Volkswagen is considering adding at least one plug-in hybrid to its U.S. lineup in the short term, according to the new head of the brand’s North American arm, Pablo Di Si. The move would be a “perfect transition” as Volkswagen pivots away from internal combustion engines and towards an all-electric lineup. Although Volkswagen Group has committed to moving completely to electric vehicles by the mid-2030s, Di Si argues that a hybrid model makes sense while the U.S. continues to build out charging infrastructure. Volkswagen already has the Audi Q5 e plug-in hybrid, which has a 17.9-kilowatt-hour battery and can travel up to 23 miles on a single charge. Di Si says the Q5 e “works well” and has received interest from customers. However, it is unclear which Volkswagen vehicle is most likely to receive a plug-in hybrid variant. The Tiguan or the Atlas would best fit the bill, with the Tiguan edging ahead in speculation due to its product cycle, which has it due for a redesign in 2025.
Di Si stresses that Volkswagen has the technology, systems, engineering, and staff to develop a plug-in hybrid. He believes that VW’s current sales, which are more than 90% crossovers, make it a good fit for a plug-in hybrid variant. Until Electrify America doubles up its U.S. charging network in 2025, Di Si sees a plug-in hybrid as a “perfect transition” towards an all-electric lineup.
The Volkswagen Group has been making strides towards electric mobility, with plans to launch 70 electric models across its brands by 2030. The company has invested heavily in battery technology and has set up an extensive charging infrastructure in Europe. Volkswagen has also announced plans to build six battery cell factories in Europe by 2030.
In conclusion, Volkswagen is considering adding at least one plug-in hybrid to its U.S. lineup in the short term as a “perfect transition” towards an all-electric lineup. The company already has the Audi Q5 e plug-in hybrid, which has received interest from customers. Although it is unclear which Volkswagen vehicle is most likely to receive a plug-in hybrid variant, the Tiguan or the Atlas would best fit the bill, with the Tiguan edging ahead in speculation due to its product cycle. Volkswagen has been making strides towards electric mobility, with plans to launch 70 electric models across its brands by 2030 and invest heavily in battery technology and charging infrastructure.
