Volkswagen ID.3 GTX Performance and GTX (Photo: Volkswagen)
Volkswagen's partnership with Rivian might bring the much-anticipated electric VW Golf to market sooner than expected. The German carmaker will reportedly launch the Golf EV to market in 2029, or even sooner, as its first electric vehicle based on its software-define Scalable Systems Platform.
Volkswagen expects its new joint venture with Rivian to pay dividends. It plans to invest up to US$5 billion, with US$3 billion going to Rivian and $2 billion going into the venture. According to reports, it will upgrade Volkswagen's Modular electric drive matrix (MEB) platform to MEB+ in 2026. These moves can help ensure the Golf EV comes out sooner.
The Golf EV is expected to look and feel like a Golf and maintain its affordability. Volkswagen's Kai Grunitz confirmed earlier this year there would be a GTI model, too.
While the VW Golf EV might come out earlier, the automaker's flagship Trinity EV is supposedly expecting more delays. After scrapping plans to build a new US$2.2 billion factory, the plans to produce the Trinity EV are pushed back to the end of 2032. It was supposed to launch in 2026 but it got delayed several times. It was expected to launch in 2028, then 2030, and now this new timeline. It was expected to be the first Volkswagen EV on its software-define SSP. But VW is reportedly delaying its release due to the decline of EV sales and its CEO's new plan to cut costs.