VW may save iconic Beetle by taking it electric
Volkswagen may produce an electric version of its iconic VW Beetle to stimulate sales and prevent it being mothmalled in 2018. According to Klaus Bischoff, VW’s head of design, some quarters are "fighting hard" for an EV version of the Beetle, adding: "there have been no decisions so far, but it’s possible the Bug’s future is electric." Sales of the much-loved model have dwindled in the past few years, with just 15,667 sold in the US in 2016.
While a new generation of Volkswagen’s iconic Beetle has been expected on the Golf’s platform, the German automaker says that it is now considering to make the car on its new MEB electric platform as part of its electrification plan.

VW is evidently playing the nostalgia card when it comes to electrifying its lineup.

After unveiling an all-electric microbus based on the classic VW microbus at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this month, it was only normal for people to ask about a possible electric Beetle.

When asked about it by VW Vortex, Klaus Bischoff, VW’s head of design, said they are “fighting hard” for it. He also told Automobile:

“There have been no decisions so far, but it’s possible the Bug’s future is electric.”

It wouldn’t be too surprising to see one come to market considering VW’s plan to build 2 to 3 million all-electric cars a year and unveil 30 new models by 2025. At one point, they will run out of new concepts.

But while Volkswagen is among the few automakers committing to volume production of electric vehicles, the company’s new platform is not expected to go into production before 2020 and therefore, all those concepts will be just that, concepts, for now.

Beetle sales have been slowing down for years now so maybe an electric version is exactly what the car program needs?