VW wants to export China electric car ID.6 to Germany

VW’s new electric car family ID. currently consists of the compact station wagon ID.3 and the compact SUV ID.4. The large ID.6 SUV is also being sold in China. VW is planning various other ID.models, the ID.6 could also be offered later in Europe – from Chinese production.

For the first time, Volkswagen’s chief executive, Herbert Diess, wants to have tens of thousands of models produced in China and exported to Europe, including the ID.6, reports Business Insider. The plans were discussed in secret and the decision should be made in a few weeks. According to this, around 15,000 ID.6s are to be shipped to Europe every year. In the 5-year cycle, the board hopes for around 80,000 units that can be sold in Europe.

Electric cars are still more expensive not only for customers, but also for manufacturers. In China, the production and personnel costs are many times lower than in Germany. With an exported ID.6 you could earn more money than with a production in Europe. The model with a range of up to 588 kilometers is a less attractive member of the ID. Series according to the NEDC standard, which has expired here. A directly comparable e-car at an affordable price has not yet existed here.

It remains to be seen whether Diess can enforce his plan. Volkswagen has a powerful employee representative body that is likely to oppose the import of China cars. The works council recently called for production at the Wolfsburg headquarters to be strengthened. The weakest production for decades is looming there. The new head of the Volkswagen works council, Daniela Cavallo, has already shown that she can put Diess in its place: Actually, the head of the group wanted to meet investors in the USA instead of speaking at the Volkswagen works meeting in Germany. After massive criticism from Cavallo, however, he canceled this and confirmed his participation in the local appointment.

With a view to the planned import of electric cars from China, Diess is likely to refer to the industry leader Tesla. The US manufacturer most recently led sales in Europe with its model 3 mid-range car, most of the vehicles coming from Tesla’s China factory in Shanghai. Diess repeatedly warns that new competitors such as Tesla are putting Volkswagen under great pressure. The traditional company must become more productive in order to remain one of the leading providers with electric cars in the future.

A Volkswagen spokesman said of the board’s plans to also sell the ID.6 in Europe: “If models are successful in one market, it is only natural that the market opportunities in other regions are analyzed as well. Of course, this also applies to the seven-seater ID.6 SUV. ”Volkswagen could open up a new market segment in Europe with this. A decision as to whether the ID.6 will be launched on the European market has not yet been made.

A representative of the works council spoke of “speculation” that he could not comment on. However, it was said from circles of the employee representatives that the topic was neither on the table at the moment, nor that there would be an approval for it – but that would be necessary from the works council.

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