The Volkswagen Group has teased its most affordable electric vehicle (EV) yet ahead of its world premiere in 2027.
It’s targeting a price tag of €20,000 (~A$32,600) for the new model, which will see it slot in under the members of its upcoming sub-€25,000 (~A$40,800) ‘Electric Urban Car Family’.
The Volkswagen Group has released a single teaser of the vehicle, showing a hatchback silhouette with a stubby bonnet and a fairly upright roofline.
The company says the new vehicle “will set standards in the entry-level segment in terms of technology, design, quality and customer experience”.
Volkswagen has already offered an electric city car with the e-Up, which also spawned lightly restyled versions for SEAT and Skoda called the Mii Electric and Citigo-e iV, respectively.
These have all been discontinued, with the e-Up being the last man standing. Before its discontinuation in 2023, it had a base price of €29,995.
For context, the Polo range in Germany opens at €21,590 (~A$35,000).
The new city car should be better placed to fend off cut-price rivals like the BYD Seagull, which is due in Europe in 2025 and will have a base price of under €20,000. MG is also planning to enter the segment with its upcoming MG 2.
BYD Seagull
“Generations of people associate the strong brands of the Volkswagen Group with their first car – and with affordable mobility,” said Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume.
“As a group with strong brands, we continue to assume this social responsibility to this day. That’s why I’m very pleased that we’re launching a future-oriented project.
“It’s about entry-level electric mobility from Europe for Europe.
“In doing so, we combine a clear commitment to Europe as an industrial location, a European industrial policy and ultimately act in the interests of European customers.”
Reuters reports Volkswagen recently ended talks with Renault, which would have seen the German giant sell a version of the next-generation electric Twingo. The two companies are now going their separate ways on electric city car development.
Cupra’s UrbanRebel concept, which previews the Raval
The Volkswagen Group hasn’t confirmed which of its brands will offer a version of the new €20,000 electric city car.
Its sub-€25,000 electric urban cars will be sold across the Volkswagen, Skoda and Cupra brands.
Volkswagen will have both a hatchback and an SUV, while Cupra will have a hatch (the Raval) and Skoda will have an SUV.
All four of these vehicles will be built in Spain.
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