Volkswagen’s Aussie EV rollout remains idle
ID family launch schedule will be dictated by European and US demandVolkswagen Australia says the introduction of its much-vaunted range of ID electric vehicles locally remains under a cloud because of uncertainties over local legislation and tightening emissions standards in the Northern Hemisphere.
Speaking with carsales this week, Volkswagen Australia boss Michael Bartsch conceded there was still no firm rollout plans for the Volkswagen ID family in Australia.
In fact, there was no confirmed plan whatsoever, he admitted.
“There has been no declared timing for Australia, other than we expect the vehicle around the end of 2023. It’s not planned yet not to have, but it’s not planned yet definitively to have it,” he said.
“To a certain extent, we have to wait and see how things move in Europe. There’s a pipeline on batteries over there and then they have to meet the required EU legislation on CO2 caps.
“In some respects we are our own worst enemies in Australia. If we don’t put a bit of priority on it – and I say we collectively as a country – then no-one else is going to put any priority on it.”
Volkswagen has already expressed its interest in both the ID.3 hatch and ID.4 SUV locally, preferencing the latter due to rampant demand for SUVs generally.
The timing of either will be naturally dictated by what happens in Europe and North America, Bartsch said.
He also emphasised – not for the first time – that the introduction of legislation in Australia could potentially speed up the process.
“The challenge is ramp-up, supply. That’s the focus. Of course, while we have the current legislative environment here in Australia there really is no imperative to fast-track or drive the EV introduction to Australia,” Bartsch said.
“We will be introducing EV through one of our sister companies, Audi. But the high-volume end, that volume will initially be addressing the European market.
“That why we’re wanting to see stronger guidelines here – that could add impetus to pull the EV introduction forward for all manufacturers.”
Bartsch echoed the sentiments of the industry in criticising proposals by NSW, Victoria and South Australian governments to introduce road usage levies for EVs that would effectively offset a forecasted reduction in the petrol excise.
In Victoria, the road tax will be charged at 2.5c per kilometre for EVs and 2.0c per kilometre for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
“We don’t necessarily push the government for EV incentives but we want to make sure it’s a level playing field for the market because then you have certainty in terms of planning,” Bartsch said.
“What we’re dead against are disincentives. This parochialism that’s starting to come out with the small-time treasurers at state level rather than a national approach … what happens when someone crosses a border between two opposing states?
“It’s getting ridiculous. There needs to be some leadership to decide what the future looks like in terms of electric vehicles, or even better, CO2-neutral vehicles.”
Asked about the speculated sub-ID.3 models that broke cover internationally this week, Bartsch commented: “As a concept we’d definitely be interested but I can’t comment on particular details.”
Bartsch expressed similar interest in the ID.Buzz – a Kombi-themed EV with narrow volume bandwidth but a potential halo appeal.
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