Volkswagen unveiled a concept for a new small electric SUV on Sunday as part of the automaker’s push to offer affordable battery-powered vehicles amid greater competition on cost and innovation, US tariffs and shifting consumer demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ID.CROSS is part of a product offering that has seen the Volkswagen group, Europe’s largest carmaker, introduce around 60 models in 2024 and 2025, Chief Executive Blume said at a media preview ahead of the Munich car show that begins on Tuesday, Reuters reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The compact electric SUV, which will have its world premiere in the summer of 2026, is expected to be priced between 28,000 euros and 30,000 euros ($32,780 and $35,121), targeting less affluent clients keen on buying EVs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“We’ve always faced major challenges,” Blume said, citing strong competition, declining demand in Europe, a price war in China and trade tensions, most notably US import tariffs that have dealt a severe blow to the carmaker’s Audi and Porsche brands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“But we didn’t hold back,” Blume said with regard to the group’s offering, which also includes the ID.Polo hatchback EV – with a starting price of 25,000 euros – as well as the CUPRA Raval and Skoda’s Epiq SUV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
European automakers are up against stiff competition from China in the quest to bring affordable EVs to the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Squeezed by falling profits in key market China and weak auto demand in Europe, Volkswagen has also launched a major cost-cutting program that will see more than 35,000 jobs go, along with painful capacity cuts at its German plants.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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