Volkswagen pivots to plug-in hybrids as Europe heats up on eco‑friendly drives

Volkswagen is shifting its focus towards plug-in hybrids capable of covering 100 kilometres on a single charge. At the start of the year, they saw a more rapid increase in sales in Europe compared to fully electric vehicles.

According to Managing Director Thomas Schäfer, Volkswagen is now focusing on expanding its plug-in hybrid range. Customers in the United States and China are showing a strong preference for plug-in hybrids.

These hybrids are intermediate between traditional combustion engines and fully electric vehicles. "Hybrids were a thing of the past. Last year, if you asked the same question, it would have been: 'Forget hybrids, it's expensive technology, it's not worth it.' Within the last six months, all of a sudden everyone wants hybrids." Schäfer stated in an interview with Autocar.

The company is not abandoning its ultimate goal of fully electrifying its range. However, not all models will feature plug-in hybrids, and a brand-new powertrain will not be introduced. Instead, the focus will be on enhancing the existing 1.5-litre engine-based system.

It's interesting to note that Ford and Mercedes have recently revised their strategies for Europe, showing they will continue to include combustion engines in their product lineup.