Volkswagen is aiming for its new low-cost electric vehicles to debut in 2027. The new affordable VW EVs are expected to be priced around $21,800 (20,000 euros).
VW still aims for affordable EVs to debut in 2027
After walking away from its partnership to develop an entry-level EV (20,000 euro) with Renault, Volkswagen is going solo.
VW said last week it was still looking at its options for affordable EVs. Meanwhile, after failing to find an agreement with VW, Renault still plans to launch a low-cost Twingo e-Tech successor, starting around the same price.
According to a new Reuters report, VW plans to unveil its new affordable EVs in 2027. Volkswagen still wants prices around $21,8000 (20,000 euros).
The German automaker revealed its ID 2all concept last March, a preview of the affordable EV’s design.
VW’s ID 2all electric car is “spacious like a Golf” but “Affordable like a Polo,” the company said. The entry-level EV is expected to start under $27,000 (25,000 euros), but VW is targeting an even lower-priced model, likely called the ID 1.
Based on a modified MEB platform, the ID 2all EV is expected to get up to 279 miles (450 km) range. The ID 1 will likely pull parts from the ID 2all with smaller battery options, like 38 or 58 kWh.
Volkswagen has also teased an ID 2all SUV (shown above). The entry-level electric SUV is expected to debut in 2026.
Electrek’s Take
Although Volkswagen is promising to reveal affordable EVs in 2026 or 2027, several low-cost options are already hitting the market.
For example, Volvo launched the EX30, starting at around 36,000 euros ($39,150) in Europe. Volvo’s cheapest EV starts at $35,000 in the US with deliveries expected to begin this summer.
It also officially launched in China last week. Starting at $27,800 (200,800 yuan), the Volvo EX30 will rival BYD’s low-cost EVs, like the Atto 3 and Dolphin.
GM’s new Chevy Equinox EV is now being delivered to customers in the US. Although the cheapest model currently starts at $43,295, GM is promising the entry-level Equinox 1LT FWD version will be available to order this year for around $35,000.
With the tax credit, the current 2LT model starts at $35,795. Once the entry-level version hits the market, prices are expected to be as low as $27,495 (with the EV tax credit included).
Several other automakers, including Kia, have revealed new affordable EVs. Last week, Kia unveiled its EV3 with up to 600 km (372 mi) WLTP range. It will kick off a series of low-cost EVs, including the EV2, EV3, EV4, and EV5. Kia’s new EVs are expected to be priced around $30,000 to $50,000.
The Kia EV3 will launch in Korea in July 2024, ahead of a European rollout in the second half of the year. Kia announced plans to expand EV3 sales into other regions but did not mention the US specifically.
Next year, Kia is expected to launch the EV4, its take on an entry-level electric sedan, starting at around $35,000.
The South Korean automaker already launched the EV5 in China, with starting prices around $20,000 (149,800 yuan). However, in Australia, it will cost around $40,000 (70,000 AUS).
Meanwhile, Hyundai and Kia already have some of the most affordable EVs in the US market. The average IONIQ 6 selling price in the US was around $36,506 in the first quarter of 2024. The upgraded Hyundai Kona Electric starts at $32,675 while the IONIQ 5 starts at $41,800.
By 2027, an affordable Volkswagen EV may not seem so special, with several already hitting the market.
On the other hand, demand for lower-cost electric cars is expected to continue steadily rising. Can VW meet the demand? Or will they get washed out in a sea of competition? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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Environment
U.S. crude oil falls below $60 a barrel to lowest since 2021 on tariff-fueled recession fears
A view shows disused oil pump jacks at the Airankol oil field operated by Caspiy Neft in the Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan April 2, 2025.
Pavel Mikheyev | Reuters
U.S. oil prices dropped below $60 a barrel on Sunday on fears President Donald Trump’s global tariffs would push the U.S., and maybe the world, into a recession.
Futures tied to U.S. West Texas intermediate crude fell more than 3% to $59.74 on Sunday night. The move comes after back-to-back 6% declines last week. WTI is now at the lowest since April 2021.
