Volkswagen has surprised the automotive world by unveiling a brand-new electric vehicle (EV) at the Shanghai Auto Show – the ID.Next. This EV has been confirmed to be manufactured by a joint venture between Volkswagen and SAIC, and will likely be available only in China.
The ID.Next appears to be smaller than Volkswagen’s recently unveiled flagship EV, the ID.7. However, Volkswagen has caused some confusion by referring to both the ID.7 and the ID.Next as electric sedans, even though the ID.7 is not strictly a sedan. It is possible that the Chinese version of the ID.7, called the ID.7 Vizzion, will be different from its international counterpart.
Despite this confusion, the ID.Next is an important addition to Volkswagen’s EV lineup, especially in China. The country is set to introduce strict new emissions regulations in July, which will render many gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles unsellable. As a result, companies like Volkswagen will need to rapidly expand their EV portfolios to meet demand.
Fortunately, Volkswagen’s MEB platform, which underpins the ID.Next, is flexible enough to support many different models. And with SAIC handling the manufacturing of the ID.Next, Volkswagen can scale up production quickly and cheaply.
Volkswagen has a significant production capacity in China thanks to its joint ventures with SAIC and FAW. The ID.7 will be manufactured by FAW, while the ID.3 is manufactured by SAIC. With the ID.Next also being manufactured by SAIC, FAW will be free to manufacture another EV – likely the ID. Buzz.
While it is not yet clear when the ID.Next will go into production, the vehicle shown at the Shanghai Auto Show appeared to be close to the final product. With its functioning interior and similarities to the ID.7, it is possible that the ID.Next could be heading for production lines in the near future.
Overall, the ID.Next is a promising addition to Volkswagen’s EV lineup, and its production in China will help the company meet growing demand for sustainable transportation in the country.
