EV WARS: Volkswagen I.D. To Undercut Tesla's Model 3 By $8,000 And Offer More Range

The I.D., which most likely won’t be released until at least 2020, is Volkswagen’s new EV concept, a direct competitor of the Tesla Model 3. The news was originally reported by a German automotive website Automobil Produktion, and is in line with Volkswagen’s previous statements about leapfrogging Tesla in the EV industry.

Thomas Sedran, chief strategist for Volkswagen, made the announcement at the Automobil Forum in Munich and pegged the I.D. concept to be around $28,000. The Model 3 is slated to be released with a sticker price of $35,000, and the announcement by Volkswagen has certainly raised eyebrows in terms of cutting costs — particularly in battery production — to reach the price goal.

TheSteve - 7/17/2017 4:23:53 PM

+2 Boost

Talk is cheap. Words come and go. Everyone and their uncle trash talks the benchmark and alleges they're going to topple the king and reign supreme... and yet exceptionally few pull it off.

I'll stand up and applaud VW if they can pull it off with a respectable vehicle. I'll take off my hat and cheer if there is sufficient consumer demand to spark an EV buying craze, with VWs alleged new offering in the lead.

But until that day comes: meh, it's only words.

TomM - 7/17/2017 5:14:19 PM

+3 Boost

But Tesla has also used "only words" in producing their often late vehicles as well. And at least in this case - VW does have a major advantage in many markets - in dealers and service possibilities as well. WE still do not really know what a true price for the Model 3 will be as well - but regardless of the real price - it MUST sell - dominate the market - and sell in very high numbers (Over 200,000) for Tesla to survive - and I don't see that electrics will sell in those number for years to come.

SanJoseDriver - 7/18/2017 4:33:56 PM

+2 Boost

Agree with TheSteve, talk is cheap. I'm really looking forward to the final product and hope it is compelling and fully baked. If full self-driving capabilities is not an option on the VW, it will never be a true competitor.

Audi has also made a TON of noise about EVs, and so far it has been nothing but talk.

MDarringer - 7/17/2017 4:29:30 PM

-3 Boost

Such commentary from VW is exactly what VW needs NOT to do. VW just needs to PRODUCE products that CONVINCE the market that they can deliver competitive products with excellent quality rather than making promises for sometime down the road. The boast of coming in $8K below a Tesla 3 echoes with emptiness because VWs are usually rather overpriced for their respective market segments. They still do not understand product and marketing. Their first stumble after Dieselgate was not immediately putting a "Hyundai" warranty on all their vehicles. The second was going to such a warranty, but only for two models.

PUGPROUD - 7/17/2017 7:04:18 PM

0 Boost

They are coming for you Elon...VW, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, etc. Be afraid, be very afraid!

Vette71 - 7/17/2017 8:14:54 PM

+4 Boost

One marketing strategy if you are entering a market where you don't currently have a product, but your competitor does, is to announce your product with the intent of of stopping some of the competitors sales. If you are VW you want to get some of those Model 3 buyers to have second thoughts and hold off buying until they can see something potentially better and/or lower priced. There will probably be lots more of this in the emerging EV market.

vdiv - 7/18/2017 3:44:18 PM

+2 Boost

Indeed, range is not everything.

SanJoseDriver - 7/18/2017 4:36:00 PM

+2 Boost

I think most people would disagree with you after sitting in both cars. There is a long list of advantages on the 3 besides range, starting with performance.

Truthy - 7/18/2017 9:24:40 AM

0 Boost

MDarringer, VW does not understand product and marketing?!? They are the world's largest auto company. Audi is one of the top luxury brands globally and growing. Marketing, it is good marketing to start discussing what is in the pipeline to create excitement. Should they just roll it out in two years and surprise the market?

How long has Tesla been talking about the Model3?

MDarringer - 7/18/2017 9:55:20 AM

+2 Boost

And in the United States VW is laughed at for getting its products dead wrong for the market. As for Audi, they would need to increase their volume by more than 100K units to get to where Mercedes is. That indicates that the product is not doing the job.

Tesla is not a discredited company like VW is. A discredited company needs to earn its trust not by running its mouth.

And yes, VW should roll out its miracle EV and surprise the market. No one is excited about VW.

Dr550 - 7/18/2017 1:21:51 PM

+4 Boost

Looks better than the i3.

SanJoseDriver - 7/19/2017 9:19:08 PM

+1 Boost

BTW, this car isn't even coming out until 2019 or 2020. It is total vaporware until it actually comes close to production. By 2020, VW will have to compete with the Model Y, which will be a much larger car built entirely by machines (no humans on the line). VW's chance to make a real impact will diminish the longer they take to get to market.

Holydude - 8/3/2017 6:59:35 PM

+1 Boost

Would rather look forward to the Porsche EV.