Volkswagen CEO discusses electric Golf, Tiguan, and affordable ID 2all EV models
As it transitions to fully electric, zero-emission vehicles, Volkswagen looks to maintain its position in the auto industry. Part of this plan includes transforming iconic brand names like the Golf and Tiguan to electric while adding new EVs to the lineup, such as VW’s new affordable ID 2all concept.
The Volkswagen Group delivered over 570,000 electric vehicles in 2022, retaining its status as BEV market leader in Europe and expanding its position in China, the biggest EV market globally, by 68%.
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for a record 7% share of total deliveries last year, with the VW ID.4 and ID.5 models selling over 193,000 models.
The German automaker says it remains well-positioned for future growth with several new EV releases on deck, a vertically aligned supply chain, strategic market approaches, and updated software and tech.
In March, the Volkswagen Group released plans to invest €180 billion (around $193 billion) over the next five years to maintain its position in the industry as it evolves to zero-emission electric vehicles.
Of the investment, 68% will be allocated toward electrification and the digitalization of its lineup, including electric Golf and Tiguan models.
VW plans to add electric Golf and Tiguan models to lineup
CEO of VW Passenger Cars, Thomas Shafer, spoke to Automobilwoche, saying the latest gas-powered Golf model will be the company’s last as the automaker looks toward an electric future.
Shafer says under newly appointed chief designer Andreas Mindt’s lead, VW is returning to its roots, saying, “put in a nutshell: stability, sympathy, and enthusiasm.”
The first visible proof of this is the recently released ID 2all concept starting under $27,000 (€25,000) with up to 279 miles range (450km) and several new features from the brand. Shafer says the ID 2all model is a critical piece showing where the company wants to go overall, as he explained:
Close to the customer, top technology, great design and extremely high quality standards. And at a crisp price of less than 25,000 euros. This is how we make e-mobility suitable for the masses.
The automaker has previously mentioned it will not let its iconic brand names like the Golf die out in the electric era.
Volkswagen has also stated plans to convert its best-selling Tiguan SUV to electric, tipped to be called the ID. Tiguan. Shafer told Automobilwoche:
It is clear that we will not give up iconic names like the Golf, Tiguan and GTI, but rather transfer them to the electric world.
However, he added, especially with the Golf EV, “It has to fit the genes.” Volkswagen doesn’t want to simply label any vehicle with the brands. It has to represent the name. For example, Shafer says:
That’s why we’re only bringing the electric Golf when it really has Golf genes in it – such as a flatter roof compared to the ID.3.
Shafer said VW won’t build the electric Golf until the company’s new Scalable Systems Platform (SSP) platform is built, which is due out in 2026.
As for the electric Tiguan, Shafer says it doesn’t have to wait until the SSP is ready, adding:
With a tall model like the Tiguan, that’s possible. We can do that very well with the MEB+ platform. We are much more flexible there. We’ll have to see whether it makes sense to do this now or later.
When asked about a 20,000 euro EV, Volkswagen’s leader said as of right now, such an electric car cannot yet be priced at current battery and raw materials costs. Meanwhile, he says VW is working to find a solution.
Volkswagen recently referred to using its economies of scale alongside vertical supply chain integration to bring down costs in the future.
“One thing is clear,” according to Shafer, “from 2023, the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand will only be selling battery-electric vehicles in Europe.”
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Slate Auto, a new EV startup backed by Jeff Bezos, has poached a key Tesla manufacturing leader to build its electric pickup truck factory in Indiana.
Napoleon Reyes is a US Marine from Indiana who got a degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue after leaving the force.
He then worked a few years at Subaru and Wabash before joining Tesla’s manufacturing team at the Fremont Factory in 2020.
There, he became part of the Model Y production ramp and was quickly promoted to lead the Model Y General Assembly in Fremont in 2022.
Reyes led Model Y GA, one of the most critical parts of vehicle manufacturing, for more than a year before being promoted again to lead new pilot processes at the factory.
