Australian market not ready for electric utes, says VW

The European giant says the local market needs to mature before plug-in workhorses will be accepted. But it does see a stopgap solution to reduce emissions.

Volkswagen’s all-new Amarok ute will spawn an electric version within a few years and an electric off-road wagon could follow.

But the maker has warned the market isn’t yet ready for plug-in utes.

The Amarok shares underpinnings with the popular Ford Ranger, which was designed and engineered in Victoria.

“We see the trend [towards electrification] and it’s also matching our internal transformation logic,” said global Amarok product manager Peter Sulc of the shift towards electric motors over the diesel engines that dominate the ute market.

“We are going to do [an EV Amarok] some day.”

Volkswagen says an electric ute would work in about five years’ time. Picture: Supplied

Ford has also indicated the Ranger will be electrified at some stage and the two global giants will share development costs.

“We would do the common sourcing … because otherwise it doesn’t (make) any sense,” said Sulc.

But don’t expect an EV ute to arrive early in the Amarok’s life.

Volkswagen believes the EV market for utes needs to mature.

“I still don’t see the timing [for electric utes] in the next two or three years … I do see somewhere in the second half of the decade,” said Sulc, indicating somewhere around 2027.

Volkswagen believes a plug-in hybrid version of the Amarok, which can travel a short distance on electric power only before switching to diesel, might be the best midterm solution to decarbonising utes.

Plug-in hybrids could offer ute buyers the best of both worlds. Picture: Supplied

A plug-in would overcome the most notable shortcoming of EVs, which is range, especially when towing.

“I see the way for the PHEV, the plug-in,” said Sulc, adding that it would team a petrol engine with an electric motor.

Volkswagen also wants to develop an electric rival to the Ford Everest and Toyota Prado off-road wagons.

“In the next 12 months we will have more of a position about this topic,” said Sulc.

Volkswagen sent 20 designers and engineers to Australia to work with their Ford colleagues on the Amarok, which will be the brand’s top seller locally.

Volkswagen Australia product marketing manager James Thompson said the V6 version would be the top seller and the company had made sure there were no restrictions on supply.

Despite the similarities beneath the skin, only the roof and windows of the Amarok are shared with its Ford sibling.

The Amarok shares underpinnings with the Ford Ranger. Picture: Supplied

The cabin design and materials are also markedly different from the Ranger, while it will be built in South Africa rather than Thailand.

Volkswagen also performed its own suspension and chassis tuning and will offer a broader choice of engines, including a 2.3-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol version.

“With a new turbo petrol engine, steering and suspension tuned by the finest Volkswagen engineers and exclusive details such as a leather-covered dash, premium audio, and wide-screen Digital Cockpit, this Amarok more than answers our customer demands,” said Volkswagen Australia commercial vehicles director Ryan Davies.

Volkswagen will offer the Amarok in five trim levels, with pricing likely to range from about $55,000 drive-away to close to $90,000.

The V6 will be the top-selling model in the Amarok range. Picture: Supplied

More expensive models will be the first to arrive in April next year, while the affordable Core and Life variants are due by the middle of next year.

Volkswagen is planning special models with its engineering partner Walkinshaw but it won’t have access to the twin-turbo V6 and unique suspension of the high-performance Ranger Raptor.

“I think we can do something that is not Raptor that is uniquely Amarok and will compete in a different way,” said Davies.