Volkswagen’s CFO Arno Antlitz said Europe’s largest automaker has “all the ingredients” for success as the US auto industry shifts to electric. Despite this, VW is seeing reluctance for its EVs in Europe and potentially in the US as well.
Volkswagen gears up for North American EV transition
In an interview with Bloomberg Television Wednesday, Antilitz explained VW has what it takes to grow in the US as the buyers transition to EVs.
Last April, Volkswagen announced its first North American EV battery cell plant in St. Thomas, Ontario. The facility will host six production blocks with up to 90 GWh volume. According to VW, that’s enough for around 1 million EVs per year.
The massive 370-acre factory is about the size of 210 football fields. VW says the entire site will cover around 850 football fields.
VW’s factory plans to begin producing sustainable unified cells in 2027. The cells will power VW Group EVs, including its new Scout brand.
Volkswagen is reviving the Scout brand into a rugged all-electric automaker. The company will build vehicles at its $2 billion facility in South Carolina.
Scout electric SUV and pickup designs (Source: VW)
Once production begins in 2026, VW expects to produce over 200,000 Scout EVs. Scout’s CEO, Scott Keogh, confirmed the company is on track to unveil its electric truck and SUV later this year.
After hiring former Jeep and RAM designer Chris Benjamin in May, Keogh claimed his “thumbprints are all over many of the most beloved off-road vehicles.”
Scout’s compact four-wheel vehicle was the first real competition to the popular Jeep brand in the 70’s and 80’s. Before the Ford Bronco and Chevy Blazer hit the market, Scout’s vehicles shaped many of the vehicles we see in the US today.
(Source: Scout Motors)
Despite the success, the brand’s parent company faced financial troubles, leading to a business overhaul.
Volkswagen bought the rights to Scout in 2021 after its trucking unit (Traton Group) merged with Navistar. The company confirmed it would resurrect the brand into an off-road EV maker to compete in the US’s biggest segments.
Can VW compete as the US shifts to EVs?
After delivering over 394,000 electric cars last year, up 21% from 2022, VW looks to regain momentum to compete with leaders like Tesla.
Although this is a record for Volkswagen, 21% YOY growth is far behind most rivals. Tesla set a new record, delivering nearly 1.81 million EVs last year. Volvo sold over 113,000 EVs last year. That’s up 70% compared to 2022 (66,749) and 16% of its total sales.
2023 VW ID.4 (Source: Volkswagen)
Volkswagen’s EVs accounted for 8.3% of its total sales last year. That’s at the lower end of its 8% to 10% guidance (already down from 11%). Antlitz said EV orders fell to 150,000 in Europe in October, 50% less than the 300,000 in 2022.
The company’s financial leader confirmed VW is seeing some reluctance in Europe and potentially in the US, too.
(Source: VW)
VW cut shifts and laid off temporary workers last year in Europe as it struggled to keep up with EV leaders like Tesla and incoming Chinese rivals like BYD.
With larger vehicles, including an electric SUV and pickup, hitting the US market, VW hopes to regain momentum.
Electrek’s Take
VW cut EV prices earlier this week in Europe, hoping to compete with the surging Tesla. The company also fell behind Tesla in US market share for the first time last year.
Tesla secured 4.2% of the US auto market share last year compared to Volkswagen’s 4.1%. Despite this, VW’s ID.4 did climb four spots for the fifth best-selling EV in the US last year, behind the Mustang Mach-E, Chevy Bolt EV, Tesla, Model 3, and Tesla Model Y.
Will a rugged electric pickup and SUV help VW regain momentum as the US market shifts to EVs? That’s what the automaker is hoping for.
With plans to continue investing around a third of investment into ICE vehicles, it could set VW further behind.
While VW’s EV sales accounted for around 8% of total volume, many automakers are already achieving double-digit, or 100%, sales share.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
Climate XChange’s Annual EV Raffle is back for the 10th year running – and for the first time ever, Climate XChange has two raffle options on the table! The nonprofit has helped lucky winners custom-order their ideal EVs for the past decade. Now you have the chance to kick off your holiday season with a brand new EV for as little as $100.
About half of the raffle tickets have been sold so far for each of the raffles – you can see the live ticket count on Climate XChange’s homepage – so your odds of winning are better than ever.
But don’t wait – raffle ticket sales end on December 8!
Climate XChange is working hard to help states transition to a zero-emissions economy. Every ticket you buy supports this mission while giving you a chance to drive home your dream EV.
Advertisement – scroll for more content
Here’s how Climate XChange’s 10th Annual Raffle works:
Image: Climate XChange
The Luxury Raffle
Grand Prize: The winner can choose any EV on the market, fully customized up to $120,000. This year, you can split the prize between two EVs if the total is $120,000 or less.
Taxes covered: This raffle comes with no strings – Climate XChange also pays all of the taxes.
