Volkswagen previews its $32,000 budget EV
German giant confirms it will go it alone with its cheapest electric car, which will be ready by 2027Volkswagen has released the first tease of its most affordable electric car yet, which has been signed off for production and will be priced from just €20,000 ($A32,000) when it’s launched in Europe in 2027.
This single teaser image released overnight suggests the German car-maker will launch a small five-door SUV that looks larger than the old Volkswagen e-Up it will replace in Europe, featuring short overhangs and prominent wheel-arches.
Other takeaways from the shadowy silhouette include a curvy nose, rakish windscreen and a rear tailgate spoiler for the baby electric SUV that will be positioned beneath both the ID.3 and incoming ID.2.
Commenting on the new budget EV, Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume said: “Generations of people associate the strong brands of the Volkswagen Group with their first car – and with affordable mobility.
“As a group with strong brands, we continue to assume this social responsibility to this day. That’s why I’m very pleased that we’re launching a future-oriented project. It’s about entry-level electric mobility from Europe for Europe.”
Volkswagen brand CEO Thomas Schäfer, who posted the teaser on his LinkedIn profile, said: “Despite the attractive price, our electric cars will set standards in the entry-level segment in terms of technology, design, quality, and customer experience.”
Originally, Volkswagen hoped it would be able to share the development costs of its cheapest battery-electric model with Renault, potentially twinning its unnamed entry-level EV with the inbound Twingo, but negotiations between the two car-makers stalled.
Much more will be revealed later, but it’s thought the cut-price VW EV could also be rebadged as a Skoda, Seat, Cupra or even an Audi to amortise the R&D investment.
A similar strategy was taken with the production version of the 2025 Volkswagen ID.2all concept, which will be copied by fellow VW Group brands to produce models like the closely-related Cupra Raval and a small Skoda electric SUV that will also be priced from around €25,000 ($A40,800).
Related: Volkswagen rethinks EV design
Related: 2025 Skoda Epiq EV to start from $41,000 in Europe
Related: VW and Renault to jointly develop sub-$30,000 EV: report
Related: Cupra UrbanRebel will be called Cupra Raval
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