VW launches ID.7 with a range of 700 kilometers and the electric Passat is also available as a station wagon

Volkswagen has started series production of the new electric sedan ID.7 at its plant in Emden, East Frisia. “The start of production of the ID.7 today is an important milestone for our transformation,” said VW core brand boss Thomas Schäfer at the official start at the VW factory earlier this week.

“With the ID.7 we are reaching the next level in electromobility. As early as 2026, we will have the broadest portfolio in the industry,” said the VW manager. With the touring sedan presented in April, VW is expanding its electric ID series towards the higher class.

The ID.7 is almost five meters long and the basic version will be available from autumn 2023 from 56,995 euros. Depending on the chosen battery size, 600 or 700 kilometers should be possible. The optimized aerodynamics should make these distances possible. The sedan has a very low drag coefficient (Cd value) of 0.23. With a charging capacity of up to 200 kilowatts (kW) and preconditioning of the battery, VW also wants to keep the charging stops as short as possible.

Compared to the previous ID models, the electric motor has almost 50 percent more power. A large 15-inch screen and the head-up display, previously only available at extra cost, are now standard on board.

The touchscreen has been enlarged and the operation of the infotainment system has been simplified. For example, the software now offers direct access to navigation, assistance systems and vehicle data on the home screen.

ID.7 is also available as a station wagon

The trunk can store 532 liters of luggage. Not enough? At the end of 2023, the ID.7 should also be available in Passat format, i.e. as an electric station wagon. The seventh thus becomes VW’s first electric station wagon.

The sedan and station wagon cover the upper middle class after the Wolfsburg company launched its electric offensive a few years ago with models such as the ID.3 compact car and the ID.4 mid-sized SUV.

The E-Coupé ID.5 and the electric VW bus ID.Buzz have also been available for some time.

ID.7 aims to save German jobs

The ID.4 has been produced in the seaport city since last year. The launch of the ID.7 is the next step in the conversion of the factory in Emden into a location purely for the production of electric cars. For the production of e-cars, the factory has been converted since 2020 during ongoing operations. According to VW, it is investing more than a billion euros.

Emden is now the main factory for the new ID.7, which will also be built in China. According to VW Commissioner Stephan Weil, electromobility creates employment in Emden. In addition, there would be “settlement opportunities”, for example for the production of battery cells. He points out that the car manufacturer is by far the largest industrial employer in the region. About 8,000 employees work at VW in Emden.

Ten new electric models by 2026

Due to the declining demand for e-cars in Germany at the beginning of the year (due to high prices and the lower state subsidy), only a dozen ID.7s roll off the assembly line every day. However, the trend in incoming orders is said to have improved again in the meantime, according to VW. Production should therefore be ramped up in the coming weeks. By early 2024, there should be between 200 and 300 ID.7s per day.

In total, Volkswagen in Emden currently produces about 800 cars per day, including about 300 electric cars. The Passat and the Arteon are also built in East Frisia as combustion engines.

According to VW, the ID.7 is one of ten new electric models that the brand wants to launch between 2023 and 2026. By 2033 at the latest, the brand will only produce electric cars in Europe.

(oli/sda/awp/dpa)