Volkswagen keen to offer sub-$40,000 EVs in Oz
VW wants to offer ‘whole spectrum’ of EVs in Australia, but Volkswagen ID.1 and ID.2 still a few years awayVW is preparing to broaden its stable of electric cars in Australia beyond the five EVs already confirmed before 2025, putting its hand up for more affordable compact cars including the Volkswagen ID.1 and ID.2.
The German brand has already committed to launching the Volkswagen ID.3 hatch and ID.4 and ID.5 SUVs in 2024, followed by the Volkswagen ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo in 2025.
“All IDs are of interest, absolutely,” VW Australia’s communications chief Paul Pottinger told carsales.
“There’s five Volkswagen IDs coming here before 2025, the two ID. Buzz models, plus the ID.3, ID.4 and ID.5. But of course, the whole spectrum of BEVs is of interest.”
Although currently without a battery-electric vehicle in its stable, Volkswagen Australia predicts its sales of EVs will overtake those of conventional combustion-engined cars by 2028.
This will not only require a dramatic freeing up of supply for our market, but more affordable EVs including the incoming 2026 Volkswagen ID.1 and ID.2 compact cars.
The Polo-sized Volkswagen ID.1 hatch was recently confirmed as a sub-€20,000 ($A32,000) contender and is expected to be introduced soon after the Golf-sized sub-$40,000 Volkswagen ID.2 turns up overseas in 2025.
The ID.2, which was previewed by the ID.2All concept, will be priced from less than €25,000 ($A40,000) in Europe.
Asked whether Volkswagen intends to bring the silent small cars to Australia, Pottinger said: “Yes, when they become available.”
Unlikely to arrive Down Under until 2026, the ID.1 and ID.2 will be based on the same MEB platform architecture and employ a front-wheel drive layout with a single-motor powertrain offering a driving range of up to about 450km.
“We’ve said many times that we need to get from the back to the front of the queue in terms of production,” said Pottinger.
“Now, obviously, in a [Volkswagen] Group sense, the duck’s been broken by Audi at the luxury end and by Cupra at the accessible end and in pretty impressive fashion.
“But if we’re talking about the numbers that we need to achieve, selling more BEVs than ICEs by 2028 as is still the contention, then we need to consider a lot.”
Related: Five new Volkswagen EVs here by 2025
Related: Baby Volkswagen ID.1 electric car confirmed
Related: Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 arriving in Oz next year
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