Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has confirmed that the next-generation Amarok will be offered with both battery-electric and plug-in hybrid powertrains, although the electrified lineup will not arrive until the model’s full redesign later this decade.
Speaking to Australian automotive publication Chasing Cars, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles board member Josef Mecha said the company plans to adopt a flexible drivetrain strategy for the next Amarok generation.
Volkswagen Unveils ID. Cross Electric Compact SUV Starting at Around €28,000
Electrification Planned for Next Generation
According to Mecha, the future Amarok will be designed to support multiple powertrain options, allowing Volkswagen to respond to changing customer demand and market requirements.
“For the competitiveness of this product, you need this flexible drivetrain strategy, which comprises PHEVs and also electric vehicles.”
He added:
“We have a clear plan for this. But it’s not now. It’s for the next generation. For the existing model, it’s not going to change.”
The current second-generation Amarok will therefore continue with its existing range of internal combustion engine powertrains throughout its lifecycle.
Launch Expected Around 2029 or 2030
The third-generation Amarok is widely expected to arrive in 2029 or 2030, when Volkswagen’s current manufacturing agreement with Ford for the second-generation model is scheduled to expire.
The existing Amarok shares its platform with the Ford Ranger under a partnership between the two automakers.
Volkswagen EV Deliveries Fall in First Half Despite Growth in Europe
However, Volkswagen has not yet decided whether that collaboration will continue for the next-generation pickup.
Future Ford Partnership Still Under Review
Mecha said discussions with Ford regarding the future of the Amarok platform remain ongoing.
“We have a fixed duration with Ford on the (second-generation) Amarok, and so there’s no finality on the next generation (underpinnings).”
He added:
“We are busy talking to (Ford) see how we can bring the Amarok into the future.”
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles first announced plans for an all-electric Amarok in 2022, signaling its intention to expand electrification into the pickup segment as global demand for zero-emission commercial vehicles continues to grow.