Volkswagen’s company forecasts indicate that it will produce its millionth battery-powered electric vehicle two years ahead of schedule. The world’s largest carmaker has accelerated its push in electric cars as the climate crisis escalates.
The company expects to reach one million new EVs manufactured by the end of 2023 and one and a half million by the end of 2025. It produced over 70,000 EVs in 2019 and 50,000 the year before. Including non-fully-electric cars, Volkswagen produced 10.8 million in 2018. Since 2013, it has produced 250,000 electrified vehicles (including hybrids).
Volkswagen is not alone in the scramble to increase its number of EVs pumped out. Other carmakers are also working hard to up their manufacture and sales of EVs in the EU. The rush is mainly because from January 1, 2020, limits have come into play that heavily penalizes carmakers with fines for excessive greenhouse gas output. The regulations set a limit on tailpipe emissions from new cars sold in the EU to below 95g per kilometer. The aim is to reduce the average carbon dioxide emissions coming from the transportation sector.
The Volkswagen group is pinning its hopes of mass-market sales on the new Volkswagen ID.3. Its factory in Zwickau, East Germany is gearing towards being able to produce 330,000 vehicles of this model a year by 2021. Including that model, the company will release eight electric or hybrid models throughout 2020 across its brand, which includes Seat, Audi, and Skoda.
Thomas Ulbrich, the Volkswagen brand board member responsible for electric cars, said:
2020 will be a key year for the transformation of Volkswagen. With the market launch of the ID.3 and other attractive models in the ID family, our electric offensive will also become visible on the roads.
Volkswagen’s primary market is the EU, so it’s focused on meeting the criteria for that region. However, it does expect to face growing pressure soon in other markets, as well as emissions standards gradually catch up around the world.
