Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automobilwoche
  • Automotive News Canada
  • Automotive News China
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Login
  • HOME
    • Latest news
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • New Product
    • Environment/Emissions
    • Sales By Market
    • On The Move
    • Auto Shows
    • Munich Auto Show
    • Geneva Auto Show
    • Paris Auto Show
    • Beijing Auto Show
    • Shanghai Auto Show
  • Features
    • Long Read
    • Interview of the Month
    • Focus on Electrification
    • Focus on Technology
    • Segment Analysis
    • Cars & Concepts
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Europe By The Numbers
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Commentary
    • Guest columnists
  • Photos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Geneva Photo Gallery
    • Beijing Photo Gallery
    • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
    • Paris Photo Gallery
    • Shanghai Photo Gallery
  • Podcasts
  • Car Cutaways
  • EVENTS
    • ANE Congress
    • ANE Rising Stars
    • ANE Eurostars
  • More
    • Publishing Partners
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • About Us
    • Capgemini: Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
    • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
    • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
    • Capgemini: The circular economy is spurring new thinking on EV batteries
    • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
    • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
    • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
    • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
    • Toyota Europe
    • UFI Filters
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Frankfurt Auto Show
September 10, 2019 03:13 AM

VW starts its EV push with the ID3 hatchback

Nick Gibbs
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    id3_2.jpg

    LED lighting has replaced chrome accents on the ID3 for added visual appeal, and to amplify the brand's new EV logo on the front fascia.

    FRANKFURT -- Volkswagen touted its ID3 as an electric car for the masses.

    The battery-powered compact hatchback will "secure the future of mobility for millions of people," VW Group CEO Herbert Diess said at the unveiling of the Golf-sized EV on Monday on the eve of the opening of the Frankfurt auto show.

    Diess said  the future of driving rests with electric cars such as the ID3 because they do not have the negative image of gasoline and diesel cars.

    The ID3 is the first of a wave of EVs from the VW, Audi, Skoda and Seat brands that will  share VW Group's global modular electric platform, known as MEB.

    VW said the ID3 would start at a price under 30,000 euros, or about $33,000, in Germany, "comparable to that of typical compact vehicles following the deduction of the anticipated government subsidies."

    The base-level car has a 45 KWh battery with a range of up 330 km (205 miles) as measured by Europe's WLTP test regime. Above that a mid-level 58 kWh has a range of 418 km (260 miles) in a version called Pro while the Pro S has a high-level 77 kWh battery has range of 549 km (341 miles).

    VW said it has taken more than 30,000 deposits for launch editions of the car, called the 1st, which has the mid-range 58 kWh battery and will start at under 40,000 euros.

    Production starts at VW's factory in Zwickau, Germany in November and deliveries will begin in spring next year.

    The entry version of the ID3 1st includes a navigation system, heated steering wheel, armrests at the front, and 18-inch wheels. The 1st Plus version adds a rear-view camera system, adaptive cruise control and keyless locking and starting. A top end version, called ID3 1st Max, comes with an augmented reality head-up display and 20-inch wheels.

    With exterior dimensions and styling similar to the Golf, Europe's top-selling car, the ID3 will have a rear-mounted drive motor. Vehicles on the MEB platform will either be rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.

    Volkswagen, still recovering from widespread diesel-emissions violations that surfaced in the U.S. 2015, calls the ID3 its first "CO2-neutral" vehicle, and says it will guarantee the hatchback's battery packs for eight years.

    Europe will be the main market for the ID3. It will not be sold in the United States. Instead a five-passenger crossover due in late 2020 called the ID Crozz will lead VW's EV push in the U.S.

    Share
    Share
    Share
    id3_8.jpg
    REUTERS

    The Volkswagen ID3 is the first of what is expected to become scores of EVs that will share the German mass-market brand's global modular electric platform, known as MEB. With exterior dimensions and styling similar to the VW Golf, the ID3 will have a rear-mounted drive motor and come with one of three batteries: a base-level 45 kilowatt-hour battery with a range of up to 205 miles, a midlevel 58 kWh battery with a range of about 260 miles or a high-level 77 kWh battery with an expected range of up to 341 miles, all calculated under European testing standards.

    Share
    id3_2.jpg
    Share
    id3_3.jpg

    The Volkswagen ID3 is the first of what is expected to become scores of EVs that will share the German mass-market brand's global modular electric platform, known as MEB. With exterior dimensions and styling similar to the VW Golf, the ID3 will have a rear-mounted drive motor and come with one of three batteries: a base-level 45 kilowatt-hour battery with a range of up to 205 miles, a midlevel 58 kWh battery with a range of about 260 miles or a high-level 77 kWh battery with an expected range of up to 341 miles, all calculated under European testing standards.

    Share
    id3_4.jpg

    The Volkswagen ID3 is the first of what is expected to become scores of EVs that will share the German mass-market brand's global modular electric platform, known as MEB. With exterior dimensions and styling similar to the VW Golf, the ID3 will have a rear-mounted drive motor and come with one of three batteries: a base-level 45 kilowatt-hour battery with a range of up to 205 miles, a midlevel 58 kWh battery with a range of about 260 miles or a high-level 77 kWh battery with an expected range of up to 341 miles, all calculated under European testing standards.

    Share
    id3_7.jpg

    The Volkswagen ID3 is the first of what is expected to become scores of EVs that will share the German mass-market brand's global modular electric platform, known as MEB. With exterior dimensions and styling similar to the VW Golf, the ID3 will have a rear-mounted drive motor and come with one of three batteries: a base-level 45 kilowatt-hour battery with a range of up to 205 miles, a midlevel 58 kWh battery with a range of about 260 miles or a high-level 77 kWh battery with an expected range of up to 341 miles, all calculated under European testing standards.

