Volkswagen confirms larger electric SUV coming to the US, hybrids too?
A new, larger VW electric SUV will arrive in the US. Despite several automakers pulling back, Volkswagen says it’s sticking to its EV plans. Meanwhile, the automaker may add hybrids as it looks to boost sales in the US.
Volkswagen sticks to US electric vehicle plans
After delivering 37,789 electric vehicles (only the ID.4 for now) in the US last year (+84.2% YOY), Volkswagen looks to accelerate sales in 2024.
According to registration data, VW was the eighth top-selling EV maker last year, with 3.2% of the US market. Although sales are up, VW was still behind rivals Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Hyundai.
Rivals like Mercedes, Ford, and GM have pushed back EV targets, citing slowing than expected demand, but Volkswagen Group of America CEO Pablo Di Si says EV plans remain.
“We’re not questioning the future,” Di Si told Automotive News during VW’s annual media conference. The comments mirror those made by VW Group CEO Oliver Blume. Blume explained the group established a “solid foundation” in 2023.
“With inspiring products, a consistent and clear focus on implementation, we are looking forward to the 2024 financial year with confidence,” Blume said.
VW expects to continue to “grow profitably” in North America. CFO Arno Antilitz said VW could see the highest growth in North America this year, with interest rates expected to come back down.
The German automaker is strengthening its EV lineup with a longer-range ID.4 (see our review) and two new all-electric models, including the ID.7 and ID Buzz.
VW to launch new electric SUV, may add PHEVs in the US
Di Si doesn’t see the new EVs driving huge growth but calls them halo models. On the ID Buzz, Di Si said, “Is it going to be a volume driver like Atlas? Probably not.” But VW doesn’t want it to be. It’s designed as a niche product.
The brand’s North American leader said VW will continue investing in SUVs. He confirmed VW will launch a large electric SUV in the US that could be the volume EV they are looking for.
Although Blume confirmed EVs were “the future, period,” he added, “we are flexible enough to adapt to changes in different markets.
Volkswagen doesn’t offer a PHEV (or any hybrid) in the US, but that could change. Di Si said VW is taking a close look at it and looks to address it in the near term.
The brand launched the Tiguan PHEV in Europe with up to 62 miles of all-electric range. “We have the basis, we’re just trying to figure out how, when, how to homologate and how to localize,” Di Si said.
The leader didn’t confirm plans for a PHEV but did say new tech was not needed. Di Si said VW has the platform and tech. “You can take that and adapt it to another SUV if we want to.”
Volkswagen isn’t the only automaker looking to lean more into hybrids. Toyota, Ford, GM, and others have announced similar plans.
Porsche also confirmed it would stick to its EV target with plans to launch several new electric models, including the Macan EV and updated Taycan. Blume said the Macan EV already earned 10,000 orders, “and these customers haven’t even been able to drive the car yet.”
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First Solar just cut the ribbon on a huge new factory in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, and it dwarfs the New Orleans Superdome. The company’s $1.1 billion, fully vertically integrated facility spans 2.4 million square feet, or about 11 times the size of the stadium’s main arena.
The factory began production quietly in July, a few months ahead of schedule, and employs more than 700 people. First Solar expects that number to hit 826 by the end of the year. Once it’s fully online, the site will add 3.5 GW of annual manufacturing capacity. That brings the company’s total US footprint to 14 GW in 2026 and 17.7 GW in 2027, when its newly announced South Carolina plant is anticipated to come online.
The Louisiana plant produces First Solar’s Series 7 modules using US-made materials — glass from Illinois and Ohio, and steel from Mississippi, which is fabricated into backrails in Louisiana.
The new factory leans heavily on AI, from computer vision that spots defects on the line to deep learning tools that help technicians make real‑time adjustments.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry says the investment is already a win for the region, bringing in “hundreds of good-paying jobs and new opportunities for Louisiana workers and businesses.” A new economic impact analysis from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette projects that the factory will boost Iberia Parish’s GDP by 4.4% in its first full year at capacity. The average manufacturing compensation package comes in at around $90,000, more than triple the parish’s per capita income.
First Solar CEO Mark Widmar framed the new facility as a major step for US clean energy manufacturing: “By competitively producing energy technology in America with American materials, while creating American jobs, we’re demonstrating that US reindustrialization isn’t just a thesis, it’s an operating reality.”
This site joins what’s already the largest solar manufacturing and R&D footprint in the Western Hemisphere: three factories in Ohio, one in Alabama, and R&D centers in Ohio and California. Just last week, First Solar announced a new production line in Gaffney, South Carolina, to onshore more Series 6 module work. By the end of 2026, the company expects to directly employ more than 5,500 people across the US.
Read more: First Solar pours $330M into a new South Carolina solar factory
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No, it’s not the new Bolt. GM’s design team previewed a new high-riding “sporty Chevrolet EV” that should be brought to life.
Is Chevy launching a new sporty EV?
This is the all-electric vehicle Chevy should sell in the US. General Motors’ design team released a series of sketches previewing a sporty new Chevy EV.
Although it kinda looks like the new 2027 Chevy Bolt EV as a higher-sitting compact crossover SUV, the design offers a fresh take on what it should have looked like.
The new Bolt is essentially a modernized version of the outgoing EUV model with a similar compact crossover silhouette. Nissan adopted a similar style with the new 2026 LEAF as buyers continue shifting from smaller sedans and hatchbacks to crossovers and SUVs.
Will we see the sporty Chevy EV in real life? It’s not likely. For one, the “exploration sketch” is by GM China Advanced designer Charles Huang.
GM Design posted the sketches on its global social media page, but the caption read “Sporty Chevrolet EV for the China Market.”
It’s too bad. The Bolt could use a sporty sibling like an SS variant. Chevy introduced the Blazer EV SS (check out our review) for the 2026 model year, its fastest “SS” model yet. Packing up to 615 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, the Chevy Blazer SS can race from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds when using Wide Open Watts (WOW) mode.
Will the Bolt be next? I wouldn’t get my hopes up. And if GM does bring the sporty Chevy EV to life, it will likely only be sold in China. Like all the fun cars these days.
What do you think of the design? Would you buy one of these in the US? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
While deliveries of the 2027 Bolt are set to begin in early 2026, Chevy is offering some sweet deals on its current EV lineup, including up to $4,000 off in Customer Cash and 0% APR financing for 60 months.
Ready to test drive one? You can use our links below to find Chevy Equinox, Blazer, and Silverado EVs at a dealership near you.
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Environment
Podcast: Electricity is the base currency, Tesla Robotaxi crashes, new Porsche Cayenne EV, 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 electricity becoming the base currency, Tesla Robotaxi crashes, the new Porsche Cayenne EV, 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 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:
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