VW Crushes Idea of Electric Beetle, CEO Describes Retro Models as ‘A Dead End’

In a conversation with Autocar, the company’s top executive Thomas Schäfer mentioned that “conventional [and] successful” models like the Golf and Tiguan would inevitably be transitioned to electric powertrains, but the company must focus on the future. He singled out the retro-inspired ID Buzz as the solitary exception, while dismissing the Beetle as a “dead end.”

“I can’t state with absolute certainty. However, at present, I am disinclined to do so,” Schäfer informed the publication. “It’s similar to the Scirocco situation: it had its era, then a new model emerged from a reinterpretation. Will history repeat itself? I doubt it. Moving ahead, with the challenge of navigating through various technologies and their associated costs, one must invest funds in the most advantageous areas.”

In his view, the Beetle was essentially supplanted by the Golf. This argument would hold water if VW had not simultaneously marketed the Golf alongside two updated editions of the Beetle for more than two decades.

The real rationale likely involves the current status of electrification, the shift towards larger vehicles, and internal disagreements within VW. The brand’s initial EV offering in the U.S. is the ID.4 crossover, which has received lukewarm feedback despite its competitive pricing and range. Essentially, the actual vehicle fails to impress despite its promising specifications on paper. Furthermore, VW has encountered significant challenges in developing its smallest EV, the ID.2. Reportedly, it now essentially resembles an electric Golf as VW concluded that the potential appeal of an ID.2 was limited. The company has even acknowledged that its latest batch of button-less interiors has negatively affected the brand.

Consequently, creating an electric Beetle in the current landscape, even if desired by the company, is likely to be uncompetitive. If developed presently, the car would probably offer limited range and an interior that falls short. It would also struggle in a market infatuated with SUVs like the United States. In essence, VW would be producing a vehicle that lacks appeal on paper and would unlikely offer anything outstanding once it goes from the drawing board to reality.

Moreover, the current landscape does not favor short-wheelbase EVs with decent ranges, irrespective of VW’s capabilities. Due to the energy density of prevailing lithium-ion batteries, automakers employing “skateboard” platforms must choose between a lengthy, slender battery pack or a shorter, thicker one. Most opt for the former, and even in that scenario, the resulting vehicles often appear peculiar. In a car embodying two-door proportions like the Beetle, a modular skateboard platform would likely result in odd dimensions. The new Chevy Equinox EV exemplifies this issue effectively, with the base model sporting 19-inch wheels in an attempt to visually mask its true length, which resembles that of the current gasoline-powered Chevy Blazer.

The evolution of battery technology and power electronics will eventually reach a point where the idea of an electric Beetle cannot be overlooked. Once an EV with a compact battery pack can effortlessly attain a range of 300 miles, it would be impractical for the automaker not to introduce a vehicle named the Beetle and market it in the United States.

The timeline for VW to achieve this level of technology remains uncertain. If the adoption of solid-state batteries is the prerequisite, the partnership responsible for its development, QuantumScape, arguably lags behind its competitors. While the company has provided prototype cells to OEMs, other automakers such as BMW are already establishing early production lines with its partner, Solid Power, to manufacture batteries in Germany. Similarly, Toyota is in the process of testing vehicles powered by solid-state batteries, which, due to reduced cooling requirements and enhanced energy density, can deliver greater kilowatt-hours within a given weight and volume with enhanced stability.

If solid-state batteries are the critical factor for a new Beetle, we might have a considerable wait ahead.

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