Volkswagen Reportedly Developing $23,000 EV Rival To Tesla Model 3
Volkswagen has of course watched as Tesla has made continual advances in the field, and even released its e-Golf in the United States. However, the e-Golf was not built from the ground-up to be an EV and has a driving range of just 125 miles. But as more European countries put plans on the book to ban diesel-powered vehicles in crowded city centers, Volkswagen is looking to step up its game in the EV world.
The vehicle in question is currently being developed under the name "MEB Entry" according to CNBC, with production targeted at 200,000 units per year. Most intriguingly, the vehicle is said to have a starting price of around $23,000, which is quite remarkable for an EV. For comparisons, the e-Golf, Chevrolet Bolt, and Nissan Leaf start at $30,495, $36,620 and $29,990 respectively. Of those three, the Bolt offers the greatest driving range at nearly 240 miles per charge
We have the feeling that the MEB Entry is actually the production version of the I.D. EV that was first revealed over two years ago. The vehicle is roughly the same size as the MK7 Volkswagen Golf and features a 125-kW battery pack. There is no indication of what kind of [EPA-rated] range this entry-level EV will have, but anything greater than 200 miles should be enough for people that want a relatively inexpensive vehicle that will allow them to commute to work, run errands around town, and take the kids to soccer practice.
Volkswagen is also on track to launch its I.D. Aero mid-size sedan and I.D. Buzz electric van early next decade. VW has plans to produce up to 100,000 units of the former per year.
While Volkswagen might be able to greatly undercut the price of the Tesla Model 3, which starts at $46,000, we'll have to wait to see what kind of performance, features, and "style" it brings to the table for the buying public.
