Volkswagen considers bringing an electric vehicle to the United States

A larger version of the tiny Volkswagen E-Up! electric-vehicle concept, unveiled here at the Frankfurt auto show, likely will be sold in the United States.

"The reason we are working on an electric vehicle is the American market," said Ulrich Hackenberg, board member in charge of product development at Volkswagen AG.

Hackenberg said a production version of the E-Up! will go on sale in Europe in 2013. He said U.S. sales would start later.

The E-Up! is based on VW's new modular small-car family, scheduled to debut in 2011. The four-seat E-Up!, which measures 125 inches long, has a range of 70 to 80 miles on battery power.

For the United States, Hackenberg said, he envisions a front-drive model about 146 inches long.

VW will launch its first hybrid vehicle next year--a version of the Touareg SUV. Hackenberg said the Touareg hybrid will debut at the 2010 Detroit auto show in January.

By Diana T. Kurylko- Automotive News