--- title: "VW’s R Badge To Become EV-Only Sub-Brand by 2030: Report" description: "We already knew that Volkswagen wanted to be the world's largest EV seller by 2025. It looks like the R lineup will lead that charge." date: "2022-10-25" modified: "2022-10-25" authors: - name: "Aaron Cole" job_title: "Contributor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/aaron-cole" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/vws-r-badge-to-become-ev-only-sub-brand-by-2030-report" categories: - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Volkswagen News" tags: - "Volkswagen" --- # VW’s R Badge To Become EV-Only Sub-Brand by 2030: Report ![]() *\Aaron Cole\* Call it inevitable but also call it another sign of the times. Volkswagen’s vaunted R brand will gradually shift to an all-electric sub-brand by the end of the decade, [*Autocar* reported Tuesday](). That writing was already on the wall when VW announced it would aim to be the world leader in [EV sales by 2025](), and that its revived Scout brand would launch [with an electric truck and SUV first](). Quoting someone within the halls of VW, *Autocar* reported that VW is “currently assessing various concepts and possibilities but will only offer R models that meet our requirements. One thing is certain: the future of R is electric.” Those R models aren’t specified but it’s a good guess that they’re R variants of the company’s ID models—ID 3 and ID 4, although [ID Buzz]() feels like a long shot—along with others. Quoting VW R boss Reinhold Ivenz, the sub-brand could take a more active role in the lineup as a halo for performance and sustainability. The company also added that future R products would be the first stop for trickle-down tech from VW’s numerous R concepts, including the [ultra-fast ID R]() race car. The sub-brand will also focus on quicker and easier charging, although it’s unclear if that means faster-charging hardware. What this does mean is that it’s unlikely that we’ll ever see electric-powered R’s on lots next to gas-powered variants of the same car. It’s also unlikely that the R sub-brand moves forward on building its own models and will instead stick strictly to high-powered variants of already-existing VW cars. That last point is a tough one to swallow; VW’s made a big deal about its MEB platform and its flexibility for others to build from, which should be an easy showcase with its own performance marque. We reached out to a Volkswagen of America spokesperson who declined to comment on the report. *Got a tip? Send it in to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Aaron began his career in journalism when the news was printed on dead trees and thrown on driveways. A graduate of the University of Utah, he began his career as a sportswriter and has covered news for over a decade. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Instagram]()