Volkswagen Golf to ditch petrol power and go electric from 2028, says company boss

The next-era Volkswagen Golfing is established to shift away from petrol and diesel power as early as 2028, and keep on the nameplate with battery power – assuming no U-flip in the world-wide roll-out of battery vehicles.

In November 2022, Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer confirmed the Golfing nameplate would are living on in the electrical era – and would not be replaced by the equally-sized ID.3 released in 2020.

The government has now reiterated to German publication Automobilwoche there are no existing plans for an all-new Golf with petrol and diesel electric power – and that the upcoming era of the nameplate would supply electric powered energy only.

The existing eighth-technology Golfing is owing to get an update next 12 months with a revised look and new engineering – which will be built to preserve it new till the electrical ‘Golf 9’ comes, which Mr Schäfer indicated would not be until finally 2028.

Mr Schäfer left the doorway open up to a new petrol-driven Golf if the worldwide change to electric powered autos is slower than envisioned – or takes a change in the direction of a different technological know-how.

Having said that, the government thinks that is not likely to transpire.

“It truly is distinct that we will not be giving up legendary names like Golfing, Tiguan and GTI, but will be transferring them to the electrical environment,” Mr Schäfer instructed Automobilwoche,

“But with the Golf in specific, it has to in good shape the genes. Just calling any car that doesn’t operate. We will never make that slip-up.”

In accordance to Mr Schäfer, these ‘Golf genes’ will end result in the electrical hatchback adopting a flatter roof than the ID.3 – while this won’t take place right until 2028 at the earliest, coinciding with the start of Volkswagen’s new ‘SSP’ electric powered-car system.

Mr Schäfer also stated the eighth-technology Volkswagen Golf’s mid-existence update – dubbed the ‘8.5’ – subsequent calendar year will lengthen the petrol and diesel-run hatchback’s lifetime just before it goes electric powered.

“That puts it in a great position right until the end of the 10 years. Then we will have to see how the section develops,” stated Mr Schäfer.

“If the globe develops absolutely in a different way than expected by 2026 or 2027, then we can also launch a absolutely new auto all over again. But I you should not hope that to materialize. So much, which is not prepared.”

Even though the Volkswagen Golfing has been made as an electric motor vehicle right before – involving 2014 and 2021 as the e-Golf (pictured higher than) – the ninth-technology design will be the initially to be exclusively powered by a battery, and with out petrol and diesel engines.

Volkswagen has beforehand announced its options for 100 per cent of its European motor vehicle gross sales to arrive from electrical vehicles by 2033 – two years ahead of the European Union’s proposed near-ban on the sale of new autos with petrol and diesel engines (but there are some concessions).