VW readies to go electric

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Berlin - Volkswagen AG hopes to introduce its first electric cars on the market in 2013, the German automaker's chief executive said on Friday.

In a speech to an industry group, Martin Winterkorn criticised the German auto industry for failing to invest sufficiently in research and development of electric technology and said VW was working on going electric with its Up line of micro cars.

"It will significantly influence the future of individual mobility," Winterkorn said of electric technology. He said the key was developing a sufficient battery that would not need more than two hours to charge.

"The German automobile industry did not work consequently enough in developing electric technology," Winterkorn said, according to a written version of the speech released by VW.



- SAPA