Volkswagen to further accelerate e-offensive, targets BEV share of 80% in Europe by 2030

Volkswagen is pressing the accelerator pedal on the electric vehicle front and is betting big on electrification as its future growth driver.

In 2022, the German carmaker saw global sales of its all-electric vehicles rise smartly by 23.6% year on year to around 330,000 units. Now it is further accelerating the transition to e-mobility – by 2030, up to eight out of 10 cars – or 80% – sold in Europe are to be battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

The BEV share is to grow likewise in North America, with a target of 55% by 2030. In addition, Volkswagen will launch 10 new BEV models by 2026. Four new electric models are coming soon – the second-generation ID.3 and the sporty ID.3 GTX, the long-wheelbase ID. Buzz and the flagship ID.7.

On March 15, the company revealed the all-new ID 2all concept that previews a future urban electric compact car and showcases the brand's new design language. The first VW model to be built on the MEB Entry platform, it will be one of 10 EVs that Volkswagen will launch by 2026. Not only does it embraces VW heritage but it also showcases the carmaker’s future design language.

L-R: Andreas Mindt, Head of Design, Volkswagen Brand and Kai Grünitz, Member of the Board Volkswagen Brand, Technical Development, at the world premiere of the ID 2all on March 15.

The ID. 2all compact EV is billed as “the first electric VW for everyone”. The starting price is to be under 25,000 euros (Rs 22 lakh). When this mass-market EV goes into production, the Volkswagen brand will offer the broadest e-portfolio compared with the competition, from the entry-level BEV to the ID.7 electric sedan.

The Volkswagen Group is aiming to further accelerate its electrification efforts with a commitment to invest 180 billion euros (Rs 1,581,840 crore) in the next five years, with the majority spent on electrification and software development.

The car giant – whose brands include Audi, Cupra, Porsche, Seat, Skoda and Volkswagen – sold 8.3 million vehicles in 2022, with 7% of those battery-electric. But 16% of its current order book of 1.8 million vehicles are EVs, and it anticipates that such models will account for a fifth of its global sales by 2025.

Creating greater capacity for e-cars

Meanwhile, the transformation in production at Volkswagen is progressing apace. To be fully converted to EVs this year, the Emden plant in Germany will produce the ID.7 in addition to the ID.4. Starting this year, the new-generation ID.3 will also roll off the assembly line at Wolfsburg. The company is investing around 460 million euros in the transformation of its main plant by early 2025. Its Zwickau and Dresden plants have meanwhile been fully converted, and production of the ID.4 already started last year in Chattanooga, USA.

Demand remains strong both for e-cars and for internal combustion models. Across all powertrains, the order backlog for Europe alone currently exceeds 660,000 vehicles, including almost 100,000 all-electric ID.s. The priority is now on quickly producing the vehicles ordered and delivering them to customers.

ALSO READ: Volkswagen Group to set up battery cell plant in Canada

Volkswagen to train 22,000 production employees for e-mobility by 2025

Volkswagen Group to optimise EV costs with in-house component development