VW Wants to Be the King of e-Cars
In an announcement that left many in the automotive world shaking their heads, Volkswagen has declared that it is making a commitment to take the lead in
electric cars by 2018. What gives the claim more weight than it might otherwise have is the fact that it was issued as a press release from CEO
Martin Winterkorn. When asked, Winterkorn stated that they felt that they were "starting at exactly the right time." This retort was obviously a defensive, knee-jerk reaction to a question which implied that VW had long since left the field to Japanese competition such as
Toyota who is a leader in
hybrid cars and the likes of
Carlos Ghosn's
Nissan-Renault partnership with the
Nissan Leaf.
A Bevvy of Hybrids and Electrics for 2014
Winterkorn went on to state that the company will market 14 hybrid and
all-electric vehicles by the closing of 2014. A number of these will be available in both the
European and US markets with the notable exception of the Volkswagen e-Up battery-electric mini car.
Despite Claims, Many Still Skeptical
Despite the grandiose claims of VW many are still skeptical of its resolve and ability to race to the front of the hybrid/electric pack. At present, there are no game-changing vehicles in planning and VW has no track record here. We wish them the best of luck but only time will tell if they are simply blowing green smoke or if they mean what they say.
