Volkswagen Group will significantly ramp up its electric vehicle offerings in the wake of its emissions scandal last year, the German automaker announced Thursday.
{mosads}During a press conference in Germany, Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller said the company will introduce 30 electric plug-in vehicle models by 2025, with the goal of selling 2 million to 3 million units per year.
The heightened emphasis on electric cars — which will entail an $11 billion investment — will help Volkswagen meet government limits on carbon dioxide emissions.
The announcement comes after the automaker admitted last year it sold 11 million diesel-powered vehicles around the world that had been rigged with software to cheat on emissions tests. The scandal will likely cost Volkswagen around $18 billion.
Volkswagen’s push to overhaul its global image and regain the public’s trust will also include greater investments in battery technology, autonomous vehicles and the ride-hailing startup Gett, Mueller said.