Volkswagen will introduce the last of its vehicles powered by internal combustion engines in 2026.
Bloomberg has reported that at the Handelsblatt automotive summit in Wolfsburg, Volkswagen head of strategy Michael Jost said that engineers “are working on the last platform for vehicles that aren’t CO2-neutral”.
“We’re gradually fading out combustion engines to the absolute minimum,” he said. “In the year 2026, the last product based on a combustion platform will be started.”
While there will be no new development of petrol or diesel engines from 2026, it’s highly likely that petrol and diesel will remain in Volkswagen’s line-up into the 2030s, especially in developing countries where the infrastructure doesn’t exist for charging electric vehicles.
Volkswagen has pursued a radical shift to electrification in the last couple of years, as it attempts to enter a new era post-Dieselgate. It’s also under the same pressure as the broader car industry to hit tough emissions targets to combat climate change.
Last year, the Volkswagen Group, which also includes Audi, Porsche, Seat and Skoda, said it would invest £30 billion in electrification, autonomy and technology by 2022.
Volkswagen’s ID range of electric vehicles includes the hatchback, Crozz SUV and Buzz Cargo van. All will be built on the Group’s new MEB EV platform. The first production ID car, the hatchback, will go on sale in early 2020.
