Taking into account Volkswagen’s new 36-month vehicle development timeframe, the new entry-level EV should break cover before 2027. Indeed, Grünitz said the wraps will come off “several years before the end of this decade.”
The new car – set to be based on a bespoke platform, distinct from the ID 2’s MEB Entry architecture – will be developed with a rigid focus on keeping costs down, which means it will not play host to the same levels of advanced autonomy and connectivity functions shared by other, more expensive VW models.
“You need a car that really fits the customer demands in that price class. You don’t need high-end technology within these cars.
“Maybe you could bring your own device into this car instead of having a huge infotainment system, or something like that,” Grünitz said, hinting at the possibility for the Up replacement to feature a smartphone cradle in place of a touchscreen, like the previous car.
“It has to be tailored to the customer group,” he said, adding that the focus will instead be on making it “bigger inside than outside”, with effective use of space and a range of innovative storage solutions.
Neither will the final car be equipped with 200kW fast-charging capacity or a battery that allows it to travel long distances because it is envisioned as a pure city car, “not a car for driving thousands of kilometres on the highway”.
The Volkswagen e-Up, retired in recent weeks along with the combustion car as production came to a close in Bratislava, claimed a range of 161 miles and could charge at a maximum speed of 37kWh.
Asked by Autocar whether the Up’s replacement can be produced profitably, Grünitz suggested that the car may not need to generate huge margins in its own right, but could rather serve as a ‘loss leader’ by introducing younger users to the VW EV line-up.
“Should it be a vehicle that is profitable on its own, or should we look for a vehicle that might be for first users?