EV in new Transporter line-up

New Ford-twinned VW van to offer electric, plug-in hybrid and diesels from 2024

- WILL RIMELL

The next-generation Volkswagen Transporter will arrive in 2024 with an all-new architecture developed with Ford and offering pure-electric power for the first time.

The hugely popular van, which makes up two-thirds of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles' (VWCV) total sales, will be twinned with the Ford Transit Custom best-selling (itself the UK's vehicle) and be built at the Ford Otosan factory in Turkey.

From launch, the Transporter will again be available as a nine-seater Shuttle, two-row Kombi and cargo-carrying panel van, Autocar can confirm. A Sportline trim is also expected to be offered, although this has not yet been confirmed.

The next-gen Transporter will not, for the first time, be the basis for the new California camper. Instead, that model will be derived from the MQB-platformed Multivan MPV, as previewed by a concept in August.

VWCV boss Carsten Intra told Autocar: "A Multivan has to be much more comfortable and much more upscale [than the Transporter]. This is why we now have two line-ups. This is a really important project."