Even Volkswagen (VW) India is eyeing the electric vehicle (EV) market in the country, and with its planned launch of the ID4, it will test the waters, and may bring only a few models to India.
After roll out, the all-electric SUV — the ID4 — will only become VW India’s fourth vehicle in its portfolio.
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| Volkswagen ID4 electric vehicle -- Source: VW. |
VW follows a conservative approach in India and does not go gung-ho by launching many vehicles.
It will most likely be following the same approach with its EVs in India. Volkswagen is set to launch the ID4 in India next year.
Company’s brand director Ashish Gupta said VW would bring in a limited number of ID4 electric SUVs into the country.
The brand director added, “We plan to bring in the ID4 around August this year to start testing in India. It would be in terms of technology as well as the ecosystem. And, we have to see what internal preparations we need to make in order to bring the car into the country. After the testing phase, we would bring in limited volumes of the top-specification variant of the ID4 into the country next year. This is step one.”
He further said, “We have a global portfolio of electric vehicles and are formulating a three-step plan. Initially, we will bring in a few fully-built-up units (FBUs) and then opt for local assembly via components. Later, we will go all out on localisation. This plan is still at the formulation stage.”
According to Gupta, mass adoption of EVs in India is still three-four years away.
He said, “I see it happening around 2025-26. This is because for mass localisation, you require a manufacturing base and a supplier base. Then you also need to achieve price points for mass electrification. There is a need to build capabilities internally and see how the market responds.”
The ID4 comes with a water-cooled electric motor that is placed at the rear axle. The motor belts out 109 kW–150 kW (148 PS–204 PS; 146 hp–201 hp) of power and has a torque of 310 Nm.
There is the option of two battery packs — a 55 kWh battery pack and an 82 kWh one.
The single motor will come with a range of up to 520 km (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure or WTLP standard).
On the other hand, there is the combined output of dual motors — that is, 299 HP, — which offers a range of up to 480 km (WLTP standard).
India will, most likely, see the GTX variant being tested in the country. It has a range of 480 km on a single charge.
This range is lower than the Enyaq’s 513 km. This Skoda EV has higher range but it comes with lower power.
In the international market, the ID4 electric crossover SUV is the second vehicle from the Volkswagen ID stable that originates from the MEB platform.
In India, Volkswagen has gone slow with its internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and it may follow the same policy with its electric vehicles by launching only a few models like the ID4 EV in the country in the medium term.
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