A Sneak Peek Into Volkswagen's Electric Future Of Pickup Trucks
by AutoExpert | 27 February, 2024
Volkswagen has announced that it will soon enter the US pickup truck market with an all-electric vehicle. The German automaker will build the model on a new EV platform and give it a unique drivetrain, electronic architecture, chassis, and body, VW said in a statement on its website.
The carmaker is reportedly working on two new EV models at its design center in California, under the direction of design chief Andreas Mindt.
VW hasn't said what sizes the pickup will come in yet, but the cabin and bed should be bigger than those of rivals like the Rivian R1T. It will have two motors that work together to give it steady four-wheel drive, tank turn, and torque vectoring. It should do well off-road because it has a ladder-frame body.
VW will make both the electric truck and the Scout EVs at the same plant in South Carolina. VW is supporting PowerCo's plan to build a plant in Canada, which could be a source for battery packs.
In the US, VW is known for making hatchbacks like the Volkswagen Golf. However, the company has a history of making trucks like the Amarok. The second-generation Amarok was made with help from Ford. It shares parts with the Ranger and came out in 2022.
One more thing. CarBuzz recently found a trademark for a possible new pickup truck called Udara. This could mean that VW will be joining the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz in the small truck market. Four of the ten best-selling cars in the US are trucks, with the Ford F-Series being the most popular.
Therefore, VW's move into the pickup market looks very promising.