    Share
    id3_6.jpg

    The Volkswagen ID3 is the first of what is expected to become scores of EVs that will share the German mass-market brand's global modular electric platform, known as MEB. With exterior dimensions and styling similar to the VW Golf, the ID3 will have a rear-mounted drive motor and come with one of three batteries: a base-level 45 kilowatt-hour battery with a range of up to 205 miles, a midlevel 58 kWh battery with a range of about 260 miles or a high-level 77 kWh battery with an expected range of up to 341 miles, all calculated under European testing standards.

    Share
    id3_5.jpg

    The Volkswagen ID3 is the first of what is expected to become scores of EVs that will share the German mass-market brand's global modular electric platform, known as MEB. With exterior dimensions and styling similar to the VW Golf, the ID3 will have a rear-mounted drive motor and come with one of three batteries: a base-level 45 kilowatt-hour battery with a range of up to 205 miles, a midlevel 58 kWh battery with a range of about 260 miles or a high-level 77 kWh battery with an expected range of up to 341 miles, all calculated under European testing standards.

    Share
    id3_1.jpg
    REUTERS

    The Volkswagen ID3 is the first of what is expected to become scores of EVs that will share the German mass-market brand's global modular electric platform, known as MEB. With exterior dimensions and styling similar to the VW Golf, the ID3 will have a rear-mounted drive motor and come with one of three batteries: a base-level 45 kilowatt-hour battery with a range of up to 205 miles, a midlevel 58 kWh battery with a range of about 260 miles or a high-level 77 kWh battery with an expected range of up to 341 miles, all calculated under European testing standards.

    id3_8.jpg
    id3_2.jpg
    id3_3.jpg
    id3_4.jpg
    id3_7.jpg
    id3_6.jpg
    id3_5.jpg
    id3_1.jpg

    From a design standpoint, the ID3 introduces a new design language for the brand's BEV offerings, using LED lighting to both accent and animate its battery-electric vehicles lines. LED lighting is used to replace chrome accents for added visual appeal, and to amplify the brand's new BEV logo on the front fascia.

    Inside the cabin, the ID3 has a flat floor that VW claims makes it feel larger than its compact size. The ID3 "offered the maneuverability of a small car with the interior space of a mid-range vehicle," Silke Bagschik, head of sales and marketing for the ID family, said.

    A centrally-positioned 10-inch touchscreen is augmented by a LED strip that gives drivers visual signals during navigation and can prompt drivers for emergency braking. The optional augmented reality heads-up display in the ID3 is also intended to keep the driver's eyes on the road, while natural voice control will allow passengers to control certain vehicle functions without using buttons or switches.

    All of the car's systems are expected to appear in later MEB-based vehicles.

    The ID3 will also employ a number of safety features expected to be introduced on future vehicles, including: a windscreen-mounted camera that can identify road signs, emergency assist braking and pedestrian monitoring, lane keeping assist, and a parking assist system that promises to reduce or prevent parking mishaps.

    Since it began a global push into EVs, top VW executives have pledged that the automaker's huge scale would keep them affordable.

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    German automakers aim to transform former Frankfurt show into Davos of mobility
    Recommended for You
    German automakers aim to transform former Frankfurt show into Davos of mobility
    German automakers aim to transform former Frankfurt show into Davos of mobility
    Frankfurt's no-shows, darkened halls signal an industry in flux
    Frankfurt's no-shows, darkened halls signal an industry in flux
    Frankfurt hits and misses
    Frankfurt hits and misses
    Capgemini Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
    Sponsored Content: Capgemini Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up and get the best of Automotive News Europe delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Get 24/7 access to in-depth, authoritative coverage of the auto industry from a global team of reporters and editors covering the news that’s vital to your business.

    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    Connect with Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    Founded in 1996, Automotive News Europe is the preferred information source for decision-makers and opinion leaders operating in Europe.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI  48207-2997
    Tel: +1 877-812-1584

    Email Us

    ISSN 2643-6590 (print)
    ISSN 2643-6604 (online)

     

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Awards
    • Rising Stars
    • Eurostars
    • Leading Women
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News Europe
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
      • Latest news
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • New Product
      • Environment/Emissions
      • Sales By Market
      • On The Move
      • Auto Shows
        • Munich Auto Show
        • Geneva Auto Show
        • Paris Auto Show
        • Beijing Auto Show
        • Shanghai Auto Show
    • Features
      • Long Read
      • Interview of the Month
      • Focus on Electrification
      • Focus on Technology
      • Segment Analysis
      • Cars & Concepts
      • Supplier Spotlight
      • Europe By The Numbers
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
      • Commentary
      • Guest columnists
    • Photos
      • Photo Galleries
      • Geneva Photo Gallery
      • Beijing Photo Gallery
      • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
      • Paris Photo Gallery
      • Shanghai Photo Gallery
    • Podcasts
    • Car Cutaways
    • EVENTS
      • ANE Congress
      • ANE Rising Stars
      • ANE Eurostars
    • More
      • Publishing Partners
        • Capgemini: Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
        • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
        • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
        • Capgemini: The circular economy is spurring new thinking on EV batteries
        • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
        • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
        • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
        • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
        • Toyota Europe
        • UFI Filters
      • Social Media
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • LinkedIn
        • Twitter
      • Contact Us
      • Media Kit
      • About Us