Automakers

VW's electric push puts future of CNG cars in doubt

VW Group has Europe's largest CNG portfolio with 19 models in its range. (Abdruck fuer Pressezwecke honorarfrei)
March 14, 2020 05:30 AM

The Volkswagen Group has stopped development on new cars powered by compressed natural gas. CEO Herbert Diess recently told top executives the powertrain would be phased out so the automaker had more to spend on its electrification shift, according to German business newspaper Handlesblatt.

Diess added that CNG development costs "are higher than potential revenues,” the report said.

VW has committed to spending almost $50 billion on electric vehicles, more than any other automaker. The result of that investment will be at least 70 electric cars.

The phase out will not affect current production of VW Groups CNG cars. Volkswagen’s head of light commercial vehicles head, Thomas Sedran, said the recently unveiled fifth-generation Caddy will be available with a CNG powertrain.

VW Group Spanish subsidiary Seat has unveiled a CNG version of the recently new Leon compact car.

At the 2018 Geneva auto show VW Czech subsidiary Skoda presented the Vision X crossover concept that featured a gasoline-CNG engine supported by an electric motor powered by a 48-volt battery.

Staying current is easy with newsletters delivered straight to your inbox.