The Volkswagen Group is placing all its would possibly behind growing a brand new entry-level electrical automobile, based on a brand new report. Its upcoming mass-market EV, alleged to be the ID.1, may very well be the non secular successor to the VW e-Up metropolis automobile bought in Europe.

Affordability can be the brand new EV’s major enchantment. The German carmaker will purpose to rationalize prices with platform sharing – the entry-level hatchback and its potential cousins from Cupra and Skoda would possibly experience on bespoke structure.

Platform particulars haven’t surfaced but, however will probably be totally different from MEB Entry, which is about to underpin the manufacturing model of the VW ID. 2all idea, a sub €25,000 ($27,200) electrical hatchback that the model previewed early this 12 months.

The VW ID.2 will share its platform with the Cupra Raval and Skoda’s small SUV – all of which is slated to enter manufacturing in 2025 onwards in Spain, at SEAT’s Martorell plant close to Barcelona.

VW’s new mannequin, whose identify is but to be finalized, is more likely to be positioned beneath the ID. 2all idea. The mass market EV might begin at underneath £17,000 ($22,000), based on Autocar.

Volkswagen Group’s chief monetary officer Arno Antlitz, referring to the ID 2all’s goal value, stated that the corporate was assured of reaching decrease costs due to developments in additional reasonably priced battery applied sciences and cheaper manufacturing strategies.

He additionally talked about that the manufacturing model of the ID .2all idea will carry unified battery cells from the model’s new PowerCo plant in Spain. The plant is being constructed in Sagunto, 18 miles north of Valencia. The €3 billion facility ($3.3B) may have an annual capability of 40 gigawatt-hours, and cell manufacturing will begin in 2026.

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The transfer was strategic. The provision of low-cost inexperienced electrical energy and favorable situations for cheaper battery manufacturing prompted Volkswagen to go forward with the plant. It’s additionally attainable for the brand new EV to borrow the ID 2all’s 38-kilowatt hour lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery for a spread of underneath 200 miles.

The Volkswagen Group would possibly even undertake a battery technique just like that of Tesla, providing totally different cell chemistries throughout value ranges. Tesla makes use of the extra reasonably priced prismatic LFP cells provided by CATL on the entry-level Mannequin Y and Mannequin 3, whereas its long-range fashions seemingly use energy-dense nickel-based chemistries.

That stated, it’s unclear which markets the VW ID.1 would launch in. The US looks like an unlikely vacation spot resulting from its love for greater SUVs and vans. The German automaker at the moment has the ID.4 SUV in its US EV line-up with plans of including the ID.7 electrical sedan and ID. Buzz microbus in 2024 and 2025, respectively.