Volkswagen may finally be preparing to do something it has avoided for decades in America: launch a pickup truck. Nothing is official yet, but the company’s U.S. boss says VW is actively evaluating whether entering America’s truck market makes sense.
And considering pickups account for roughly 30 percent of new vehicle sales in the U.S., Volkswagen clearly sees a massive opportunity it can’t ignore.
“We are having these discussions internally, but we have not made any decisions,” said Dr. Kjell Gruner, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, according to CarBuzz.
He also made it clear that a future VW pickup is absolutely not off the table. “I wouldn’t rule it out at all.”
Volkswagen Is Looking At Two Different Truck Segments
According to Gruner, Volkswagen is currently evaluating two very different types of pickups.
The first option would be a traditional midsize truck designed to compete directly with vehicles like the Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado, and Ford Ranger.
The second option would be a smaller unibody truck aimed at rivals like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz.
Both segments have seen strong demand in recent years, especially as buyers continue moving away from traditional sedans.
That gives Volkswagen multiple ways to enter the market without jumping directly into the brutal full-size truck battle dominated by Ford, Chevy, and Ram.
The Amarok Could Be VW’s Best Shortcut
If Volkswagen chooses the midsize route, it already has a potential solution.
The global-market Volkswagen Amarok could make the most sense.
The current Amarok shares significant engineering with the Ford Ranger thanks to Volkswagen’s partnership with Ford.
That means VW wouldn’t need to spend billions developing an entirely new truck from scratch.
Overseas versions of the Amarok are available with multiple diesel engines, but there’s also a gasoline-powered 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 300 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque.
That setup could potentially work well in the American market.
A Maverick Rival Is Also Possible
Volkswagen could also go in a completely different direction.
A smaller unibody pickup could target buyers who want truck practicality without the size and cost of a traditional body-on-frame model.
The Ford Maverick has proven that affordable compact trucks can be huge hits.
Hyundai’s Santa Cruz has also carved out its own niche.
Volkswagen could potentially build something based on the Atlas platform or revisit its Tarok concept as a starting point.
That would allow VW to chase younger buyers looking for lifestyle-focused utility vehicles.
More Commercial Vehicles Could Be Coming Too
Pickup trucks aren’t the only thing Volkswagen is considering.
The company is also exploring whether more commercial vans could make sense in the U.S.
That could include vehicles like the ID. Buzz Cargo van already sold overseas.
Such a move would give Volkswagen a bigger presence in both consumer and commercial vehicle markets.
Don’t Expect A Quick Announcement
Before anyone gets too excited, Volkswagen says no final decisions have been made.
The company is still studying whether the numbers make sense.
Still, this is one of the clearest signs yet that VW wants a bigger slice of America’s truck market.
And if it happens, the U.S. pickup segment could get a very interesting new competitor.