---
title: "VW Is Happy to Let Tesla, Daimler Take the Lead on Self-Driving Trucks"
description: "VW is a \"second mover\" in electric commercial vehicles, an executive said."
date: "2017-09-18"
modified: "2017-09-18"
authors:
  - name: "Stephen Edelstein"
    job_title: "Weekend Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/stephen-edelstein"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/tech/14421/vw-is-happy-to-let-tesla-daimler-take-the-lead-on-self-driving-trucks"
categories:
  - "Car Tech"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Self-Driving Tech"
  - "Trucks"
  - "Volkswagen News"
tags:
  - "Commercial Trucks"
  - "Daimler"
  - "Electric Vehicle"
  - "Mercedes-Benz"
  - "Tech"
  - "Tesla"
---

# VW Is Happy to Let Tesla, Daimler Take the Lead on Self-Driving Trucks

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/09/01_fahrmotiv_marco_polo_hamburg_car_v03_20160909.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com\</em\>*

Despite ambitious plans for electric cars, Volkswagen is taking a conservative approach to electric commercial vehicles, one executive has gone on record saying. While companies like Daimler and Tesla are launching electric commercial trucks, Volkswagen is a "second mover" in this segment, said VW commercial-vehicle boss Andreas Renschler in an interview with German newspaper *Tagesspiegel* (via [*Reuters*](<https://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-electric/volkswagen-is-second-mover-in-electric-commercial-vehicles-executive-idUSKCN1BS0GT>)).

"Tesla has some important and good impulses in the industry," Renschler said. But he also said Volkswagen "would rather check a couple of times more whether the standards are right."

Renschler said that VW "had emissions-free alternatives to to conventional trucks and buses on offer," according to *Reuters*. At the 2016 IAA Commercial Vehicles show, Volkswagen unveiled an electric version of its Crafter commercial van and discussed plans for sales in Europe.

However, other German manufacturers are taking a more aggressive approach to electric commercial vehicles than VW. Daimler recently launched its Fuso eCanter electric truck, and plans to build [electric versions of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/12332/mercedes-benz-will-build-electric-sprinter-vans-in-germany>) van. Deutsche Post DHL, the German postal service, is already building its own electric vans [and partnering with Ford](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/13559/dhl-to-use-electric-ford-delivery-vans-in-germany>) to build even more.

But most of the attention these days is being drawn by [Tesla and its upcoming electric semi-truck](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/14146/teslas-electric-semi-could-trigger-a-commercial-trucking-war-wall-street-analyst-says>). Set to be unveiled next month, the Tesla semi could be the first all-electric vehicle of its kind to enter mass production. Other companies are working on competitors, with Cummins recently unveiling [its own prototype electric truck](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/13929/it-turns-out-cummins-has-been-working-on-an-electric-semi-too>), and Daimler indicating [it will compete with Tesla](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/11500/daimler-isnt-worried-about-teslas-electric-semi-truck-exec-says>) on some level.

In the meantime, Volkswagen will concentrate on electric passenger cars. At the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, it announced [plans to electrify every model](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/14260/the-volkswagen-group-will-offer-electrified-versions-of-its-entire-lineup-by-2030>) across its assortment of brands by 2030. While many of those models will get hybrid powertrains, VW does plan to launch 50 new all-electric models by 2025.

## Author
Stephen has always been passionate about cars, and managed to turn that passion into a career as a freelance automotive journalist. When he's not handling weekend coverage for The Drive, you can find him looking for a new book to read.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/SAEdelstein>)