Volkswagen has teased a new entry-level, all-electric vehicle for the European market, positioning itself as a potential rival to the next-generation Chevy Bolt EV. With an attractive price point of EUR 20,000 (approximately US$21,607 at current exchange rates, 5/29/2024), this new Volkswagen EV could significantly impact the growing market for affordable electric vehicles (EVs). The affordable new EV is currently scheduled for a world premiere by 2027.
The yet-to-be-named Volkswagen EV follows the trend of small, budget-friendly electric cars like the Kia EV3, Fiat 500e, and various Chinese EVs as a new competitor in the segment. High prices have long been a barrier to mainstream EV adoption, and Volkswagen’s new model aims to make electric mobility more accessible to a broader audience by tackling the high price point head-on.
So far, Volkswagen has released only a single teaser image of its upcoming, affordable EV, hinting at a small hatchback design. In addition, the German automaker has only announced availability for the European market, and at this point, it remains unclear about the potential for availability in the U.S. Either way, the new VW EV appears poised for competition with the next-generation Chevy Bolt EV on a global scale. As a reminder, the Chevy Bolt EV was previously marketed in Europe as the Opel Ampera-E.
As part of the announcement, VW CEO Thomas Schafer emphasized the company’s commitment to accessible electric mobility:
“Our brand promise is electromobility for all. In the Brand Group Core, we deliver on this promise. Despite the attractive price, our electric cars will set standards in the entry-level segment in terms of technology, design, quality, and customer experience,” Schafer said.
As GM Authority covered previously, the next-generation Chevy Bolt EV is expected to launch for the 2026 model year. GM Authority previously rendered the next-gen Chevy Bolt EV, so check that out to see what it may look like in terms of design.
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Comment
If you trust VW, like Stellantis, good for you. I don’t and there’s no way either will meet that goal. Just do it with the next Bolt.