Emissions caps not a concern for Volkswagen

Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA) says it is fully prepared and in a good position to meet the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard – a stringent emissions cap legislation coming into effect as of January 1.

Speaking to carsales at last week’s ID.Buzz local launch, VGA public relations manager Paul Pottinger said VW had been campaigning for such legislation since 2021.

“We were pretty outspoken about it. We think it’s a good thing,” he said.

Volkswagen’s existing portfolio is heavy on internal combustion vehicles and, up until the ID.Buzz arrived, only had one electrified offering – the flagship and niche Touareg R plug-in hybrid.

VGA managing director Karsten Seifert added that the incoming 2025 product onslaught – including the zero-emissions BEVs the ID.Buzz, ID.4 and ID.5 – would help put the brand in a good place to meet the NVES.

“We have a reasonable plan for the next few years; we will adapt the portfolio, we will look at what else is needed, but we feel quite confident that we can fulfill the standards”, Seifert said.

“We were involved in consultations with some other brands with the government and we’re quite comfortable how it’s ended up.”