly tough CO2 targets, and Diess said the VW Group’s goal was in line with those set out in the Paris Agreement on climate change to make Europe CO2-neutral by 2050.

Diess said that Volkswagen would “change radically”, adding: “Volkswagen is taking on responsibility with regard to the key trends of the future – particularly in connection with climate protection.”

He added that in order to meet the cost of the VW Group’s electrification programme – it will invest £30.5 billion in the next five years – the group “must make further improvements in efficiency and performance in all areas”.

The group has secured agreements with LG Chem, SKI, CATL and Samsung for supplies of battery cells, but is also looking at establishing a battery cell manufacturing facility in Europe. It is also working with QuantumScape on solid-state battery technology.