VW Transporter T7 EV dropside pickup coming as spy shots offer glimpse at ultra-practical alternative to Tesla Cybertruck, F-150 Lightning aestheticism

Big electric pickup trucks like the Ford F-150 Lightning and Tesla Cybertruck draw equal amounts of awe and ire from netizens, with many arguing that these modern pickup trucks are putting looks over practicality. Volkswagen's next-generation electric van, the Transporter T7 EV, seems to be going in the other direction.

Spy shots obtained by Carscoops, the Transporter T7 electric van will also be available as a dropside pickup, which replaces the rear cargo space with a rather substantial bed. It's certainly not an exercise in styling, with underbody components and the chassis clearly visible under the industrial bed. 

More importantly than looks, though, is the fact that this Transporter T7 EV signals an increase in the shift to electric commercial vehicles. For private buyers, the T7 EV offers a uniquely versatile bed, which appears to be wider, longer, and more accessible than the bed offered by the Ford F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, or Tesla Cybertruck, without sacrificing the passenger-carrying capability of the first two rows of a typical van. 

Volkswagen seems to be the only EV maker that is taking these sorts of practicality-first electric pickups seriously, aside from new niche manufacturers, like Canoo, which is still in the early stages of life as a carmaker.

Volkswagen already has the Transporter flatbed pickup truck and van listed on its German website, but only in PHEV and diesel-powered form. It's unclear when the new electric vehicle will launch, but it is expected to hit the market after the PHEV and diesel versions.

In 2022, Volkswagen launched its ID.Buzz consumer-facing electric minibus, with the seven-seater version following shortly after that in mid-2023. Between those, however, Volkswagen showed off an ID.Buzz that had been converted into a pickup truck, although it is unclear if this version of the new bus will ever make it to production.

To view the full gallery of spy shots of the Volkswagen Transporter T7, head over to Carscoops's article.

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