VW will reportedly unveil a concept version of its upcoming entry-level EV at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September.
The most affordable electric VW will slot underneath the ID 3 in the range and is expected to carry a price tag under 20,000 euros ($23,400 in current exchange rates). It will be similar in size to the Polo supermini and will probably be named the ID.1, with the ID.2 moniker likely reserved for an upcoming compact electric SUV.
“We start from the middle,” said Jürgen Stackmann, VW’s head of sales. “The number (3) indicates expandability, there is still plenty of room to move upwards, but also downwards. Because we still have a lot in the pipeline.”
Stackmann also confirmed to Autocar that the entry-level EV will make its debut as a concept at Frankfurt next to the production version of the ID.3 which will be the main attraction at VW’s stand.
Previous reports said that the ED.1 will be marketed as a modern-day “people’s car” together with the also electric compact crossover, which is slated for 2023 or 2024.
Pre-orders for the new ID.3 have started today, with the company accepting deposits of €1,000 ($1,119). VW targets a base price of under €30,000 ($33,581) in Germany, before subsidies. The first EVs to follow it into production will be larger models, based on the Crozz, Buzz, Vizzion and Roomzz concepts, with the more affordable members of the ID family to show up later.
“In the long term we clearly need to scale down and be more aggressive on prices,” said Stackmann. “That will be a scale of industrialization, and it will take some time until we bring it into classes.”