Mr. Brandstätter, the ID.3 has just arrived onto the market and the ID.4 is on its way. What do you expect from the first E-SUV from the Volkswagen brand?
Brandstätter: With the ID.4, we are taking e-mobility out of its niche in our three major key regions. The car will be built and sold in Europe, in China and later also in the USA. The ID.4 is thus gradually becoming the world’s electric car. We are scaling our MEB platform and creating the economic basis for the success of our ID. family. At the same time, the ID.4 brings together two important goals of our existing TRANSFORM 2025+ strategy: The e-offensive and the SUV-offensive of the Volkswagen brand – both combined in one vehicle.
What makes you so confident that the ID.4 will be a success?
Ulbrich: SUVs are in high demand by an ever-increasing number of customers. They offer an overview, safety and comfort. In the USA and China, SUVs are the most popular vehicle segment. In Europe and Germany, too, market shares are steadily increasing, with compact models in particular booming. The ID.4 is our first electric SUV – and it clearly targets the volume market. It offers the space, flexibility and all the advantages that customers appreciate in SUVs.
Electric cars are considered clean, SUVs an environmental problem. How do the two fit together?
Brandstätter: The ID.4 stands for clean, balance sheet CO2-neutral mobility. Like the ID.3, it leaves the Zwickau plant without a CO2 backpack. This is proven to our customers by a TÜV certificate for each vehicle. With this car the discussion changes – because environmental arguments no longer speak against an SUV. Our position is clear: Volkswagen is committed to the Paris climate goals. We have initiated the complete decarbonization of the brand. By 2050 Volkswagen is to be a zero-emissions company.