Volkswagen ‘actively looking at’ electric ute

Volkswagen Group of The united states CEO Scott Keogh has unveiled the company is “actively looking” at establishing an all-electric ute to rival existing and impending offerings from brands which includes Tesla, Rivian and Ford.

Volkswagen at this time doesn’t present a ute (or choose-up) in the North American market place – however it has teased just one just before with the Atlas Tanoak idea (below) – and Mr Keogh called the emerging battery-run ute section a “chance of a lifetime” for the model. 

“I consider it can be the opportunity of a life span in this phase simply because electrification provides you a reset moment,” he informed Business enterprise Insider.

“It gives you a opportunity to bring some, let’s say, options and some new suggestions into this excellent phase.

“It really is one thing we are actively seeking at, but practically nothing to truly report now.”

Mr Keogh determined a likely VW electric select-up as an option to entice consumers absent from US volume sellers like Ford, Ram and Chevrolet, and to contend alongside challenger brands this sort of as Rivian.

“I feel a purchaser would historically say, ‘I get F-150, I buy Ram, I invest in Silverado.’ Now they could possibly be declaring, ‘I’m likely to obtain an electric one particular,'” he claimed. 

“That reset moment offers a aggressive possibility to come in, whether or not it truly is Rivian or whether it’s us.”

K
eogh’s opinions observe individuals from Volkswagen Group Usa main working officer Johan de Nysschen final 12 months, who informed Motor Development: “we will, in the fullness of time, swap 100 for each cent from [petrol] entries to EVs … this signifies that successors to common models these kinds of as Atlas and our Amarok truck, will eventually be electrified.”

North American prospective buyers will soon have additional option when browsing for electrified utes – the Rivian R1T is now on sale, though prospective buyers can at present reserve the GMC Hummer EV select-up, and the first client illustrations of the Ford F-150 Lightning are established to be constructed in months.

Tesla’s controversial Cybertruck, in the meantime, has been plagued by delays, with manufacturing established to start someday in 2023. 

Outside the house the US, Volkswagen delivers an interior combustion-engined ute – the Amarok – in Australia, Europe, the United Kingdom and South Africa. 

An all-new 2023 Amarok is planned and will be a twin below the skin to Ford’s leading-offering Ranger – owing for reveal in the coming months, and in Australian showrooms early following year. The design has been previewed with official sketches and spy images.