THE ID.2ALL CONCEPT IS A TESLA COMPETITOR EVADING THE U.S.

Volkswagen’s newest concept, which will almost surely be called the Volkswagen ID.2 when it launches, is the automaker’s attempt to fill the affordable EV-sized gaping hole in the industry.

• Revealed during an investor event in Germany last week, the ID.2all is a step in VW’s 5-year plan.
• The plan involves investing nearly $200 billion over the next five years in areas including battery cell plans and raw materials, in hopes of increasing their share of all-electric car sales in Europe to 70 percent by 2030.

The announcement followed Tesla’s Investor Day event, where the hopes of an affordable EV reveal were lost in Musk’s ambitious Master Plan 3.

• The event centered around Musk’s push for sustainable energy, with the billionaire stating that Tesla plans to take $10 trillion in investments to create “a sustainable energy civilization.”
• The presentation still remained scant of any new Tesla products – with many people expecting a new, affordable offering prior to the event.
• The CEO was also criticized for not being able to completely fulfill the commitments of his “Part Deux,” which was published in 2018.

Volkswagen’s announcement of the ID.2all seems to have come at a time when several buyers have been lacking options when it comes to an affordable plug-in vehicle.

The ID.2 will be one of 10 all-electric models that VW plans to unveil by 2026.

• The production version of the ID.2all is slated to go on sale in Europe in 2025, with an expected starting price under €25,000 (or roughly $26,800 by the current exchange rate).
• The EV will be built atop the second generation of VW’s modular “MEB” platform – the current version of which is found in all the existing ID models.
• The affordable hatchback will also be the automaker’s first EV with front-wheel drive, running on a “powerful electric drive motor” producing 223 hp.

While the company did not make any comments on battery capacity, they do promise a range of up to 450 km (280 miles).

• The car will be capable of charging to 80 percent in less than 20 minutes.
• While the range does sound impressive, these numbers will likely be seen only on the higher range version of the EV, which will come at a greater price than the sub-25,000 euros base price.

Volkswagen also draws several design elements of the ID.2all from the VW Golf (Mk8), with Head of Design Andreas Mindt stating that the new design language is based on “stability, likeability, and excitement.”

• Despite having a smaller footprint than the Golf, VW promises that the interior is nearly as spacious, thanks to the space-efficient electric platform.
• The interior itself does not carry much resemblance to Volkswagen’s current lineup, featuring a “self-explanatory” infotainment system with a large center console and a knob that could address the lack of physical controls.
• The hatchback will be relatively trifle on storage space with 490 to 1,330 liters of volume, depending upon seat configuration.

While the main feature of the ID.2all is its pricing, it won’t remain the cheapest EV in VW’s arsenal for long.

• The company plans to follow up the ID.2 with an even more affordable EV, likely the ID.1, which would bear a price tag of less than €20,000.
• Volkswagen also plans to introduce the new ID.3, the ID.7, and the ID.Buzz sometime later this year.
• These will be followed by a compact electric SUV, slated for a 2026 release.

While the affordable EV race has been somewhat left in the dust of SUVs and trucks, Volkswagen is ambitious that the ID.2all could help the automaker race to its goal of becoming the most prominent automaker in Europe.

However, the automaker’s EV presence in the United States still remains scant, with the buyers having their options limited with the ID.Buzz or the ID.4 being the prominent choice.