VW Confirms ID.3 EV’s Frankfurt Debut, Sub-€30,000 Base Price In Germany

Two weeks from now, Volkswagen’s ID family of EVs will make the long-awaited transition from concept to production as the first model people can actually buy will be officially unveiled.

VW has just confirmed that the ID.3 will debut at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, bringing “ground-breaking design, greater ranges, impressive driving dynamics and spacious interior.”

The compact production EV will be joined on stage by other unnamed concept vehicles from the ID family. VW likens the ID.3 to the Beetle and the Golf — that’s how important it anticipates the model to be for the company.

Based on the new modular electric drive matrix (MEB), the 2020 VW ID.3 will be the carmaker’s first EV built from the ground up with all-electric propulsion in mind. The EV platform allowed for “the largest possible vehicle interior,” according to Volkswagen.

More importantly, the carmaker promises range anxiety will be a thing of the past with the ID.3 which offers three different battery sizes. The base 45 kWh unit can store enough juice for a driving range of 330 kilometers (205 miles) while the top 77 kWh battery extends the range to 550 km (342 miles). A medium-sized 58 kWh battery will also be on offer with 420 km (261 miles) of range.

VW also says the ID.3’s batteries will offer “excellent charging capacity.” For example, a range of approximately 290 km (180 miles) can be recharged in just 30 minutes on the base model using 100 kW charging. The carmaker says the capacity of the ID.3 batteries is guaranteed to last for eight years or 160,000 kilometers (100,000 miles).

Besides convenience, the 2020 VW ID.3’s rear-wheel drive and 150 kW (204 PS / 201 hp) of power delivered by the rear-mounted electric motor promises driving pleasure as well.

A diagram showing where the key components of the VW ID.3 are built

Also watch: VW ID.3 Prototype Driven: Are You Sure You Still Want That Golf?

Last but not least, the ID.3 will be priced in Germany from under €30,000, which roughly equates to $33,100 at the current exchange rates. Production will start at the end of 2019 and the first vehicles are scheduled to reach customers by mid-2020.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TNqc2T5N88