In 100 weeks, Volkswagen will officially unveil its first range of I.D. cars that aims to propel the manufacturer in the highly competitive market of electric vehicles.
Volkswagen is already offering a rechargeable electric car in the form of the e-Golf, which is based on the company's famous hatchback. But with an autonomy of barely 200km, the electric Golf is not raging despite great qualities. That's why VW is working on a complete fleet of electric cars equipped with the next generation of batteries to consolidate its future within this segment.
Indeed, the company which also owns Audi, Bentley, Skoda, Seat, Bugatti and Lamborghini, displays great electrical ambitions. "We are determined to become leaders, and the Volkswagen brand alone will offer more than 20 100% electric models by 2022 and invest around € 6 billion in e-mobility over the next five years," said Herbert. Diess, the CEO of the Volkswagen brand.
The medium-term goals of the company are to sell 1 million VW electric cars by 2025, and to make a good place in the rechargeable electric market with other brands like Audi.
In the United States, the first step towards this sales objective will be the production of the I.D. CROZZ SUV concept car that has just been presented at the Los Angeles Motor Show. This prototype has a range of 480km per charge, but it should be considerably increased by the time it runs in 2020.
After this SUV, VW will rethink its iconic Bulli electric microbus with the I.D. BUZZ marketed in 2022. "[The two cars] will help Volkswagen to start an electric revolution in the US All our ID prototypes show the inherent flexibility, autonomy and ingenuity of design for 21st century drivers", commented Hinrich J. Woebcken, CEO of the Volkswagen Group of America.
Both models will also be marketed in Europe and China, but will be adapted to local tastes. For example, VW plans to launch an electric offensive in Europe with a compact hatchback that will pay tribute to the first Beetle.
The manufacturing platform of these vehicles will also eventually develop Audi, Skoda and potentially electric Porsches.