Volkswagen ID.1 electric vehicle may cost less than R393,000

VW AG is planning an even cheaper EV after recently unveiling the ID. 2all, an inexpensive electric car that is still a couple of years away from manufacturing.

An electric vehicle priced around €20,000 (R393,00), possibly dubbed the ID.1, “should arrive as early as 2026, 2027,” VW brand president Thomas Schaefer told Automobilwoche.

According to Schaefer, such an entry-level electric car is desperately needed.

VW requires a mass-market electric vehicle.

It has struggled to stay up with Tesla Inc.’s electric vehicles and must reverse sales drops in China, where Chinese manufacturers headed by BYD Co. have ramped up their game.

The ID. 2all, a car that will cost less than €25,000 and appear in European dealerships in 2025, was showcased by the brand last week.

Volkswagen claims the car will be as roomy as a Golf and as affordable as a Polo.

Despite high battery prices, the firm is working hard to accomplish the even lower price objective, including the option of using a shared platform with another manufacturer, Schaefer told Automobilwoche. “But I believe we can do it on our own,” he continued.

It’s unclear whether the car can be constructed in Europe at the goal price, or if it must be built elsewhere, he added.