VW accelerates move away from internal combustion engines
March 23, 2021
Germany’s Volkswagen has announced that it is accelerating its move away from the internal combustion engine, expecting fully-electric vehicles to make up more than 70% of its European sales by 2030, a marked difference to the previously-anticipated target of 35%. By the same year, VW is hoping for electric to make up over half of its sales in the United States and China.
The brand is reportedly still continuing the development of engines currently in use and preparing them to meet new emissions standards, but will use money earned from vehicles with combustion engines to further its electrification efforts.
Audi announced a similar strategy earlier in the month, with plans to adapt its existing combustion engines to emissions guidelines but cease development of new combustion engines. As for when the last one will be produced, Audi’s CEO Markus Duesmann stated, “Our customers will probably decide when the last combustion engine comes off the production line.”
The Volkswagen Group, of which VW and Audi are key members, previously planned to introduce its final combustion engine platform in 2026, ending its lifecycle by 2040.
