Volkswagen has this week unveiled its new ID. AERO concept car in China, providing a preview of the brand’s first global fully-electric sedan. Positioned in the premium mid-size sedan segment, the production version for China is expected to go on sale in the second half of 2023, while Volkswagen is also planning to start production of a European series version in Emden in 2023.
The ID. AERO also demonstrates the flexibility of Volkswagen’s purely electric MEB architecture, which can be adapted for vehicles of different shapes and sizes.
The MEB can be used across segments – from compact crossover or SUV and minibus through to spacious sedan. The platform therefore allows the ID. family to enter the mid-size sedan segment, while fully exploiting the possibilities of electric mobility, allowing long ranges, a maximum of digital connectivity and over-the-air update capability.
“With the ID. AERO show car, we are revealing a preview of the next member of the ID. family. A car with an emotional and at the same time extremely aerodynamic design, a range of over 600 kilometres, an extraordinary amount of space and a premium interior,” says Ralf Brandstätter, Chief Executive Officer of Volkswagen Passenger Cars.
“With our ACCELERATE strategy, we are intensively driving forward the electrification of our model range. Following the ID.4, this model will be our next global car for Europe, China and the US. ”
The concept vehicle itself is almost five metres long and was designed based on aerodynamic principles. The ID. AERO is equipped with a 77 kWh lithium-ion battery and, thanks to the interaction of the efficient drive system and excellent aerodynamic properties, the ID. AERO can achieve ranges of up to 385 miles (WLTP).
Volkswagen expects that the production version of the ID. AERO for Europe will roll off the assembly line in the Emden plant in 2023. With volume production of electric vehicles, Emden will be one of the first Volkswagen plants of this kind in Lower Saxony and will make a decisive contribution to electrifying the model range and reducing the CO2 emissions of the overall new vehicle fleet.
