VW’S EV price plan
Car giant plans to jump-start EV interest with model prices close to diesel equivalents
ID range to match diesel prices
Volkswagen is aiming to sell its forthcoming ID range of battery-electric vehicles (BEVS) for close to the same prices as diesel equivalents to attract more customers to the technology.
The ID hatchback and ID Crozz SUV BEVS, which have both been shown in concept form, are due to go on sale in 2020. ID Crozz product manager Jerome Kueppers told Autocar that pricing is “a challenge” when it comes to making buyers consider BEVS, along with infrastructure concerns and battery life.
Although Kueppers declined to be drawn on pricing specifics, Autocar understands that VW’S goal is to sell the ID roughly in line with diesel versions of the similarly sized Golf, which start at £19,910. For comparison, prices for the electric e-golf start from £32,190 and the new second-generation Nissan Leaf costs £26,490.
VW considers the ID Crozz SUV broadly parallel to the Tiguan; prices for diesel versions of that model start from £24,940. The Crozz 2 concept that was shown at the Frankfurt motor show featured an 83kwh lithium ion battery along with dual electric motors on the front and rear axles that produce a combined 302bhp (see separate story). While this all-wheel-drive system will be offered, the production Crozz will also be available in rear-wheel drive with a single electric motor, similar to the system that drives the ID hatchback concept.
Kueppers said that the firm chose to start the ID family with the hatchback and SUV because they are the two biggest car markets. He added: “The SUV market is high-growing, so it was easy to go with this segment. The Crozz is a perfect size for us, and hits a sweet spot that will be popular in the US, China and Europe.”
The third model in the range will be the ID Buzz, an Mpv-style machine with design cues from the VW Microbus that is due in 2022.
Kueppers said VW “will be quick” to launch further models, a task made easier by the versatile MEB platform that will underpin electric vehicles across the Volkswagen Group.