Volkswagen Executive: Petrol Cars Will Become Like Horses, EVs Are The Future
A senior Volkswagen executive has made an interesting remark on the future and pace of EV adoption. He believes that the transition from internal combustion vehicles to EVs will be more gradual than most people expect- like how people moved to automobiles from horses.
Speaking to Auto Express, Volkswagen’s sales and marketing boss Martin Sander said that EVs will not replace internal combustion engine (ICE) cars due to bans or policy frameworks alone. Instead, the shift will happen naturally when EVs become the better choice for most people- when they make more sense in daily life.
To explain this, he drew a simple comparison. Horses were never banned from roads. People simply stopped using them when cars proved to be faster, easier, and more practical. Buyers will need to choose EV technology voluntarily. He believes the same pattern could repeat with gasoline-powered vehicles.
Volkswagen wants to move the conversation away from regulations and deadlines. Sander feels that constant talk about bans may actually push buyers away, especially those who are still comfortable with traditional engines.
Instead, the focus should be on improving the actual EV ownership experience. Companies need to work on improving the charging infrastructure and energy costs need to come down. Sander believes that the quieter operation, reduced maintenance, and instant torque of electric cars attract customers organically in the long run.
Talking about the future, Sander added that ICE cars may not disappear completely. They could survive in smaller numbers for enthusiasts and niche buyers. Performance cars like the Golf GTI will continue to have a dedicated set of buyers. There will be a market for them even in the coming decades.
The carmaker has, in fact, invested heavily in electric mobility. Globally, it has built a wide EV portfolio under the ID range. The lineup is set to expand further in the coming months. One of the upcoming all-electric models is the ID.Polo. Additionally, the ID.3 and ID.4 are expected to receive updates in the near term. These will feature software improvements and will have more efficiency as well.
At the same time, the competition from Chinese automakers is intensifying. This pressure is pushing Volkswagen to increase cost efficiency and scale. According to Sander, these improvements are essential for staying relevant. He also adds that lessons learned from competing in China will help the carmaker strengthen its EV presence globally.
EV adoption has been exhibiting varying patterns in various international markets. Growth has slowed in some regions and relatively faster in others. EV buyers continue to have concerns around charging infrastructure limitations, high upfront costs, and around battery health and range. The reduction of government incentives in some markets has also impacted demand.
Even electric vehicles have reliability issues, even though they don’t have as many moving components as traditional ICE cars. EVs from many brands are known to be plagued by software-related issues and glitches. Some users have also reported battery defects and electronic problems as well. There have also been cases of multiple recalls.
All these can possibly frustrate EV owners just like mechanical failures do, in internal combustion cars. For ownership to get peaceful, these glitches need to be ironed out.
All these said, Volkswagen’s comparison looks sensible and well thought about. The shift to EVs will indeed be gradual and completely driven by buyer preferences.