Volkswagen became the latest automaker to reveal its plans to produce a $25K electric vehicle in the near future. The company unveiled the ID.2all during an online presentation. The compact-sized EV should begin production in 2025.
Actually, it will be priced at about 25,000 euros, which is a little less than $27,000 using current exchange rates. The company is just the latest to automaker to commit to producing an affordable — $25K being the “affordable” target number — following General Motors, Honda, Tesla and others.
“We are transforming the company rapidly and fundamentally — with the clear objective of making Volkswagen a genuine Love Brand,” said Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars.
“The ID. 2all shows where we want to take the brand. We want to be close to the customer and offer top technology in combination with fantastic design. We are implementing the transformation at pace to bring electric mobility to the masses.”
What $26,790 buys
The new ID.2all is compact hatchback that is roughly the same size a VW Golf, but the same price as the Polo, the company’s entry-level offering in Europe. It’s based off the company’s well-known MEB Entry platform.
With production set to begin in 2025, it’s expected to travel about 280 miles on a single charge, although that’s likely using the less stringent WLTP European standard. It’s likely to be closer to 240 to 250 miles using the U.S. federal guidelines.
Officials say it won’t be some sort of econobox, instead featuring several innovative technologies such as Travel Assist, IQ.Light or Electric Vehicle Route Planner as well as a new Volkswagen design language. The production version will be sold in Europe to start and will be part of a wave of 10 new electric models that Volkswagen will launch by 2026.
The battery will charge from 10% to 80% in around 20 minutes, while boasting a top speed of about 100 mph. It will also be the first all-electric MEB-based VW with front-wheel drive, officials noted.
“We are exploiting the great flexibility offered by our modular electric drive (MEB) platform and will set new standards in terms of technology and everyday usability with the MEB Entry platform,” Kai Grünitz, member of the Brand Board of Management responsible for Technical Development.
Looking to be the leader
VW is also working on another electric car available for under 20,000 euros in 2026, it said, although officials declined to offer additional information. The company’s already introduced the ID.4 on a global scale and more are coming this year, including the ID.3, the ID.Buzz with a long wheelbase and the ID.7.
Officials said they believed this would give them the “widest range of electric vehicles compared with its competitors.” VW wants to own 80% of the EV market share in Europe. It’s unclear how many of these vehicles will come to the U.S. The ID.4 is already on U.S. streets, and currently being built at its Chattanooga, Tennessee plant. Meanwhile, the ID.Buzz is expected to arrive for the 2024 model year.
Tesla was expected to show off its rumored sub-$25K model during its recent investor day, but failed to show it, although several executives referenced the new vehicle during their presentations.
GM adjusted the price of the Chevy Bolt for 2023 so it would come in just below $25,000. It’s coming Chevy Equinox EV — set to arrive later this year — expected to have a starting price of $30,000. Honda’s expected sub-$30K offerings will be produced as part of a partnership with GM.