Model X-Rivaling Volkswagen ID Lounge Electric SUV Concept Coming April 16

Volkswagen will reveal the fifth and largest member of its all-electric ID model family on April 16 at the Shanghai Auto Show.

Expected to debut in concept form, the flagship SUV called ID Lounge previews a production model that will rival Tesla’s Model X and other similar models when it launches early next decade.

The VW ID Lounge will be a three-row, seven-seat electric SUV that will spearhead the brand’s ID family of long-range EVs. So far, VW has confirmed for production the Golf-sized ID hatchback arriving early next year, ID Crozz and ID Crozz Coupe SUVs (2021), ID Buzz minivan and ID Buzz Cargo van (2022), and ID Vizzion sedan (2022).

Why the ID Lounge when VW already has two electric SUVs in the pipeline? According to VW brand sales boss Jürgen Stackmann, the two ID Crozz SUVs won’t be enough to satisfy surging demand for SUVs and crossovers.

VW ID Crozz Concept

“Larger dimensioned versions that offer more seating capacity are in great demand at the high end of the market,” Stackmann was quoted as saying by Autonews Europe. The executive added that the ID Lounge concept will demonstrate the carmaker’s plans to compete in that part of the market.

The production version of the three-row, seven-seat SUV is expected to first arrive in China and the United States early next decade, with European sales following in 2024. VW expects China to be a key market for its electric SUVs. By 2025, Volkswagen expects the overall market for EVs in China to grow to more than 4.8 million units from 1.3 million in 2020.

Earlier this month, Volkswagen Group announced plans to launch 70 all-electric vehicles by 2028 and build 22 million cars based on various EV platforms including the VW brand’s MEB and the PPE platform Audi and Porsche are jointly developing.

Note: VW ID Crozz, ID Buzz, and ID concepts pictured