Electric VW Golf Could Arrive Sooner Than Expected With Help From Rivian

Thanks to Rivian’s software expertise, the much-anticipated electric VW Golf could hit the market sooner than expected. Volkswagen reportedly considering bringing forward the launch of the Golf EV despite the delay of its Tesla rival, the Trinity EV Again.

More delays in Volkswagen EV production

Once considered Volkswagen’s savior, the Trinity EV was supposed to help close the gap with Tesla. After plans to build a new $2.2 billion factory to produce the model in 2022 were scrapped, VW’s flagship EV seems even further away.

According to a new report Trade BulletinVW plans to start production in late 2032, six years after the original 2026 launch date.

The Trinity VW was supposed to launch in 2026, but that date has been pushed back several times. It was expected in 2028, then 2030, and now it looks like it will happen closer to the end of 2032. Trade Bulletin I found out from people inside the company.

The Trinity EV was also expected to be Volkswagen’s first electric car built on a software-defined scalable systems platform (SSP).

VW delays launch due to slowing EV sales and CEO Oliver Blume’s new plan to cut costs. In the meantime, we could see the electric Golf overtake the Trinity to become the first EV to launch on the SSP platform.

Electric VW Golf Could Come Sooner With Help From Rivian

After announcing a new partnership with Rivian, Volkswagen expects the new joint venture to be profitable.

VW plans to invest up to $5 billion, of which $3 billion will go to Rivian and $2 billion to the joint venture.

The report said Volkswagen’s MEB platform will be upgraded to MEB+ in 2026. With help from Rivian, the PPE platform underpinning the new Porsche Macan EV will also receive a software update within the next 36 months.

According to sources, the Golf EV could finally hit the market in 2029, or even earlier, as the first model based on the SSP platform.

VW’s chief technology officer Kai Grunitz confirmed earlier this year that “work has begun on an all-electric Golf.” Grunitz said the Golf is “the heart of our brand,” and VW has no plans to retire the name.

“It has to look like a Golf. It has to be affordable like a Golf. It has to be (efficient) like a Golf,” said VW’s technical chief Top gear in January. Grunitz also confirmed that there will be a GTI model.

Thomas Shafer, CEO of VW Passenger Cars, also said, “We have iconic brands, the Golf and the GTI. It would be crazy to let them die and disappear” at the 2023 LA Auto Show. The electric hatchback is expected to be called the ID.Golf, which will be in line with VW’s ID series.

Electrek’s Opinion

What do the plans to bring forward the Golf EV launch mean for the ID.3? Volkswagen is also reportedly working on an electric SUV the size of a Tiguan, which could be called the ID.Tiguan.

The Volkswagen Golf was the second best-selling car in Germany last month, so an electric model would make sense.

Meanwhile, sales of VW ID.4/ID.5 models fell by 44.6% in July, while only 935 ID.3s were sold, down 47% year-on-year.

In the U.S., ID.4 sales fell 15% in Q2 compared to Q2 2023. Meanwhile, the Tiguan was VW’s best-selling model in the U.S. in Q2, with more than 21,000 units sold. Maybe Volkswagen needs a shakeup.

What do you think? Would you buy an electric VW Golf or Tiguan? Let us know in the comments what features or price range you would be looking for.

Source: Handelsblatt, Automotive News