Volkswagen plans electric version of iconic vehicle and new SUVs

As automakers ramp up development and production to meet their goals to reach 100% all-electric inventories by 2030, 2035 and 2040, companies are regularly unveiling new models to position themselves to compete against the industry's leader, Tesla.

Almost every auto manufacturer you can name – including Ford, General Motors  (GM) - Get Free Report, Stellantis, Nissan and Volkswagen –has big plans to accelerate their electrification programs to transition their products over the next decade. Those that don't conform quickly to making electric vehicles might be left behind and have a long road to catch up to the industry.

Related: Tesla rival Polestar reveals lineup of its new electric vehicles

Tesla is in the best position as it already has the world's best-selling electric vehicle with its Model Y, leads the industry in annual EV sales and it is ready to deliver its much-anticipated Cybertruck pickup truck any day now.

Automakers producing electric vehicles

Ford  (F) - Get Free Report was the No. 2 seller of EVs in the U.S. in 2022 with three models, F-150, Mustang Mach-E and E-Transit electric van, but was overtaken by GM in the first quarter of 2023. Ford, however, is getting ready to begin production of its new all-electric Explorer SUV in Europe in summer 2024.

GM's big news this summer was rolling the 2024 Chevy Blazer EV off the assembly line on June 26 at its GM Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico. The automaker also in April said it would discontinue its most affordable EV, the Chevy Bolt, at the end of 2023. GM's CEO Mary Barra, however, in June said the company would bring back its popular Chevy Bolt EV under its third generation battery technology, but didn't say when that would happen.

Nissan's  (NSANY) - Get Free Report said its most affordable EV the Leaf will be phased out over the next few years with a replacement revealed in 2026.

As GM and Nissan phase out affordable EVs, Stellantis  (STLA) - Get Free Report has said it will roll out a new entry-level Fiat-branded electric vehicle in July 2024 that will be priced at about $27,390, 

Volkswagen  (VWAGY) - Get Free Report on Sept. 29 unveiled its plans for its transition to electrify its inventory through 2028, which includes producing several new models at its Wolfsburg, Germany manufacturing plant.

VW electrifies Golf, adds SUVs

In addition to ramping up the ID.3 sedan production in Wolfsburg this year, VW plans to produce the successor to the Tiguan Allspace SUV in 2025 that is a near-production concept vehicle and manufacture a new electric version of the automaker's iconic best-selling Golf based on the scalable systems platform.

Volkswagen will also begin manufacturing large numbers of a new all-electric SUV for its high-volume A segment in 2026. 

“Our industry faces complex challenges as it undergoes a transformation that is being conducted under difficult business conditions," Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer said in a statement. "It is all the more important that we prepare our individual plants and the Volkswagen production network in Germany for the future. Within the context of our performance program, this newly approved vehicle allocation plan will make a substantial contribution to a strong, competitive VW brand.”

Volkswagen's Project Trinity sedan, which was originally planned for production at the Wolfsburg plant in 2026, will be built in its Zwikau, Germany, plant in 2028. The Osnabrück, Germany, plant will continue to produce Porsche vehicles and will built internal combustion vehicles Arteon and T-Roc convertible.

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