VW e-scooter study: Suzuki influences already?

While the new-gen Volkswagen Beetle stole most of the limelight at the Volkswagen stall at the Shanghai Motor Show, there was another almost inconspicuous story that stayed in the sidelines – but one that could point towards an exciting new direction for the automotive industry in general. We’re talking about the VW E-scooter, which was presented in a design-study concept form at the motor show. European carmakers using two-wheeler concepts to attract the attention of the world is not a new phenomenon by any standards – brands from MINI through to Dodge have brought out outstanding concepts to take their brands to the masses.

Never Volkswagen though, which has always had its eyes on cornering as large a share of the car market across categories and continents, using brute force thanks to which has now blossomed into a fantastic bouquet of brands. One of the brands it bought a stake in though, very recently at that, was Japanese car and bike maker Suzuki. The move to buy into Suzuki was initially, and logically, assumed to be a step to expand into the microcar market for growing economies, where even the smallest VW product, the Polo, does not quite cater to the mass market.

The latest E-Scooter study however points to the fact that alliance between Suzuki and the German biggie may run deeper than just rebadged Altos. Are we reading too deep into the concept? Maybe not. All these years, VW had the precedence of other European carmakers, but seldom the will to step away from their concept cars. Of late, we have also seen the rise of a hungry new Volkswagen, which has pulled many a brands out of their doldrums and has also begun to strengthen its own brand with exciting new products, and an increasing interest in motorsport.

Motorcycles could be the next thing to add a massive chunk of youthfulness and excitement to the manner in which the brand is perceived. Suzuki has had a long and glorious tradition of bikes ranging from the sedate and utilitarian to the absolute maddest machines on the planet, including the Hayabusa. This means that VW could not only improve its brand image, but also start working on high-volume, mass market motorcycles that would rake in even more money for automotive superpower.

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The E-scooter concept at the VW stall in Shanghai was missing company badges too. “The E-Scooter isn’t covered in VW badges, but you know it’s a VW from the shape of the frame, the detailing of the head- and taillight, and the premium quality of the product”, said VW’s director of design for China Simon Loasby. Maybe they actually just shipped the concept overnight from Hamamatsu, with little time left to add their own!