Because of Rivian’s software program experience, the long-awaited electrical VW Golf might hit the market ahead of anticipated. Volkswagen is reportedly contemplating pulling ahead the Golf EV launch regardless of delaying its Tesla-rivaling Trinity EV once more.
Extra Volkswagen EV delays
As soon as thought-about Volkswagen’s savior, the Trinity EV was anticipated to assist shut the hole with Tesla. After scrapping plans to construct a brand new $2.2B manufacturing facility to supply the mannequin in 2022, VW’s flagship EV seems to be even additional away.
In line with a new report from Handelsblatt, VW plans to start manufacturing on the finish of 2032, six years after its authentic 2026 launch date.
VW’s Trinity was imagined to launch in 2026, however the timeline has been pushed again a number of instances. It was anticipated in 2028, then 2030, and now it seems like nearer towards the top of 2032, Handelsblatt discovered from firm insiders.
The Trinity EV was additionally anticipated to be the primary Volkswagen EV based mostly on its software-defined Scalable Methods Platform (SSP).
VW is delaying the launch because of slowing EV gross sales and CEO Oliver Blume’s new plan to chop prices. In the meantime, we might see the electrical Golf soar the Trinity to be the primary EV launched on the SSP platform.
VW electrical Golf could arrive sooner with Rivian’s assist
After saying a brand new partnership with Rivian, Volkswagen expects the brand new three way partnership to pay dividends.
VW plans to take a position as much as $5 billion, $3 billion of which can go to Rivian and $2 billion within the three way partnership.
The report claims Volkswagen’s MEB platform will likely be upgraded to the MEB+ in 2026. Because of Rivian’s assist, the PPE platform underpinning the brand new Porsche Macan EV may even get a software program improve throughout the subsequent 36 months.
In line with the sources, the Golf EV might lastly hit the market in 2029, and even sooner, as the primary mannequin based mostly on its SSP platform.
VW’s chief tech officer, Kai Grunitz, confirmed earlier this yr that “work on a completely electrical Golf” has began. Grunitz stated that the Golf is the “coronary heart of our model” and VW doesn’t plan to section out the identify.
“It has to appear to be a Golf. It needs to be inexpensive like a Golf. It needs to be [capable] like a Golf,” VW’s tech boss informed Prime Gear in January. Grunitz additionally confirmed there will likely be a GTI mannequin.
Thomas Shafer, CEO of VW Passenger Automobiles, additionally stated, “Now we have iconic model names, Golf and GTI. It will be loopy to allow them to die and slip away,” on the 2023 LA Auto Present. The electrical hatch is predicted to go by the ID.Golf, aligning with VW’s ID collection.
Electrek’s Take
With plans to tug ahead the Golf EV launch, what’s going to that imply for the ID.3? Volkswagen can be reportedly engaged on a Tiguan-size electrical SUV that would go by the ID.Tiguan.
The Volkswagen Golf was the second best-selling automotive in Germany final month, an electrical mannequin would make sense.
In the meantime, gross sales of the VW ID.4/ ID.5 fashions fell 44.6% in July, whereas solely 935 ID.3s have been bought, a drop of 47% YOY.
Within the US, ID.4 gross sales fell 15% within the second quarter in comparison with Q2 2023. In the meantime, the Tiguan was VW’s best-selling mannequin within the US in Q2, with over 21,000 models bought. Maybe Volkswagen wants a shakeup.
What are your ideas? Would you purchase an electrical VW Golf or Tiguan? Tell us within the feedback what options or worth vary you’d search for.
Supply: Handelsblatt, Automotive Information
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