Volkswagen revealed its affordable, mass-market electric vehicle in the form of a concept called the ID. 2all. With a starting price of 25,000 euros ($26,600) and an estimated range of 450 kilometers (279 miles), the Golf-looking electric hatchback is meant to be that most elusive thing: a plug-in vehicle for the people.
VW unveiled the ID. 2all at an investor event in Germany – reminiscent of Tesla’s own investor day event, where Elon Musk was expected to show off his own affordable EV, but didn’t. Tesla’s share price fell after the event as investors complained about the absence of the promised electric car. And less than two weeks later, VW has responded with its own spin on what an EV for the masses could look like.
The Golf-looking electric hatchback is meant to be that most elusive thing: a plug-in vehicle for the people
During the presentation, VW outlined a strategy that includes an investment of 180 billion euros ($193 billion) over five years, including in battery and raw material production, to reduce the cost of electric vehicle production and help Tesla and others by its market share.
But the ID. The centerpiece of the event was 2all, a compact EV with an attractive price and a lot of potential. While it’s just a concept, VW said it expects to start production of the vehicle from 2025. It will be one of 10 plug-in models to debut by 2026.
The production version of the ID. 2all will be built on top of the second generation version of VW’s modular “MEB” electric vehicle platform. The current version of MEB powers the automaker’s ID.4 crossover SUV, as well as a dozen other vehicles from Audi, Skoda and other VW Group-owned brands. The long wheelbase and short overhangs of the ID. 2all can also be found on the ID. Buzz, the automaker’s electric minivan that is expected to hit the US market in 2024.
The affordable EV will also be VW’s first front-wheel drive plug-in vehicle; all others to date have been single-engine rear-wheel drive or twin-engine all-wheel drive. The powertrain will also enable faster charging, with VW predicting a 10 to 80 percent charge rate of around 20 minutes. The ID. 2all will have little storage space, with a volume of 460 to 1,330 litres, depending on seat configurations.
While it’s just a concept, VW said it expects to start production of the vehicle from 2025
As a hatchback, the ID. 2all will have an uphill battle both in the US and Europe. The era of the “hot hatch” is over and most automakers have shifted their focus to crossovers, SUVs and trucks. To be sure, VW has set its Scout brand to introduce a new range of adventure-themed electric trucks and SUVs. But a plug-in hatchback, even as affordable as the ID. 2all, will go against the grain when it eventually goes on sale.
VW says the ID. 2all represents an all-new design language, with an emphasis on “sympathetic and enthusiasm,” that will define the future electric lineup. And while the exterior of the ID. 2all resembles the discontinued (for the US) VW Golf, the interior is quite different from the company’s current crop of EVs.
VW says it wants the interior to be “self-explanatory”, and photos confirm this, with floating displays for both the instrument cluster and central infotainment. A button on the center console could help dispel criticism of the ID.4’s lack of physical controls.
But a retro-styled interface, as seen here in photos of journalists (and Forget collaborator) Daniel Golson, could bring that critique back to the forefront. After all, playing with a simulacrum of a vintage instrument panel on a touchscreen is not the same as in real life.
When it comes out in 2025, the ID. 2all may not even be the cheapest EV in VW’s range. The automaker confirmed plans to produce an even more affordable sub-$20,000 model, likely to be called the ID.1. That vehicle, which is said to be similar to the current Polo minicar but also retains the styling of the 2021 ID.Life concept, is expected to be released in 2027.
In the meantime, US customers have the Scout models to look forward to, as well as the longer-wheelbase version of the ID. Buzz and the Arteon-inspired ID.7 sedan.
