January 29, 2021 02:05 AM

VW ID3 gets boost from launch of base version after almost catching Golf

The ID3 is the first model from VW's ID family of full-electric cars.

FRANKFURT -- Volkswagen's ID3 electric hatchback is likely to get a sales boost after the brand began accepting orders for the car's base version.

Up to now VW has focused on the higher-end ID3 Pro that starts at 34,995 euros ($42,330) in Germany and can drive as far as 426 km (265 miles) on a single charge because of its large battery.

European customers can now order an entry level version of the battery-powered car called ID3 Pure at a price of 30,000 euros.

The ID3 Pure is expected to have a 330-km range under the WLTP test cycle.

The ID3 finished 2020 with strong sales after its launch was delayed because of software glitches. VW began ID3 deliveries in Europe in September, but without key functions such as App Connect. The problems were fixed in December.

Top-down rollout

Even though automakers such as Tesla and VW have advertised their mass market EVs with low price tags, they preferred to go to market with more expensive versions initially.

In November, VW Group CEO Herbert Diess gave an indication as to why that was the case.

His company relied on a top-down rollout of EVs with models such as the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron to meet its CO2 fleet emissions targets in Europe. Launching EVs in the minicar and subcompact segment to lower CO2 emissions would be unprofitable, Diess said.

VW said it received 68,800 orders for the ID3 last year, of which 56,500 units have been delivered to customers since the September launch.

This put the ID3 ahead of the Audi e-tron with 47,300 units delivered and the VW e-Golf with 41,300, making the ID3 the group's best-selling electric vehicle in 2020.

The hatchback is just the beginning of VW brand's electric vehicle offensive. Dealers in Germany and the Netherlands have already received the first units of the ID4 crossover. An all-wheel-drive version called the ID4 GTX is due to go on sale in a few months, before the ID5 coupe-styled crossover arrives before year-end.