- VW doesn't see the need for multi-speed transmissions in EVs
- Tested the manual transmission of performance EVs
- More efficient EVs may be more expensive, VW says
It looks like Volkswagen will not follow Porsche or Mercedes-Benz.
On Thursday at the 2024 Los Angeles auto show Kai Grünitz, head of global research and development at Volkswagen, told Green Car Reports that the automaker doesn't see the need 2-speed transmissions in EVs.
Grünitz said “today there is there is no plan to produce it,” but the manager quickly realized that “because there is no demand from the customer side,” for multi-speed transmissions in EVs.
Grünitz then said “there is there is no reason to invest in that” if there is no demand from customers.
“To be honest, if you look at the ID.7 for example, it is one of the most efficient cars,” added Stefan Voswinkel, head of brand communications at VW.
“We're class-leading in that segment,” Grünitz said, referring to the VW ID.7, which is permanently delayed in the US and, like other EVs using VW's MEB architecture for EVs, uses a single-speed reduction gear.
Grünitz noted that there are other opportunities to reduce or increase efficiency without a multi-speed transmission, and “the most important comes from the engine side,” he said.
“There are many small screws that you can use improve efficiency without going to the transmission,” said Grünitz.
2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI 380
All this despite the fact that Grünitz admitted that Volkswagen has created a manual transmission for EVs, and that he tested it—and didn't like it. Although this unit could be for a popular car like the electric GTI, the executive said he likes the smoothness of EVs that come with a single-speed transmission.
The upcoming 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, the first vehicle from the automaker to arrive on the next-generation MMA platform, will use a two-speed manual transmission. Mercedes executives have realized that efficiency is the new currency. “I hope it will be new money,” said Grünitz. “I think it's not today.”
Grünitz said there really isn't one talking about efficiency. When pressed on the topic because Lucid, among other car manufacturers, is very vocal about the topic, Grünitz noted that it is not being discussed at the consumer level, and asked: “Why are we not seeing these discussions with our customers?”
Grünitz noted before his bosses fired him that making cars more efficient would make cars more expensive.