VW Mulls Options for U.S. Pickup Truck

Volkswagen AG is evaluating at least three options to enter the U.S. pickup truck market.

Among the alternatives is a midsize model that would share a body-on-frame platform with Ford Motor Co.’s all-new Ranger pickup, VW Americas CEO Scott Keogh tells Automotive News.

 

The vehicle would be part of the companies’ previously announced plans to collaborate on commercial vehicles and pickup trucks. The partnership includes using the Ranger platform for the next-generation VW Amarok (above) that will be sold in international markets.

The similarly named Tarok compact pickup (right), which also has a unibody structure, was unveiled at this month’s New York show. Media reports speculate that this is the most likely of the three options for the U.S. market. Keough touts the concept’s flexibility—including an extendable cargo bed—and notes that there’s an opportunity in the segment after other carmakers abandoned it. VW already has said it will build a production version of the vehicle for South America.

No timeframe was given for a decision or possible U.S. launch of a VW-badged pickup.