Volkswagen ID.7 Production Commences in Germany

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【Summary】Volkswagen has begun production of its new electric sedan, the ID.7, at its plant in Germany. The ID.7 will initially be equipped with a 77 kWh battery, offering a range of 382 miles. There will also be an option for an 86 kWh battery, providing a range of 435 miles. The ID.7 is rear-wheel drive, but an all-wheel drive version may be introduced. The car is set to enter the North American market in 2024 and will also be sold in China.

FutureCar Staff Aug 22, 2023 9:29 AM PT

Volkswagen ID.7 Production Commences in Germany

Volkswagen has officially begun production of its all-new, all-electric ID.7 sedan at its plant in Emden, Germany. This is a significant milestone for the company, as it marks the start of series production for the ID.7. While a small production run was launched in June, the manufacturer is now accepting orders in Germany and expects to begin customer deliveries in the fall.

The Emden plant, which also produces the ID.4 model, had previously experienced a decline in demand. This led to a temporary cancellation of late shifts, extended plant vacations, and a decision to postpone the launch of the third shift. Going forward, the success of both the ID.4 and the new ID.7 will be crucial for the plant's operations.

The Volkswagen ID.7 is a new model based on the MEB platform. Initially, it will be equipped with a 77-kilowatt-hour battery, similar to the ones used in the ID.3 and ID.4. This battery has a usable capacity of about 81 kWh and is expected to provide a driving range of 382 miles (615 km) in the European WLTP test cycle for the ID.7 Pro trim.

In the future, an additional battery option will be introduced, offering 86 kWh of usable capacity (91 kWh total). This larger battery is expected to provide a WLTP range of 435 miles (700 km) for the ID.7 Pro S trim. However, the exact timing of its availability is not yet clear. Both batteries can accept fast DC charging, with the larger one capable of charging at up to 200 kilowatts and the smaller one at up to 170 kW.

One notable feature of the ID.7 is its electric motor. It will be the first MEB-based model to be equipped with the new APP550 electric motor, which has a power output of up to 210 kW. This represents an upgrade from the previous 150 kW motor used in the rear of Volkswagen's electric vehicles, with an additional 80 kW motor in the front for all-wheel drive versions.

While the ID.7 is initially rear-wheel drive, there is a possibility that an all-wheel drive version, known as the GTX, will be introduced in Europe. The ID.7 is scheduled to enter the North American market in 2024 and will also be sold in China. In China, it will be produced locally through two joint ventures - FAW-Volkswagen and SAIC Volkswagen.