Volkswagen to launch a new EV every year

Volkswagen has announced that, by 2030, 70 per cent of all the cars it sells in Europe will be pure-electric – double its previous estimate.

The German brand plans to launch at least one EV every year in the future after rolling out as many as three new battery-powered vehicles in 2021.

According to Volkswagen's global brand boss Ralf Brandstätter, the car-maker will accelerate its electrification plans in an effort to become the "most attractive brand for sustainable mobility".

Outside Europe, Volkswagen aims to have 50 per cent of all its sales in the US and China full-electric by 2030.

The VW boss also announced the car-maker would continue to invest heavily in software and digital technology as well as autonomous tech.

Despite the commitment to fast-forward the introduction of electric cars, Brandstätter said Volkswagen is not yet ready to abandon the internal combustion engine, with next-gen ICEs set to be offered on the replacement for the Volkswagen Golf hatch, Passat sedan and the Tiguan and T-Roc SUVs.

"We will still need combustion engines for a while, but they should be as efficient as possible," said Brandstätter.

Not certain to live on for another combustion-powered generation is the Volkswagen Touran people-mover available in Europe and the Arteon sedan.

As part of a media presentation, Brandstätter posted a slide detailing the model rollout.

In 2021, we already know that Volkswagen will launch its powerful all-wheel drive Volkswagen ID.4 GTX that's set to pack at least 225kW and hit 100km/h in less than 6.0 seconds.

Next up will be the Volkswagen ID.5 SUV-coupe, with a larger Volkswagen ID.6 SUV set to be launched before the end of the year in China.

In 2022, the Volkswagen ID. Buzz will land, followed by the 'Aero B' wagon version that's said to be inspired by the ID. Vizzion concept.

Brandstätter also confirmed the small, entry-level Volkswagen ID.1 would arrive in 2025 with an expected price tag of less than €20,000 ($A30,000.)

In 2026, the car-maker's flagship 'Project Trinity' will debut. Based on an advanced new platform, it's believed the high-tech new model will feature next-gen battery technology that allows for ultra-fast charging.

Stressing that EVs were not the only answer to be successful in the future, Brandstätter said: "If you believe with electric cars alone, we’ve arrived in the future, already you’re wrong.

"The key is digitalisation. The car is now a software-driven product, like an internet device. Cars will become more intelligent and safer. Electrification was just the beginning; the real disruption is coming."

Volkswagen says it will invest more than €15 billion ($A23bn) in digital and autonomous tech in the next five years, expanding its business further by offering charging services and connected systems using over-the-air updates.

Updates will be crucial to the launch of the Trinity flagship sedan that will initially be only offered with Level 2 Plus driving aids in 2026.

But, thanks to improved software, it will be capable of Level 4 autonomy by 2030 using its existing hardware.

Helping Volkswagen enhance its autonomous driving aids will be data fed back to the German car-maker's existing ID.3 and ID.4 models.