Volkswagen Group Australia (VGA) has confirmed that five new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) will start production for Australia before 2025.
The BEVs to be offered will include a Golf-sized hatchback called the ID.3, the Tiguan-sized ID.4 and ID.5 family SUV, and the ID.Buzz people mover and its ID.Buzz Cargo van derivative.
The Volkswagen ID.3 line up will pursue attainability with a pricing target under $60,000 in order to maximise national and state-based electric vehicle incentives.
All five Volkswagen BEV solutions are scheduled to start production for Australia in 2024, all within about the next 20 months – at an average of one all-new BEV for every five months.
Most importantly for customers in Australia – and in a vote of confidence for the brand’s electric future – all of the more than 100 Volkswagen dealerships nationwide will sell and service each BEV from the off according to VGA.
Volkswagen Passenger Vehicles director Michal Szaniecki says the brand is ensuring it rolls out BEVs in a way that customers expect from the leader in mainstream vehicles.
“Just as Australians have long expected that a Golf or Tiguan will lead their segment for premium feel and the most enjoyable driving characteristics, we’re ensuring the ID.3, ID.4 and ID.5 launch with these same attributes top of mind,” Szaniecki says.
“Upgraded product such as the more premium ID.3 and a 500km-plus range for ID.4 and ID.5 will gel with our ability to sell these vehicles nationwide, no matter which dealership is closest to you. This is an advantage that not all start-up companies are able to match.
“We can confirm the ID.3, ID.4 and ID.5 will both start production and go on sale next year, so our message for customers thinking about switching to a BEV is this – we’re here in 2024, and here in a big way.”
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles director Ryan Davies says that technical approval for the ID.Buzz and ID.Buzz Cargo means that both are locked in and ready to go for production to start at the end of 2024.
“Volkswagen has an incredible heritage with Australians from their love of the Kombi decades ago to their enthusiasm for Amarok in the present day,” Davies says.
“The ID.Buzz is a people mover that stops traffic, people stop, stare and smile. It’s an incredible blend of style and function that will capture the imagination of Australians – and is reflected by our ambitious sales volumes.
“We expect the ID.Buzz Cargo to sell at least as well, and it’s incredibly appealing for sole traders who want to reduce their emissions in the most fun way possible. This is a proper, from the ground up tradies’ BEV – not a reverse engineering of an existing diesel vehicle.”
The Volkswagen ID.4 and the coupe-style design-led ID.5 will provide Volkswagen Tiguan customers with three choices in the medium SUV segment – BEV with a 500km-plus range, or high-performing and efficient turbocharged petrol engines.
The Volkswagen ID.Buzz and ID.Buzz Cargo will pursue maximum individuality and style, coexisting with the function of a long driving range, practical payload and plenty of space for occupants and cargo alike.
