Volkswagen has cut the starting price of its electric ID.4 SUV to under $20,000 in China as it seeks to maintain its position in the world’s largest EV market amid intensifying competition from domestic automakers.
SAIC-Volkswagen, one of the German automaker’s joint ventures in China, announced that the ID.4 X now starts at 139,900 yuan ($19,300). The move follows a similar price reduction for the ID.4 Crozz, produced by FAW-Volkswagen, last month.
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The price cuts come as Volkswagen faces mounting pressure from Chinese EV manufacturers, particularly BYD, which continues to lead the market with competitively priced models. Last year, Volkswagen’s EV sales in China fell 10%, and the company cited the “fierce price war” as a key factor.
The base ID.4 X “Smart” trim features a 52.8 kWh CATL battery, delivering a range of up to 425 km (264 miles) on the CLTC cycle. The Long Range version, priced at 175,900 yuan ($24,200), is equipped with an 80.2 kWh battery, offering up to 601 km (373 miles) of range.
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Despite the price cuts, Volkswagen faces stiff competition from BYD’s Atto 3, which starts at 116,800 yuan ($16,000) and offers a similar range. BYD has also recently upgraded 21 of its best-selling models with new smart driving features at no additional cost.
While Volkswagen’s market share in China has come under pressure, ID.4 sales surged in the U.S. last month, making it the third best-selling EV behind Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3.
Source: CarNewsChina