A new report suggests Volkswagen's next Amarok pickup could offer hybrid and fully electric variants by 2030.
Volkswagen has had an eventful year, expanding its lineup across multiple markets. The automaker recently revealed pricing and specifications for the redesigned 2027 Atlas in the United States while also introducing conventional hybrid versions of the Golf and T-Roc in Europe.
Now attention is shifting to Australia, where a new report points to the future of Volkswagen's midsize pickup. Although nothing has been officially confirmed, fresh speculation suggests the company has approved development of a third-generation Amarok that could debut near the end of the decade.
Adding to the discussion, digital automotive artist Theottle created a series of renderings for Australian publication Chasing Cars, imagining what the next Amarok could look like. The CGI concept is based on industry rumors rather than any official Volkswagen design.
First introduced in 2010, the Amarok has been one of Volkswagen's key entries in the global midsize pickup segment. The truck competes against established rivals including the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, and Mitsubishi Triton in markets such as Europe, Australia, and other regions outside North America.
Volkswagen still manufactures the original Amarok in Argentina for select South American markets. Elsewhere, the second-generation model launched in 2022 through a partnership with Ford, sharing its platform and much of its engineering with the latest Ranger.
According to Chasing Cars, the next-generation Amarok is expected to arrive around 2029 or 2030, roughly when Volkswagen's current collaboration with Ford is scheduled to conclude. The publication reports that the automaker has not yet decided whether to extend that partnership or pursue a different strategy for the pickup's future.
The report also indicates the new Amarok will likely feature a heavily electrified lineup, including plug-in hybrid and fully electric versions. However, Volkswagen has reportedly not finalized the underlying architecture, leaving open the possibility of either retaining a traditional body-on-frame design or moving to a unibody platform for some variants.
Several development paths remain available. Volkswagen could continue working with Ford on the next-generation Ranger platform, or it could leverage one of its Chinese joint ventures. In South America, for example, the upcoming regional Amarok is expected to ride on the SAIC Maxus Terron 9 platform, which is also marketed as the LDV Terron 9 and MG U9 in Australia, rather than using the global second-generation Amarok architecture.
Theottle's digital concept imagines a dramatic redesign featuring a clean front fascia with a slim lower grille, a full-width LED daytime running light, and vertically stacked headlamps. The rendering also showcases flush door handles, a smoother body profile, contrasting exterior trim, and black alloy wheels.
At the rear, the concept includes a large tailgate, sculpted bumper, distinctive wing-shaped LED taillights, and a black sport bar integrated into the cargo bed. While the design offers an interesting glimpse at what Volkswagen's future pickup could become, the renderings remain unofficial, and any production model is still several years away.