Volkswagen Claims 3 EV Platforms Will Form Basis Of 30 New Models By 2025

As part of the company’s ongoing PR rehabilitation efforts, Volkswagen execs recently discussed the company’s new “Strategy 2025” plans, which will reportedly see as many as 30 new all-electric or plug-in hybrid models revealed by the year 2025, at Michigan’s CAR Management Briefing Seminars.

During that discussion, Volkswagen Group of America Chief Engineering Officer Matthais Erb revealed that these 30 models will be based around 3 different platforms — each with a flexible chassis and variously sized wheelbases and track widths. The company is reportedly working on a variety of economy and utility vehicles as well.

The much-discussed Volkswagen BUDD-e electric concept van (pictured above) apparently makes use of one of these platforms — the previously revealed MEB (Modular Electric Toolkit). Notably, the design makes use of a battery pack “skateboard” as Tesla does. The BUDD-e is, of course, a concept vehicle, so who knows what an actual production vehicle would look like.

Autoblog provides some context: “Volkswagen is pledging its resources to all things electrification as it looks to distance itself from the diesel-emissions scandal that broke last September and cost Mr Winterkorn his job. In the US alone, almost a half-million VW diesel vehicles were found to have software designed to cheat the emissions-testing process. In late June, VW reached a settlement with US regulators that will require it to pay as much as $14.7 billion in the form of vehicle buybacks, lease terminations, and investments in zero-emissions vehicle technology. The company sure appears to be moving decidedly in that last direction.”

How willingly, though? Moving towards electrification is likely moving away from profits in Volkswagen’s case. Though, considering the general trends of the industry, electrification is likely a necessity over the next decade or so, so the company seems to be in a bit of a bind.