by The Return of the Legendary Off-Roader
Volkswagen plans to revive the Touareg model as an electric vehicle. The new ID. Touareg will become the brand’s first car to receive the innovative SSP platform, even surpassing the future ID. Golf. The model is expected to debut in 2029, while electric counterparts of the Golf and T-Roc are delayed until 2030.
Technological Features and Platforms
The new Touareg will not use the PPE platform that underpins the Porsche Cayenne Electric and Audi e-tron series. Instead, it will receive the more advanced SSP architecture, which includes a zonal structure and software developed in collaboration with Rivian. This will allow the car to have modern technologies and improved performance.
German publication Automobilwoche reports that the ID. Touareg will effectively become the first VW model to benefit from the new platform.
Sales Geography and Historical Context
The ID. Touareg is not planned for sale in the USA, just as the electric Scout models will not be available in Europe. This decision is based on historical specifics: the Touareg was already discontinued in the American market in 2017, replaced by the locally produced Atlas, which offers a third row of seats. Volkswagen wishes to maintain such specialization for different regions.
Prospects and Delays
Delays in the launch of electric models, including the ID. Golf and ID. Roc, are related to the complexities of moving production from Germany to Mexico, as well as cost issues. Despite this, Volkswagen continues to invest in the future, expanding its electric lineup and preserving successful names like Touareg, which has existed for almost 25 years.
The electrification of the automotive market continues to gain momentum, and steps such as reviving classic models in a new form are becoming increasingly common. For Volkswagen, this is also an opportunity to combine past glory with future technologies, ensuring competitiveness in the European market, where demand for premium electric vehicles is growing. At the same time, the decision not to enter certain markets, such as the USA, may help the brand focus on regions where its names carry the most weight.
