Finally, Volkswagen has made the announcement. After investing billions of dollars into electrification already, the German automaker said that the next generation of its cars will be the last with internal combustion engines, which will be phased out completely by 2026.

What They Had To Say

According to Bloomberg, Volkswagen’s head of strategy, Michael Jost, said at the Handelsblatt automotive summit in Wolfsburg that VW’s engineers “are working on the last platform for vehicles that aren’t CO2-neutral”. He added,

There Is Still Time For The Combustion Engines To Die

This doesn’t mean that combustion engines will be retired by 2027; it means there will be no new development of petrol or diesel engines from 2026. Also, developing countries will take at least a decade or so to accommodate infrastructure for charging electric vehicles.

What Does The Future Hold?

Volkswagen’s involvement and progress in the field of electrification has been tremendous in the last couple of years. It is the right move for the automaker moving forward as it attempts to leave the Dieselgate demons behind. And of course, the pressure on automakers to hit tough emissions targets to combat climate change is immense. The company made an announcement last year that the Volkswagen Group, which includes its other brands like Skoda, Audi, and Porsche, will invest $38 billion in electrification, autonomy, and technology by 2022. This financial investment itself shows how committed the German manufacturer is towards electrifying all its cars across brands. All of these will built on the group’s new MEB EV platform. The first I.D. hatchback will reach the showrooms in 2020, while the others still have time to come.

Our Take

When a company of this magnitude goes berserk and has set its eyes on something, it only means trouble. We have to wait and watch if VW can actually gain the upper hand and become the God of Thunder (God of Lightning would be more apt, right?), or can it expect the same wrath from other automakers as well? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Further Reading

Read our full review on the 2018 Volkswagen I.D. Vizzion Concept.

Read our full review on the 2017 Volkswagen I.D. Buzz.

Read our full review on the 2017 Volkswagen I.D. Crozz II