VW CEO Rules Out Reviving Beetle Name For The Electric Age

Since Schäfer previously told Autocar that the Golf and GTI nameplates would be likely to continue in an all-electric line-up, he has now suggested that several other storied names are tipped to survive the transition from combustion to EV power. "It makes no sense to bring it back." "I wouldn't say with 100% certainty, but from where I am now, I wouldn't consider it," Schäfer said in comments published last week by Autocar.

The announcement comes amid a range overhaul at Volkswagen, with all-electric models like the ID.3 aiming to gradually replace the evergreen Golf as standard-bearer. Although a former Volkswagen CEO's decision to drop the Golf name has been reversed, Schäfer stated that names such as the Scirocco, which was used for a sporty model for decades, were not likely to return. "Obviously, we have a lot of names in our history," Schäfer said, "but there are only a few that are really iconic and global." The VW CEO's remarks come on the heels of the unveiling of a virtual Beetle EV for an animated film, which has fueled speculation that a real, zero-emission production version is on the way.

The Volkswagen Beetle was previously proposed as a four-door electric hatchback as part of ex-CEO Herbert Diess' plan to introduce more "emotional" cars to the VW lineup, similar to the ID Buzz.

The Volkswagen ID Buzz pays homage to the company's history, specifically the legendary Type 2 van from the 1950s, but it does not represent a desire to continue down the retro path with similar'revivals,' according to Schäfer, who believes that playing up to nostalgia "would be a dead end."

He continued: “The brand always has to reinvent itself and bring out new things. It's similar to when the Beetle's time was over and the Golf came in. You've got to bring new models, but at the same time optimise existing ones.

"We are proud of our heritage; there's nothing wrong with that. And when you look back, it is something to be proud of. But it's not what only defines us.”