Electric VW Golf not for Oz?

Volkswagen Chairman Martin Winterkorn recently announced the German automotive giant will have plug-in hybrid electric vehicles appearing on European streets by 2014.

However Australia may not be invited to the green Golf party.

During the national media launch of its most efficient Golf to date, the Bluemotion diesel hatch, Volkswagen Australia's  Managing Director, Anke Koeckler, told the Carsales Network that next generation plug-in hybrid Golf models were not a certainty for Australia.

"A decision on right-hand drive electric Golf has not been made yet," said Ms Koeckler, who confirmed that Volkswagen will focus on left-hand drive markets such as Europe and North America.

"Always we are looking at all opportunities, but so far it's in development of left-hand drive cars," added the VW Australia boss.

Koeckler acknowledged that while her company's plug-in hybrid Golf was not yet being considered for right-hand drive markets -- such as the UK, Australia and South Africa -- it shouldn't be ruled out completely.

"It always comes back to the potential of how many cars can you sell. And if it does come to Australia -- and it would probably take a couple more years to do so -- it would need a robust and reliable business case behind it. I don't expect we would get it straight away."

The lack of government incentives for low emission vehicles was partly to blame, said Koeckler, who pointed out that new technologies, such as electric and hybrid powertrains, would be more readily adopted if governments  sweetened the deal for motorists.

"In Germany, people who like to drive electric cars get a subsidy, and this [electric car] incentive is something we need here in Australia, if the segment is to grow. The government could do more [to promote electric cars] in future."

While the chances of a plug-in hybrid Volkswagen Golf coming to Australia in the next three years are slim, the German company is still forging ahead with low emission products, launching the BlueMotion Golf today, which is rumoured to be more efficient than the 3.9L/100km Toyota Prius hybrid.

"So far we are really happy with our diesels, and our new BlueMotion. It comes down to environmental thinking, how to drive while lowering your fuel consumption," concluded Koeckler.

We'll have full drive impressions of the frugal new Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion next week, so stay tuned for that one.

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