Most recently, he led the launch of the general assembly line for the Model Y refresh.
The new engineering manager announced this week that he is leaving Tesla to join Slate:
A bit late on the post but after nearly 5 years working at Tesla in Fremont, I made the difficult decision to leave the Company and move closer to home with my family. It was an incredible experience being part of multiple line expansions and multiple Model Y program launches. Leading and managing the Model Y Refresh launch for GA in Fremont this year tested me professionally however we ultimately succeeded due to our amazing cross functional team collaboration. It’s been an absolute pleasure working with such great people, and I will forever be proud and thankful for everything we accomplished together.
I will be taking on a new role as Senior Manager, Plant Vehicle Engineering at Slate Auto in Warsaw, In.
Slate emerged from stealth mode earlier this year to unveil a new type of electric pickup truck featuring modular customization and an affordable price.
The company raised over $700 million through two rounds of investments from several different investors, including Jeff Bezos. It is currently raising more, which basically guarantees that it will be able to reach production.
The startup acquired a former printing plant in Warsaw, Indiana. It is currently converting to manufacture its electric pickup with a team from legacy automakers and also several former engineers and leaders from Tesla.
Rich Schmidt, an early Tesla manufacturing director, is the head of manufacturing.
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Genesis is preparing to shake things up with its most luxurious SUV yet, the GV90. Thanks to a new patent filing, we are getting a detailed look at how its Rolls-Royce-style coach doors will work.
New patent reveals Genesis GV90 coach door system
When Genesis first unveiled the full-size SUV at the NY Auto Show last March, it wasn’t the stunning design or advanced tech that caught everyone’s attention. It was the coach doors.
Although we were worried it wouldn’t make it to the production model, like many concepts, the Genesis GV90 will be offered with coach doors.
The ultra-luxe electric SUV was first caught with coach doors earlier this year on a car carrier in South Korea. Just last month, the GV90 was spotted in California with a hinge at the rear to open the coach doors.
After several new patents were filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for new door latching devices, we are getting a sneak peek at how they are expected to work.
The patents, titled “Cinching Device For Door Latches in Vehicle,” and “Door Latch Device for Vehicles,” give a pretty detailed explanation of how the Genesis GV90’s coach doors will operate. The “Door Latch Device” uses a door striker on the lower side of the door, which is opened or closed by a hinge unit.
Unlike traditional doors, which use the B-pillar for support, the device is attached directly to the door itself, allowing for hinge-like movement.
The cinching device works in a similar way. It’s also attached to the door and part of the vehicle. However, unlike most of its kind, Genesis found a way to use a single cinching device to control multiple units. Again, the device is used for B-pillarless doors that swing open.
Genesis already said that B-pillarless coach doors are now feasible in production vehicles. The patent reveals a glimpse into how the luxury automaker could make it a reality.
Although the Genesis GV90 is expected to be offered with coach doors, they will likely not be standard. Other variants, with traditional door handles, have also been spotted testing in the US and South Korea.
Genesis is expected to launch the GV90 in mid-2026. It will be built at Hyundai’s Ulsan plant in South Korea. The flagship Genesis SUV is scheduled to debut on Hyundai’s new eM platform, which the company said will “provide 50% improvement in driving range.” It will also be loaded with the latest technology, software, connectivity, and Level 3 or higher autonomous driving capabilities.
Source: USPTO
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Environment
Podcast: Tesla Model YL, more Tesla probes and lawsuits, new Nissan Leaf pricing, and more
In the Electrek Podcast, we discuss the most popular news in the world of sustainable transport and energy. In this week’s episode, we discuss the launch of the Tesla Model YL, more Tesla probes and lawsuits, new Nissan Leaf pricing, and more.
The show is live every Friday at 4 p.m. ET on Electrek’s YouTube channel.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
After the show ends at around 5 p.m. ET, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:
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Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET:
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