Volkswagen’s Elusive Quest to Make an EV for the Masses

BERLIN—Almost a decade ago, Volkswagen set out on an expensive quest to dominate the new world of software-defined cars and build the electric “people’s car.” It is still trying. 

The German automaker has invested billions of euros, retooled entire plants and created new software and battery companies to assist in making the transition. However, VW has yet to produce an EV that has matched the success of its historic gas-powered models such as the Beetle and the Golf in its core markets.