VW boss reveals: That’s how long we have to wait for cheap electric cars
Electric cars are still simply too expensive for many potential customers. That should change. But it will still take some time before that happens. CEO Oliver Blume reveals how long VW will need until prices really drop.
VW boss speaks plainly: That’s how long it takes to get an electric car for 20,000 euros
Switching from a combustion engine to an electric car presents quite a few customers with financial challenges. Volkswagen wants to change that, but it will probably be a few years before that happens, as CEO Oliver Blume reveals in an interview.
“First of all, we are planning a vehicle – seen for Europe – for 25,000 euros. In perspective, I can already imagine that we will come towards 20,000 euros , ”explains the VW boss to the Tagesschau . When is it? “I’d say it’s realistic in the next five years,” says Blume.
So before 2028, Blume does not expect the brands under his umbrella to be able to crack the next magical price limit. But VW definitely wants to make it:
“I see us as the Volkswagen Group as having an obligation to offer smaller vehicles in particular for customers who we introduce to the brands ,”
Said the CEO.
Incidentally, Blume does not see the reasons for the expensive vehicles primarily at VW. The batteries in electric cars are still the biggest cost factor . With its own production, VW wants to take control here. It depends on the framework conditions for the industry. According to Blume’s calculation, about 1 cent per kWh of cheaper electricity could save around 100 million euros in a 20 GWh factory .
When it comes cheap electric cars, there is still no clear winner:
electric cars too expensive: VW is not innocent
In addition, with the further success of e-mobility, economies of scale would have a greater impact. In other words, the more e-cars that can be sold, the cheaper the unit price will be. To do this, however, framework conditions such as charging infrastructure and the expansion of renewable energies would also have to be improved, said Blume.
However, VW cannot completely pull itself out of the affair. Blume has given the group a new direction: quality is becoming more important, the number of pieces is less important. As a rule, this means higher purchase prices for customers.
