Volkswagen has long aimed to produce an affordable entry-level EV, targeting a price of no more than €20,000. The company plans to unveil the show car for this new model on March 5. The world premiere of the production ID.1 is scheduled for 2027.

Somewhat confusingly, Volkswagen also intends to launch a production version of the ID.2all show car, which is set to arrive at dealerships in 2026 as its first fully electric small car, priced below €25,000. Both the ID.1 and ID.2 will utilize Volkswagen’s modular EV platform, with production based in Germany.

While VW has shared few technical details, the ID.2 production variant is targeting a real-world range of around 230 miles, though its exact battery capacity remains unknown. The ID.1 will be smaller and likely feature a battery similar to that of the BYD Dolphin, which ranges between 45 and 60 kWh, potentially providing a real-world range of approximately 180 miles.

It seems likely that the ID.1 and ID.2 will be categorized as city cars — a segment that historically doesn’t sell in huge numbers. Additionally, Volkswagen faces stiff competition from Chinese city cars, which are improving in quality while maintaining lower prices.

Given these challenges, it’s doubtful that the ID.1 and ID.2 will be the game-changers Volkswagen needs, as Chinese manufacturers continue to move faster and better in the EV market.