“Volkswagen” means “people’s car”. This brand has survived war, oil crises, “dieselgate”, and now stands on the brink of the biggest transition — from internal combustion engines to electricity and autonomous driving. What will Volkswagen be like in 10-20 years? Will it maintain its “people’s” status or become a niche producer for the wealthy? We analyze strategies, technologies, and forecasts. Full transition to electric power By 2030, Volkswagen plans that 80% of sales in Europe will be electric vehicles. The ID family (ID.3, ID.4, ID. Buzz) has already expanded. In 2026, ID.2 will be released — a budget electric car priced at about 25,000 euros. This is an attempt to regain the title of “people’s”. Unlike the expensive ID.3, the new model will get a simpler finish but a modern battery. By 2035, VW will completely stop producing internal combustion engine vehicles in Europe (except for commercial vehicles). The transition in China and the USA will be more gradual. Next-generation batteries Volkswagen is investing billions in solid-state batteries (solid-state). The joint venture with QuantumScape promises batteries that charge to 80% in 12 minutes and do not explode upon impact. The first series solid-state batteries will appear in 2027-2028. By 2030, energy density will double, and the price will fall by 50%. This will make electric vehicles cheaper than gasoline ones. A range of 700-800 km will become the norm. Volkswagen is also building six “gigafactories” in Europe to not depend on China. Autonomous driving: from assistance to full freedom By 2026, Volkswagen will implement the third level (conditional) autonomous driving system in ID. Buzz — for commercial transport. The driver can watch a movie, but must take control upon request. By 2030, the fourth level (highly automated) is expected on sedans and crossovers. This will allow sleeping in the car on the highway. VW is developing its own chip for processing data from cameras and lidars. In the future, you w ... Read more