VW Braces for Another Tricky Year With No New EVs
The German automaker’s namesake brand is struggling in the US and China because of a patchy offering.
VW is refreshing popular combustion-engine models but doesn’t have a new electric car coming in 2025.
Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/BloombergVolkswagen AG had a poor 2024, with sales falling and Europe’s biggest automaker even raising the prospect of closing factories in Germany. This year could be even worse.
The manufacturer’s deliveries risk slumping again because its namesake VW brand doesn’t have a new electric car coming in 2025, with key products pushed back amid delays developing software. The problems are starkest in China, where manufacturers led by BYD Co. are dominating with affordable electric and hybrid models. In the US, where President-elect Donald Trump is threatening tariff hikes, VW still doesn’t offer any pickup trucks popular among American consumers.