Volkswagen has formally cancelled the long-delayed ID.7 electrical sedan in America, as an alternative specializing in promoting it in Europe and China.
The ID.7 is VW’s electrical mid-size sedan providing, at the moment accessible (and promoting effectively) in Europe and in addition in China.
Beforehand the ID.7 had been meant to launch in 2024 in North America, after launching in Europe in 2023. However when launch time got here shut, VW delayed the North American debut of the mannequin indefinitely final Might.
As lately as October, VW America’s boss Pablo Di Si (who has since moved on) mentioned that the ID.7 might nonetheless are available 2025.
However now we all know that that indefinite delay is now totally particular: the mannequin has been canceled within the US and Canada.
The information was damaged yesterday by The Automotive Information, talking with a VW Canada consultant. We’ve since reached out to VW, who confirmed the information to us.
Automotive Information quoted a VW spokesperson saying the choice was made because of “the continued difficult EV local weather.” Final 12 months in North America, EV gross sales grew by 9%, sooner than the general auto market which grew at 2.5%, suggesting that the market is in reality tougher for non-EVs than EVs for the time being. Additional, fuel automobile gross sales have been in long run decline since 2017, whereas EV gross sales have risen drastically in that point interval.
That progress was achieved with only a few accessible sedan fashions as effectively, with virtually each EV accessible in America being an SUV-type. Including extra mannequin availability might open up the market to extra consumers who desire a right-sized automobile as an alternative of a land yacht.
However VW has been having a difficult time itself within the US. Till lately, it solely provided a single SUV mannequin, the ID.4, within the US. Whereas the ID.4 has introduced numerous upgrades lately, it’s additionally one of many few automobiles whose gross sales had been down in a rising market (which was true even earlier than the cease sale which has now been lifted after fixing a door deal with drawback). Maybe VW might have benefitted from providing a automobile in a unique format.
VW had beforehand blamed its delay of the ID.7 on “market situations.” It didn’t specify which market situations it was referring to, however now we have some suspicions.
Producers have a perception that Individuals solely need SUVs (or so they are saying – actually, that is at the very least partially pushed by emissions guidelines), and the ID.7 isn’t one. Though VW at one level did attempt to painting it as one – after we first noticed the ID.7 it was within the guise of the “House Vizzion” idea, and VW mentioned it “combines the aerodynamic qualities of a Gran Turismo with the beneficiant inside area of an SUV,” making an attempt to leverage Individuals’ supposed need just for land yachts by portraying a considerably extra wise wagon as one thing it’s not.
That mentioned, the automobile doubtless would have been higher-priced than the ID.4, as it’s in Europe. The most effective-selling electrical sedan within the US is the Tesla Mannequin 3, with few different choices outdoors of the luxurious market. The ID.7 might have provided an alternate for consumers who’re in search of one thing that isn’t related to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, however its doubtless excessive beginning worth may need restricted that attraction.
However whereas this can be a disappointment for these of us ready for extra right-sized electrical automobiles, it doesn’t imply the tip for brand spanking new VW EVs within the US. Automotive Information quoted a VW spokesman as saying that “electrical automobiles proceed to be a core a part of Volkswagen’s long-term product technique, and new electrical fashions will proceed to be launched for this market.” So, keep tuned for extra.
Nicely, when you nonetheless need an electrical VW, there’s at all times the ID.4. To contact a neighborhood supplier and see if they’ve any VW ID.4s able to promote, be happy to use our hyperlink. You can too attain out concerning the ID.Buzz, if a unusual electrical minivan is extra your velocity.
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