Volkswagen Prepares to Disrupt Tesla in a Bold Move Toward an All-EV Future

More and more Americans are saying yes to electric vehicles (EVs). Are you one of them? If you’ve googled “electric car dealer near me,” chances are the name Volkswagen came up. This is no accident. Volkswagen is on the cutting edge of EV technology, and the automaker is on the cusp of overtaking the competition with a big commitment to an all-electric lineup in the not-too-distant future. What does that mean for buyers today? You don’t have to wait a year, five years, or ten years to get the latest EV technology in your driveway.

Volkswagen recently announced the launch of its highly anticipated ID.4 Electric Vehicle and is currently accepting reservations for interested buyers. Starting at just $39,995, the ID.4 Electric Vehicle is a fully electric crossover with tons of style and room for five. It’s the first in a bold plan to build several new EVs, including the iconic VW Bus, reimagined for the 21st century in an all-electric iteration that will thrill everyone, from longtime aficionados to those new to the VW Bus fan club. Called the I.D. BUZZ, everyone’s favorite Microbus, should hit dealerships in 2023 as a 2024 model. However, the European market gets to see it first with a 2022 release.

For now, the ID.4 has automotive journalists and Volkswagen fans excited. That’s because of its estimated 250-mile range, fast-charging capability, and affordable price tag. At a recent Power Day event, Volkswagen executives shared the outline of their plans to build six battery factories in Europe by 2030, helping to reach economies that will drive EV costs down by 30 percent or more. Volkswagen builds the best electric vehicles for one reason: commitment. The company is dedicated to evolving its manufacturing capability to deliver more models, higher quality components, and economies of scale that lead to less expensive consumer pricing. This winning strategy is evident in the new ID.4 Electric Vehicle, the first Volkswagen EV.

The ID.4 Electric Vehicle: From Concept to Reality

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Electric Vehicle started as a concept vehicle. Dubbed the ID.Crozz, this concept represented an important turning point for the German automaker: its first foray into the EV market. All-electric Volkswagen models will share the “ID” branding distinction, so buyers can easily identify them as EVs.

Out of the gate, the ID.4 Electric Vehicle is focused on three extremely important characteristics that EV buyers demand. The first is range. The ID.4 Electric Vehicle is expected to have an estimated 250-mile driving range on a single charge. Next is affordability. At a sub-$40,000 starting MSRP, the ID.4 Electric Vehicle ticks the affordability box, especially when compared to the competition.

Last, but certainly not least, is performance. Over and over, potential EV buyers got stuck on the matter of performance. Early hybrids failed to impress drivers, with lackluster acceleration, boring styling, and sluggish handling. That lasting bad taste has lingered for many buyers, so manufacturers are stepping it up to get buyers over the hump. The ID.4 Electric Vehicle delivers 201 horsepower with the rear-wheel drive model, and the upcoming all-wheel drive version will produce 302 horsepower.

In addition, the ID.4 Electric Vehicle is a capable hauler, delivering 2,700 pounds of towing capacity. Put together heart-thumping performance, capability, and a great ride, and the ID.4 Electric Vehicle handily ticks all the boxes. This is an electric vehicle you are not going to want to miss out on.

The ID.BUZZ: Why We Can’t Wait

The Volkswagen Power Day announcements got us excited on a practical level because all that infrastructure-building means faster production times and lower prices for consumers. Having access to affordable EV options with great styling and utility is an important piece of the overall EV growth strategy for Volkswagen. But wait, as they say, there’s more!

The ID.BUZZ ventures into uncharted territory because it dares to reintroduce a beloved model that is infused with so much history and generational meaning that to attempt a reintroduction is a serious roll of the dice. Luckily, Volkswagen looks to be getting the timing and the design right. The recent #vanlife movement means more buyers – and younger buyers – than ever before are looking at vans as their main method of transportation and as their living quarters. No doubt the ID.BUZZ has them, well, buzzing.

This newest iteration of the beloved VW Microbus is everything you’d expect, including adorable, but a whole lot more. First, it’s all-electric, which is an homage to the environmentally-conscious buyers who chose it in the past. To quote Dr. Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Board of Management for Volkswagen, “The iconic car of the electric age must be a Volkswagen.” The ID.BUZZ is sure to fit the bill.

Volkswagen is careful to distinguish this newest Microbus from its predecessor, but not completely. You can still see the original design intent in the new EV, but it’s more modern and individualized. There are LED headlights and 22-inch wheels, along with technology that advances it into the 21st century. The two-tone exterior harkens back to earlier versions, but there’s no mistaking the stark differences Volkswagen intended.

What Lies Ahead for Volkswagen EVs

Volkswagen has set its sights on unseating Tesla as the world’s best-selling electric carmaker. It’s a lofty goal, but one the automaker has planned strategically with an action-oriented strategy that starts with expanding its battery-making capacity. There’s a $37 billion investment on the table, a financial representation of the commitment Volkswagen made.

Knocking Tesla off its throne means beating a nearly 400,000 vehicle per-year sales volume and a 78% market share in the U.S. The thing is, the goals set by Volkswagen are already in the next stratosphere. The company plans to manufacture 28 million electric vehicles by 2028, far surpassing anything Tesla could achieve in the same timeframe.

They’ll do this via six battery factories and by converting several existing factories to an all-EV production schedule. All told, there will be eight different factories producing electric vehicles by 2022. This is in line with the industry’s overall move toward an EV future. Between government mandates for low-emission vehicles and buyers’ desire to lower their carbon footprints, it makes sense.

We Are Excited for the Electric Future

With the rollout of the 2021 ID.4 Electric Vehicle, the team at Auburn VW is ready to help you make the move to an EV. This adorable crossover is already in production, and Volkswagen is accepting reservations and represents a big step in the EV landscape that buyers can be a part of. It’s the first in a coming flood of other EVs that will eventually make up the majority of dealer showrooms.

As one of the leading global auto manufacturers, Volkswagen is the one to watch as the EV landscape unfolds. Key strategic positioning in the battery manufacturing realm headlines the list of reasons why Volkswagen stands to dominate electric vehicle technology. One thing is for sure: the company that finds a way to deliver range, affordability, and high levels of performance will win the EV battle. We can’t wait to be a part of the coming electric vehicle future.