Runner-up prizes: Even if you don’t win the Grand Prize, you still have a chance at the 2nd prize of $12,500 and the 3rd prize of $7,500.
Ticket price: $250.
Grand Prize Drawing: December 12, 2025.
Only 5,000 tickets will be sold for the Luxury Raffle.
The Mini Raffle (New for 2025)
Grand Prize: Choose any EV on the market, fully customized, up to $45,000. This is the perfect raffle if you’re ready to make the switch to an EV but aren’t in the market for a luxury model.
Taxes covered: Climate XChange pays all the taxes on the Mini Raffle, too.
Ticket price: $100.
Only 3,500 tickets will be sold for the Mini Raffle.
Why it’s worth entering
For a decade, Climate XChange has run a raffle that’s fair, transparent, and exciting. Every ticket stub is printed, and the entire drawing is live-streamed, including the loading of the raffle drum. Independent auditors also oversee the process.
Plus, your odds on the Luxury and Mini Raffles are far better than most car raffles, and they’re even better if you enter both.
Remember that only 5,000 tickets will be sold for the Luxury Raffle and only 3,500 for the Mini Raffle, and around half of the available tickets have been sold so far, so don’t miss your shot at your dream EV!
Climate XChange personally works with the winners to help them build and order their dream EVs. The winner of the Ninth Annual EV Raffle built a gorgeous storm blue Rivian R1T.
How to enter
Go to CarbonRaffle.org/Electrekbefore December 8 to buy your ticket. Start dreaming up your perfect EV – and know that no matter what, you’re helping accelerate the shift to clean energy.
Who is Climate XChange?
Climate XChange (CXC) is a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies because they’re critical in accelerating the transition to a zero-emissions economy. CXC advances state climate policy through its State Climate Policy Network (SCPN) – a community of more than 15,000 advocates and policymakers – and its State Climate Policy Dashboard, a leading data platform for tracking climate action across the US.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.
The CSC Monterey – one of the most charming little electric scooters on the US market – has dropped to a shockingly low $1,699, down from its original $2,899 MSRP. That’s nearly half off for a full-size, street-legal electric scooter that channels major Honda Super Cub energy, but without the gas, noise, or maintenance of the original.
CSC Motorcycles, based in Azusa, California, has a long history of importing and supporting small-format electric and gas bikes, but the Monterey has always stood out as the brand’s “fun vibes first” model. With its step-through frame, big retro headlight, slim bodywork, and upright seating position, it looks like something from a 1960s postcard – just brought into the modern era with lithium batteries and a brushless hub motor.
I had my first experience on one of these scooters back in 2021, when I reviewed the then-new model here on Electrek. I instantly fell in love with it and even got one for my dad. It now lives at his place and I think he gets just as much joy from looking at it in his garage as riding it.
You can see my review video below.
Advertisement – scroll for more content
The performance is solidly moped-class, which is exactly what it’s designed for. A 2,400W rear hub motor pushes the Monterey up to a claimed 30 mph or 48 km/h (I found it really topped out at closer to 32 mph or 51 km/h), making it perfect for city streets, beach towns, and lower-speed suburban routes.
A 60V, roughly 1.6 kWh removable battery offers around 30–40 miles (48-64 km) of real-world range, depending on how aggressively you twist the throttle. It’s commuter-ready, grocery-run-ready, and campus-ready right out of the crate.
It’s also remarkably approachable. At around 181 pounds (82 kg), the Monterey is light for a sit-down scooter, making it easy to maneuver and park. There’s a small storage cubby, LED lighting, and the usual simple twist-and-go operation. And it comes with full support from CSC, a company that keeps a massive warehouse stocked with components and spare parts.
My sister has a CSC SG250 (I’m still trying to convert her to electric) and has gotten great support from them in the past, including from their mechanics walking her through carburetor questions over the phone. So I know from personal experience that CSC is a great company that stands behind its bikes.
But the real story here is the price. Scooters in this class typically hover between $2,500 and $4,500, and electric retro-style models often jump well above that.
At $1,699, the Monterey is one of the least expensive street-legal electric scooters available from a reputable US distributor, especially one that actually stocks parts and provides phone support.
If you’ve been curious about swapping a few car errands for something electric – or you just want a fun, vintage-styled runabout for getting around town – this is one of the best deals of the year.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.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 a big Tesla Robotaxi setback, the new Mercedes-Benz CLA EV, Bollinger is over, and more.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Climate XChange, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies. Sales end on Dec. 8th for its 10th annual EV raffle, where participants have multiple opportunities to win their dream model. Visit CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek to learn more.
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.
Advertisement – scroll for more content
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:
We now have a Patreon if you want to help us avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming.
Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the podcast:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 4:00 p.m. ET (or the video after 5 p.m. ET:
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.