Speaking at the 34th International Vienna Motor Symposium, Winterkorn said the group’s new modular component system, which is already being used in the latest Golf, A3, Leon and Octavia and will soon underpin numerous body styles in the B, C and D-segment, would allow the carmaker to fit every kind of drive system into all of its new models.

The first cars to get a plug-in hybrid drivetrain – the Audi A3 e-tron shown at this year’s Geneva Motor Show and the Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid – are set for a market introduction in the near future. Winterkorn said plug-in hybrid drivetrains were also earmarked for the Volkswagen Passat, Audi A6 and Porsche Cayenne.

‘Over the coming years we will electrify all vehicle classes in this way and help electrically powered motoring to make the breakthrough,’ he said.