Volkswagen brand won’t use Scout platform for EV ute – report

volkswagen is working on a new electric vehicle platform for its ruggedness Reconnaissance ute and SUV, but it won’t underpin an electric ute wearing the VW badge.

European Automotive News reports from the global head of the Volkswagen brand Thomas Schäfer that there are no plans to use this “solid SUV” platform, at least not this decade, for a Volkswagen-branded electric ute.

“At the moment, we are not focused on the squad,” said Schäfer.

“We have a clear squad for the second half of this decade. Again, in the US market, if you don’t play in any segment, you have to stay in a certain market share segment. But the question of [VW’s new Rugged SUV platform] not our priority at the moment.”

That doesn’t rule out the possibility that a Volkswagen-branded model will use the platform within the next decade, however, Scout Motors CEO Scott Keogh told the publication in May: “The background This platform could create opportunities for other vehicles of the group. Right. I want to make this clear: This platform can certainly create opportunities for non-Scout Scouts.”

The first Scout-branded cars will be revealed as a concept in 2023, before production begins in 2026.

They are being developed for the North American market and Volkswagen has not confirmed whether they will be offered elsewhere.

While the Volkswagen brand may not get the ute on a dedicated EV platform this decade, it could bring an electric ute to market. in the form of an Amarok.

Lars Krause, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle board member responsible for marketing, said: “We are looking at an all-electric version. car this early year.

“It’s still early days, but it’s something we’re looking at in the lifecycle.”

The by Amarok According to Krause, the body-on-frame architecture can accommodate an electric powertrain and battery pack.

“We think it’s possible. Obviously, we need to modify some elements. But yes, we are seriously looking at an electric variant,” said Mr. Krause.

car Report Amarok EV could launch in 2025.

Next-generation Volkswagen Amarok, due to launch in early 2023, shares its platform with redesigned version Ford Rangers.

Mr. Krause doesn’t seem to be very enthusiastic about a plug-in hybrid Amarok, despite the brand selling a lot of plug-in hybrid models in Europe.

“Right now, we’re not satisfied with the plug-in hybrid’s electric range. I would never say never, but we are moving towards an all-electric version,” said Krause. car.

Ford of Europe effectively confirmed last year that it would launch the Ranger plug-in hybrid in 2024, with the company saying it aims for its commercial vehicle line to be “emissions equal to no” that year.

Later, Ford’s T6 platform chief engineer, Ian Foston, confirmed the Ranger was designed to be electrified.

“The lifecycle of the platform can be from 10 to 12 years. We said, obviously electrification is going to be something that we have to look at in the future,” Mr. Foston said.

“So we make sure the platform is capable of that. And we designed it electrified, to make sure that all the different propulsion technologies will be able to fit into the future platform.”

Much of the design and engineering for the second-generation Ute Volkswagen was handled in Australia, led by Ford’s Victoria R&D team.

However, Volkswagen already has a team working in tandem with the program.

car suggests an electric Amarok and Ranger – the latter of which is a more compact, affordable alternative to the F-150 Lightning – possibly made in the US, with a US-market Ranger version to be added soon. manufactured at a factory in Wayne, Michigan.

Except for some Chinese EVs including LDV eT60 and the upcoming RD6 Radar, most electric pickups are on the larger end of the spectrum.

These include the aforementioned F-150 Lightning, as well as the Rivian R1T, GMC Hummer EV, and the upcoming Chevrolet Silverado EV and Ram 1500 BEV.

While there are no Scout-based Volkswagen EVs in the works, the brand is developing other major EVs.

European Automotive News reports a large, three-row crossover — possibly called the ID.8 — will enter production at the company’s Tennessee plant alongside the similarly sized Atlas, powered by an internal combustion engine, while the long wheelbase I. buzz coming soon may also be manufactured in North America.

Volkswagen also previewed its upcoming large sedan in concept form with the name I. Air.