By Staff Reporter

Volkswagen South Africa has been conspicuous by its absence in the electric vehicle space locally. With the e-Golf representing the marquee overseas, questions have been asked about its absence in Mzansi with likes of Nissan Leaf, BMW i3 and Jaguar I-Pace having entered the local fray.

Of course it wouldn’t make sense to introduce the e-Golf at this stage with the Golf 8 about to come into the market and the all-electric ID.3 joining the global VW line-up soon.

e-Golf in Mzansi

Cleverly and in preparation for the local roll out electric vehicles in 2022, VW SA is launching a VW e-Golf Project. The e-Golf pilot project will see six fully electric vehicles being tested by motoring and lifestyle media, selected dealers as well as Volkswagen employees. VW says, “[this is] in an effort to gain valuable consumer insights into the varying experiences of driving and living with an electric vehicle in South Africa.”

This data is widely available but this will help VW SA to gather its own data using its own products in South Africa. In this light, the e-Golf pilot project will include charging infrastructure installed in Volkswagen’s Uitenhage manufacturing plant and as well as the Dealer Training Academy in Centurion, Gauteng.

Three-phase approach

The e-Golf pilot project is the first step of a three-phase approach which will pave the way for Volkswagen to include electric vehicles in its future product portfolio in South Africa. The second phase will be expanded to include a fleet of fully electric Volkswagen ID.3 vehicles from 2021.

The third and last phase of the electric mobility project will see the first fully electric Volkswagen vehicles available for sale to customers in South Africa from 2022.

No e-Golf and ID.3 for you – just yet

VW SA says, “e-Golf as well as the ID.3de will not be available for sale in South Africa and will be used solely for the purposes of ensuring as many South Africans as possible get to experience life with an electric vehicle.”

Customers who want to be kept informed on Volkswagen’s electric mobility journey can sign up on the Volkswagen website: www.vw.co.za.

Source: VW SA