Here it is, after a slow media-orchestrated test campaign to shape the minds of European observers, Volkswagen’s flagship ID7 EV saloon is fully revealed without the camouflage. The most glaring impression of China bound ID7 is that VW intends to enter the electric age in the most boring way possible. Personal opinions aside, what do we know about the China bound ID7? It will carry a large battery, 150kWh will power a 201bhp electric motor which should provide a maximum speed of 100mph and a theoretical range of 700km or range or 434 miles.

Interior equipment is yet to be finalized, three exterior colours will be available so expect three interior trim options. Also except the usual driver safety assists, 15-inch infotainment system, a dodgy UI design, and a Heads Up Display. The kerb weight of the ID7 is 2122kg. As a comparison, the European spec will feature two battery sizes, 77kWh and 85KWh. Practicality will be boosted by a liftback rear hatch-style opening.

The ID7 will be made in China in a joint venture between Volkswagen and FAW, a Chinese state-owned automobile manufacturer headquartered in Changchun, Jilin. Pricing and specs are yet to be detailed. We expect the ID7 to retail in China for around $35,000, the ID7 is expected to have a $55,000 price tag in Europe.

The ID7 will be an important impediment to cementing VW’s electric vehicle presence in China. The company has seen solid growth in China with its ID range of electric vehicles, selling over 144K units in 2022, double the previous year. However, the latter represents a small percentage of total EV sales, VW sold a total of 3.2 million cars in China in 2022.

China is VW’s most important market, the company sells over 8M cars per year, and China accounts for 44 percent of VW’s global ID sales inventory. The China bound ID7 will debut at the 2023 Shanghai Auto Show on April 18 and deliveries will begin in the second half of the year.