SUVs and Electric Cars: The Future of Volkswagen

Volkswagen has reviewed the past year and previewed its plan for the future at the 2017 Annual Session held at its headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany.

The company has a positive outlook for 2017 and the near future as it implements its 'Transform 2025+' strategy. 2016 had been a year of resurgence after the company suffered heavy losses the year before due to its involvement in diesel emissions cheating.

By 2020, Volkswagen aims to have products in all popular categories of cars depending on the market. For most markets, this means new SUV offerings from the brand - worldwide, the goal is to launch two SUVs by the end of 2017 (one of which will be the T-Roc), nine new SUVs by the end of 2018 and 19 new SUVs by 2025. The strategy is being implemented in India too - the Volkswagen Tiguan SUV will be launched here soon.

Recommended Read: Volkswagen Tiguan First Look

By 2025, this strategy of catering to market demand with quick reactions to local market trends should help Volkswagen become a global leader again, the company hopes. The company's various regional arms have been given more autonomy for better efficiency. Volkswagen's own manufacturing facilities will be used by its other brands for better utilisation of all the resources.

Volkswagen aims to become a leader in alternate propulsion technology in cars - especially electric - by 2025. This will help it clean up its image, after the rather damaging diesel emissions scandal, while also helping the company meet upcoming stringent emissions regulations in Europe and across the world. 

While the company's current range of electric cars is quite small, cars like the e-Golf1 are holding the fort. VW has showcased its intent in developing future all-electric cars through concepts like the I.D., the I.D. BUZZ and the I.D. CROZZ. The first products based on these concepts is expected to roll out from 2020. Volkswagen aims to sell 1 million cars a year worldwide by 2025.

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With the increased focus on improving its fortunes, the Volkswagen brand is expected to take more drastic measures. The company has already scaled back its participation in motorsports; Volkswagen withdrew from the World Rally Championship after winning it continuously for four years, Audi withdrew from the endurance racing after a stint of about 18 years to participate in Formula-E. In India, Volkswagen's 2017 Ameo Cup is set to begin soon.

Rumours suggest that there are two important cars which will be discontinued from the Volkswagen lineup by the end of 2017 - the Beetle and the Scirocco. Both these cars, modern interpretations of popular classic cars, have not been able to sell as much as compared to the hype that surrounds their brand names. Volkswagen has neither denied nor confirmed these rumours, but emotion-inspiring cars like the Volkswagen Beetle or Scirocco may be laid by the wayside in the company's push to make itself the most successful car manufacturer in the world.