**UPDATE** RIGHT or WRONG: Is Volkswagen Coming Too Late To The Electric Party?

**UPDATE** RIGHT or WRONG: Is Volkswagen Coming Too Late To The Electric Party?
With every manufacturer jumping for joy with electric vehicles popping up just about everywhere, one manufacturer has been lagging behind. Can't think of who it may be?

Volkswagen.

And our friend from Car and Driver, Steve Siler, has something to say about it. However, I am not sure that I agree with his perspective. When Siler asked VW execs why the delay for eproducts, he writes "The answer varies depending on which executive you ask, but together, they reveal a distinct lack of confidence in (and, consequently, lack of commitment to) the technology in general, in spite of how well VW may have developed it for the Golf."

With that said, we are curious:

Is Volkswagen's delay in delivering EV technology a mistake that will leave them behind OR a wise move since EVs aren't exactly proven yet?


**UPDATE** To read Siler's full story about Volkswagen and its electric future, click HERE


Excerpt from Car and Driver follows:

...Christian Klingler, VW AG’s board member for sales and marketing, was downright glib when we spoke to him, stating that in effect there is negligible consumer demand for EVs beyond early adopters, and that in reality, EVs are only being built to satisfy emissions requirements in Europe, China, and the U.S. “The electric car is not a request of the consumer, but a request of the government,” he said. Klingler did throw a bone to plug-in technology, for what it’s worth, saying it is well-suited to larger cars such as the Passat...

[Source: Car and Driver]


**UPDATE** To read Siler's full story about Volkswagen and its electric future, click HERE


2012 BMW 6-Series Convertible Photo Gallery

2010 LA Auto Show Photo Gallery

2011 Chrysler Group Photo Gallery

2010 LA Auto Show Preview Photo Gallery

2010 SEMA Auto Show Photo Gallery

AutoSpies.com Photo Galleries

If you want to see your photos running on our homepage photo ticker, be sure to upload your photos on the go by sending them to Mobile@AutoSpies.com

Share on Facebook



Read Article

tangotango - 11/24/2010 11:26:24 PM
+3 Boost
The link is broken but I'll take a stab at commenting until it's fixed. VW has been late to many trends over the years, and it has created many. It started the "hot hatch" genre with the Golf GTI. It was the first to offer dual clutch to mass market. It stood alone throghout the years and as such it could be argued it created the affordable diesel market and continues to dominate that market today. It was late to the SUV market but has done quite well catching up. I'll get slack for this, but VW has been late to the "well-built" market as well, but let's see if that changes anytime soon. That being said, I think VW can create a whole new market by offering a diesel hybrid vehicle for sale in the US. This would be the answer to many of our prayers.


Agent00RAgent00R - 11/25/2010 11:29:49 AM
+1 Boost
http://blog.caranddriver.com/golf-blue-e-motion-is-nice%E2%80%94too-bad-vw-doesn%E2%80%99t-want-to-build-it/


528i528i - 11/25/2010 4:55:31 AM
+1 Boost
"Better late than never"


StevezStevez - 11/26/2010 11:45:51 PM
+1 Boost
Agreed^


WorldofLuxuryWorldofLuxury - 11/25/2010 5:23:05 AM
+1 Boost
Sony was late in the flat-screen TV game, but they succeeded in producing a proper LCD and by ditching the plasma stage altogether. Maybe VW should focus all of its energy on purely electric vehicles.


SteveSteve - 11/25/2010 10:44:41 AM
+1 Boost
Aside from an "Edit" button, Autospies also needs a "Report This Post" button to quickly get the attention of admins in cases like this.


Agent00RAgent00R - 11/25/2010 11:30:24 AM
+1 Boost
@Steve

Although I rarely agree with you, when you're right, you're right.


SteveSteve - 11/25/2010 12:33:38 PM
+1 Boost
For other readers, I was referring to a Spam that appeared here, and was subsequently removed.

Agent00R: Step off the "right vs wrong" page, and view *everything* I say as just me expressing my opinion, and life gets a lots better :-)


wins555wins555 - 11/25/2010 10:56:40 PM
+1 Boost
VW could be considered late but then again battery technology is improving and general acceptance of EVs are increasing so I guess this time, VW is late on purpose.
Copyright 2026 AutoSpies.com, LLC