Volkswagen has announced “in spite of all the challenges” it’s planning to launch an even more affordable electric vehicle (EV) than the recently-revealed ID. 2all compact EV concept.
The German carmaker has said it’ll launch by 2026 and be priced at less than €20,000 which, when directly converted to Australian dollars, is almost $32,000.
For context, the production version of the ID. 2all will start at less than €25,000, which directly converts to almost A$40,000.
In Germany the starting price for this upcoming cheaper EV lines up with the hot Up! GTI which starts at €20,230 including VAT. It also lines up with the starting price of the current Polo there.
The electric e-Up!, which is Volkswagen’s current cheapest EV, starts at €29,995 including VAT in Germany.
At this stage it’s unclear what this entry-level Volkswagen EV will look like, but it’s safe to assume it could be smaller than the Polo-sized ID. 2all.
It’s likely to be based on the MEB Entry platform and could share the same front-wheel drive setup as the ID. 2all concept.
Peak power in the ID. 2all concept is 166kW, with the 100km/h sprint time taking less than seven seconds. It’s mated to a battery pack of unknown size which allows for a claimed range of approximately 450km according to WLTP testing.
This upcoming entry-level EV will be one of ten new Volkswagen electric models due by 2026. One of these includes a compact electric SUV which could form as an electric counterpart to the T-Cross or T-Roc.
Volkswagen announced yesterday it will be investing €122 billion (~A$197 billion) in the ‘future fields’ of digitalisation and electrification between 2023 and 2027.
Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schafer said the company aims that by 2030, 80 per cent of all vehicles sold will be EVs – improving on the previous target of 70 per cent.
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