Worries are mounting that tariffs could lead to higher prices for businesses, which could lead to a slowdown in economic activity that would ultimately hurt demand for oil.
Oil futures, 5 years
The tariffs, which are set to take effect this week, “would likely push the U.S. and possibly global economy into recession this year,” according to JPMorgan. The firm on Thursday raised its odds of a recession this year to 60% following the tariff rollout, up from 40%.
Fueled by incentives from the Illinois EPA and the state’s largest utility company, new EV registrations nearly quadrupled the 12% first-quarter increase in EV registrations nationally – and there are no signs the state is slowing down.
Despite the dramatic slowdown of Tesla’s US deliveries, sales of electric vehicles overall have perked up in recent months, with Illinois’ EV adoption rate well above the Q1 uptick nationally. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that the number of new EVs registered across the state totaled 9,821 January through March, compared with “just” 6,535 EVs registered in the state during the same period in 2024.
Those numbers represent more than 50% growth in EV registrations – far beyond the expected 12% first-quarter increase nationally being projected by Cox Automotive. (!)
What’s going on in Illinois?
While President Trump and Elmo were running for re-election, they campaigned on the threat promise of canceling the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs. Along with California Governor Gavin Newsom, Illinois’ Governor JB Pritzker made countermoves – launching a $4,000 rebate for new electric cars and up to $1,500 for the purchase of a new electric motorcycle.
At the same time, the state’s largest utility, ComEd, launched a $90 million EV incentive program featuring a new Point of Purchase initiative to deliver instant discounts to qualifying business and public sector customers who make the switch to electric vehicles. That program has driven a surge in Class 3-6 medium duty commercial EVs, which are eligible fro $20-30,000 in utility rebates on top of federal tax credits and other incentives (Class 1-2 EVs are eligible for up to $7,500).
We covered the launch of those incentives when the program was announced at Chicago Drives Electric last year, but the message here is simple: incentives work.
SOURCES: Chicago Business, Ray Cunningham; featured image by the author.
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The electric construction equipment experts at XCMG just released a new, 25 ton electric crawler excavator ahead of bauma 2025 – and they have their eye on the global urban construction, mine operations, and logistical material handling markets.
Powered by a high-capacity 400 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery capable of delivering up to 8 hours of continuous operation, the XE215EV electric excavator promises uninterrupted operation at a lower cost of ownership and with even less downtime than its diesel counterparts.
XCMG is delivering on part of that reduced downtime promise with the lower maintenance and easier repair needs of electric equipment, and delivering on the rest of it with lickety-quick DC fast charging that can recharge the machine’s massive battery in 1.5-2 hours … but that’s not the slick bit. The XCMG XE125EV can be powered up without leaving the job site thanks to its BYD battery swap technology.
We first covered XCMG and its battery swap technology back in January, and covered similar battery-swap tech being developed by MOOG Construction offshoot ZQUIP, as well – but while XCMG’s battery tech has been in production for several years, it’s still not widely known about in the West (even within the industry).
XCMG showed off its latest electric equipment at the December 2024 bauma China, including an updated version of its of its 85-ton autonomous electric mining truck that features a fully cab-less design – meaning there isn’t even a place for an operator to sit, let alone operate. And that’s too bad, because what operator wouldn’t want to experience an electric truck putting down 1070 hp more than 16,000 lb-ft of torque!?
Easy in, easy out
The best part? All of the company’s heavy equipment assets – from excavators to terminal tractors to dump trucks and wheel loaders – all use the same 400 kWh BYD battery packs, Milwaukee tool style. That means an equipment fleet can utilize x number of vehicles with a fraction of the total battery capacity and material needs of other asset brands. That’s not just a smart use of limited materials, it’s a smarter use of energy.
You can check out all the XE215EV’s specs at this tear sheet, and get an in-person look at the Chinese company’s latest electric excavator this week in Munich, Germany.
SOURCE | IMAGES: XCMG.
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