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The Volkswagen Group has announced plans to electrify its entire model portfolio by 2030 at the latest.
According to the VW Group (which comprises brands including Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, Skoda and VW Commercial Vehicles) this means there will be at least one electric version of each of the 300 models the group produces around the world.
VW claims this announcement "makes Volkswagen the first big mobility group to have a put a date on the electrification of its fleet", with the brand adding it will need the equivalent of least four gigafactories in order to produce the powertrains.
The German giant estimates that around one in four new group vehicles - up to three million units a year depending on how the market develops - could be battery-powered by 2025.
In order to meet the requirement for power - estimated to be 150GW/h of battery capacity each year - the firm has launched an international tendering process to form long-term partnerships.
Volkswagen claims this project is one of the largest in the history of the automotive industry, equating to more than 50 billion euros.
Volkswagen also confirmed that it isn't ditching the internal combustion engine just yet, saying its commitment to electrify the range "underlines Volkswagen Group's commitment to an orderly system changeover with today's engine as a bridge towards an emission-free age".
"We have got the message and we will deliver," said VW chairman Matthias Muller at the group media night ahead of the Frankfurt motor show. "This is not some vague declaration of intent. It is a strong self-commitment which, from today, becomes the yardstick by which we measure our performance. The transformation in our industry is unstoppable. And we will lead that transformation."
He added: "For us, the transformation of transportation and the energy transition are inseparable. And creating a comprehensive charging infrastructure rapidly - in cities and on highways - will be critical to success. In Europe, much more needs to be done. Only then will customers' trust grow. And only then will electric cars come out of the niche - and achieve relevant market share in years to come. I'm convinced this will succeed if politicians, the energy industry and automakers work in harness."
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