Volkswagen AG is pushing deeper into the electric car segment by promising more than 20 models running on electric batteries in China by the end of 2018.
Volkswagen AG, the renowned German car brand, is supporting China's go green campaign amid alarming concerns raised against the growing pollution in the country. The car maker has offered its support by making more than 20 electric and plug-in hybrid car models available for Chinese consumers by the end of 2018. Volkswagen's plan comes in the wake of China's target to put 5 million electric vehicles on roads by 2020 and joins other car makers such as BMW, Tesla and Nissan, Auto News reports.
The news comes directly from the head of Volkswagen Group, China, Jochem Heizmann, while speaking to the reporters in Shanghai on Tuesday. According to Reuters, Volkswagen hopes to have "some hundred thousand" all-electric and hybrid vehicles in China. The car maker also revealed that most vehicles will be made locally.
"In the near future, Volkswagen will be offering Chinese drivers over 20 new energy vehicles, from small cars to large-sized SUVs, from plug-in hybrids to pure electric cars," Heizmann said in Shanghai.
The car maker ranks behind global rivals such as BMW and Nissan in electric car sales. But Volkswagen has expressed interest in exploring the Chinese car market with its electric or plug-in hybrid efforts. The company had previously planned to introduce over 15 models of electric and plug-in hybrids but now it aims for a bigger share with wider range of options for consumers.
Volkswagen is expected to launch its all-electric car, the e-Up!, in China this year and e-Golf along with plug-in hybrid Golf GTE sometime next year. The report further added that the car maker will apply a similar electric power for other models such as Passat and Audi cars.
"With this modular strategy, we don't need a different car factory. The e-Golf can be produced in the same body shop and assembly line as a normal Golf," he said. "This is an advantage."
