The automobile manufacturer Volkswagen senses an increasing demand for electric and electrified models, even before the market launch of the first independently developed electric model ID.3 announced for summer. With the up! every second order is for the fully electric version, around 20,000 orders have been placed. In the plug-in hybrid versions of the recently presented new Passat generation, every seventh customer chooses the GTE, the share of the model mix is 15 percent, a five-fold increase over the predecessor.
The 61 kW (83 hp) e-Up! has been on the market since November 2019 and represents the new entry-level model in the brand’s electric range. It offers significantly more range than its predecessor (up to 260 km in WLTP). The decisive argument for buyers is the low maintenance costs. The purchase price of 21,975 euros is reduced by the environmental bonus (6570 euros, both gross). Also, the insurance classifications are cheap (liability class: 12, comprehensive insurance: 16). The vehicle tax and the cost of changing the engine oil are eliminated, the provider calculates.
Besides, the manufacturer relies heavily on hybridization as a bridge technology to meet the EU fleet limit values and pushes plug-in hybrid drives in high-volume segments. It all started in 2014 with the GTE models, the electric range of which was increased in the second model generation by larger battery capacity. The new Passat Variant GTE develops 160 kW (218 hp) and is to drive up to 56 kilometers purely electrically in the WLTP cycle. It thus covers far more than the daily workload of an average customer of the brand, which is 42 kilometers as advertised by the manufacturer.
After the Passat, the new Golf of the eighth generation comes again as the GTE. Also, a plug-in hybrid version will be available for the regular Golf for the first time. This is followed by the Arteon as well as the compact SUV Tiguan and that of the new Touareg R6, also as a top model with PHEV drive.