Volkswagen commenced production of not one, but two, ID.4 electric crossover models in China on Tuesday, challenging Tesla as it continues its expansion into the global electric vehicle market.
The Volkswagen ID.4 is the first electric SUV from Wolfsburg, and will compete against the Tesla Model Y, which is currently only available in the US.
The strategic move to capitalise on the world’s largest electric vehicle market is no surprise, and has been one in the making since Volkswagen announced in November it would invest $A6.54 billion in its China operations to build “new energy vehicles”.
While Volkswagen’s sales have suffered globally due to the pandemic, in China sales grew by 3% for January-September compared to 2019, a boon that has also been supported by the right to lay claim to the title of largest electric vehicle maker in Europe according to figures reported by JATO.
Now, the production of the ID.4 in China, preceding Tesla’s expansion of the Model Y into the Asian economic centre, will also likely place it in good stead as a global EV leader. It is the ID.4 that is first expected for launch in Australia also, although a timeline for that has not yet been confirmed.
According to reports from Automotive News, two ID.4 models are now rolling off the factory floor in China – an ID.4 Crozz and an ID.4 X.
Not much is known about the two variants, except that they are not being manufactured at the same factory, and that the ID.4 X is the larger of the two vehicles. An image sourced by the European auto news site from Volkswagen’s Chinese website shows a bright yellow vehicle on a floor emblazoned with the words “ID.4 X”.
The ID.4 Crozz is reportedly being made at SAIC Volkswagen’s new $A3.5 billion EV-dedicated assembly line in Anting, Shanghai.
According to SAIC Volkswagen’s website, this factory has the capacity to make up to 300,000 electric vehicles a year using VW’s MEB electric vehicle platform.
Similarly, the ID.X is being made at a factory in Foshan, South China, that is operated by Volkswagen’s joint venture with FAW Group. It also has a production capacity of 300,000 vehicles and which makes the VW T-Roc and Audi SUVs.
While both variants are the same width, it is apparent that the ID.4 X is the higher end variant of the two. According to documents SAIC-VW and VW-FAW filed with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which regulates China’s auto industry, both vehicles are 1,852 mm wide, with a wheelbase of 2,765 mm each.
But the length and height of the vehicles differ. According to the documents, the ID.X is taller and longer, at 4,612 mm length and 1,640 mm height, versus the ID.4 Crozz’s 4,592 mm in length, and 1,629 mm in height.
While Automotive News reports that Volkswagen has not indicated a launch date for sales in China, the two variants were hinted at during an event in Beijing at which the new Volkswagen “digital” Golf 8 and Tiguan X were revealed. These were subsequently unveiled in Shenzhen in late October.
Volkswagen commenced production of the ID.4 at its EV-dedicated Zwickau factory in Germany in August.
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.