One of the world’s most popular car brands has delayed the release of a major electric model by nearly a decade amid concerns that could hamper development.
According to Handelsblatt, Volkswagen is postponing the start of the Trinity project to 2032. The original start date was 2026, i.e. 2028.
VW had planned to launch a new SUV model ID.4 based on its next-generation Trinity platform. However, Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume has postponed the plans due to “software problems”.
It has been reported that the electric vehicle will now be launched in 2032, with the release of another version of the ID.4 expected.
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The electric SUV Volkswagen ID.4 (2023)
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Volkswagen already has several electric vehicles on the UK market, including the ID.3 hatchback, ID.4, ID.4 GTX, ID.5 SUV, ID.5 GTX, ID.7 sedan, ID.7 Tourer and the hugely popular ID.Buzz campervan.
There are currently a handful of ID.4 models available on the market. These include the standard ID.4 with 360 km range (€47,999), the ID.4 Pro for €47,999 (562 km range), the Pro Performance 4MOTION (€49,999 and 532 km range) and the GTX 4MOTION (€57,999 and 535 km range).
Earlier this year, Volkswagen announced that it would develop an “entry-level all-electric car” that would cost just €20,000 or £17,176 and is expected to hit the market in 2027.
Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, said: “The future is electric. In order for electric mobility to become widespread, attractive vehicles are needed, especially in the entry-level segment.”
“Our brand promise is: electromobility for everyone. This promise is now being fulfilled in the Kern brand group.”
Due to uncertainty surrounding the sale of new combustion engine vehicles and the timing of their ban, some manufacturers may need to accelerate their electric vehicle plans in the near future.
The new Labour government has promised to reinstate the original 2030 deadline for banning the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles after former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak delayed plans for carbon neutrality.
A government spokesman told GB News that any changes to the law relating to the car ban would be announced “in due course”.
They added that the company is committed to supporting the transition to electric vehicles through legislative changes and the installation of more electric vehicle charging stations across the country.
The spokesman continued: “We will provide certainty to manufacturers by restoring the 2030 phase-out date for new petrol and diesel cars.”
This goes hand in hand with the zero-emission vehicle mandate to encourage the manufacture and sale of new electric cars and make it easier for drivers to switch to more environmentally friendly vehicles.
By the end of the year, major manufacturers across the UK must ensure that 22 percent of their total sales come from zero-emission cars and 10 percent from more environmentally friendly vans.
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The Volkswagen ID.2all concept car is expected to cost less than £21,500
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This figure will continue to rise in the coming years, reaching 80 percent of all new cars by the end of the decade and 100 percent by 2035. However, it is unclear whether this regulation will last until 2035 or 2030.
