Series production has started in Spain for Volkswagen's new ID. Cross, a compact electric SUV for the affordable end of the EV market.
Its cheapest version is expected to cost about $32,000, as Electrek reported.
Here's what to know
At Volkswagen Navarra in Pamplona, the company has begun building the ID. Cross in series production, according to a LinkedIn post by CEO Thomas Schäfer.
The launch adds another low-cost EV to Volkswagen's growing lineup.
German orders for the EV began at €36,525 ($41,630), with the more affordable Trend trim at €27,995 — or $31,909 — scheduled to arrive in mid-October.
Schäfer called it "a true Volkswagen: modern, reliable, and, above all, affordable," per Electrek.
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He added: "Electric mobility should not be a promise for a few. It should be a real choice for many."
Volkswagen positions the ID. Cross as an electric alternative to the T-Cross, with a choice of a 37- or 52-kilowatt-hour battery. Its maximum range is listed at 265 miles.
On DC fast charging, Volkswagen said the smaller battery can go from 10% to 80% in 23 minutes.
More background
A low-cost electric SUV provides savings beyond the purchase price.
EVs cost less to fuel than gas vehicles and require less routine maintenance because they have fewer moving parts and don't need oil changes.
Charging an EV at home often costs half as much as using public chargers, but basic Level 1 charging tends to be slow. Qmerit provides free, instant installation estimates for faster Level 2 home charger installations.
Volkswagen said the Cross is about the size of the T-Cross, but its flat battery layout and floor setup create up to 125.5 gallons of interior storage space — 5.3 gallons more than the gas version.
Inside, Volkswagen fitted its digital cockpit with a 10.25-inch instrument display and a 12.9-inch center infotainment screen.
It also includes a Retro Display mode modeled after the first-generation Golf.
What's being done?
To prepare Volkswagen Navarra for vehicles such as the ID. Cross and the Skoda Epiq, Volkswagen upgraded the plant to produce gas and electric models side by side.
It is using its MEB+ platform for the SUV and plans to sell it in multiple trims and power outputs, giving buyers flexibility on price and range.
Where can I learn more?
For more on Volkswagen's push into low-cost EVs, check out these stories.
• At Volkswagen's Spain plant, its first low-cost EVs are already rolling off the line.
• Volkswagen's new Chinese-market crossover brings unprecedented features to the brand's expanding EV range.
• Volkswagen's ID 2all shows how affordable EV design can still prioritize cabin space.
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