Volkswagen After several attempts, I really want to enter the market with an electric car for less than 20,000 euros. The Core brand group wants to bring cheaper electric vehicles onto the market in the future “from Europe for Europe”, as CEO Oliver Blume (55) puts it. The world premiere is planned for 2027.
Volkswagen has been working on offering cheaper electric vehicles for around 20,000 euros for a long time. According to Thomas Schäfer (54), CEO of the Volkswagen brand and head of the Core brand group, attractive vehicles in the entry-level segment are particularly needed for electromobility to become widespread. “Our brand promise is: electromobility for everyone,” he says.
Electric cooperation between Volkswagen and Renault collapses
VW actually wanted to do this together Renault create. The plan was to develop a small electric car with a target price of under 20,000 euros. French architecture would be used, VW would contribute the electric drive, Renault would build the car. The “Amsterdam” project, according to the company, was “negotiated through” as manager magazine reported
. Even Renault boss Luca de Meo (56) was apparently so sure that he allowed himself to be carried away by hints in public.
In May it was said that no agreement had been reached and that they wanted to try it alone. as manager magazin learned from internal circles. In the end it was not possible to find a common solution
In particular, Volkswagen’s works council boss Daniela Cavallo (49) had expressed internal concerns about the joint project and called for alternatives to be examined more closely. The works council was particularly irritated that Renault was supposed to take over the entire production of the car.
Renault has announced its electric small car Twingo for 2026. The company has repeatedly emphasized that it can build the Twingo on its own and does not necessarily need a partner. An insider said that Renault would remain open to other partners after the talks with VW ended, for example alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi.
Europe focus planned
For the solo project, Volkswagen is relying on a high degree of European localization, which in turn benefits Europe as an industrial location. This should reduce long transport routes for parts and save CO2.
According to VW, intensive work is already being done on the “Electric Urban Car Family”, with which the Core brand group wants to present electric cars for less than 25,000 euros at the end of 2025. Two new compact cars are planned here, one from VW and one from CUPRA, as well as two small SUVs, one each from Škoda and one from VW. All four vehicles will be in Spain built.