Why was a separate product family – the ID. family – developed for electric mobility?
For us, it was very clear from the beginning that we needed a separate, uncompromising platform for electric mobility in order to fulfil our standards in terms of range and quality, but also the price. The layout of an electric vehicle is completely different. The largest component is no longer the engine, but rather the battery, which is ideally positioned between the axes in the vehicle floor and thus ensures a very low centre of gravity. With its MEB platform, the ID. family is designed to be uncompromisingly electric. This approach offers benefits that wouldn’t be possible with a joint platform for electric motors and internal combustion engines, and therefore makes electric mobility lots of fun. And that was always our aim: to create emotionally charged mobility that’s not limited to rational arguments. Electric mobility should be fun – not a consolation prize. That’s the only way to win people over.
The ID.3 is a milestone for Volkswagen, just like the Beetle and the first Golf were. How do you approach the design of a key model like this?
There’d never been a technical breakthrough in Volkswagen’s history quite like this. The decision to launch a project like the ID. family was a huge source of motivation. We wanted to show what we’re capable of when we work together. An electric vehicle has fundamentally different requirements in terms of design. The air supply no longer plays much of a role, whilst the aerodynamics are functionally essential for the range. We responded to this functional requirement with a seamless, flowing visual design. Key models are, of course, all about emotion more than anything else. With its rear-wheel drive and face without radiator grille, the ID. family draws on our roots which were responsible for the Beetle and Bulli with rear engine, and looks to the future with a smile.
Was there a benchmark for the ID.3 – a standard you wanted to achieve?
We wanted to make electric mobility our way – the Volkswagen way. There had already been a few electric vehicles, including the e-Golf, before the ID. family. It was clear to us that a whole lot more would be possible with a separate electric mobility platform. After all, the conventional Golf is so successful because it was 100% optimised. The Golf is the closest thing to a perfect product. We also wanted to achieve that electrically with the ID.
What weren’t you expecting at the beginning of the ID.3 project?
Just how impressive electric mobility can be in this segment. The low centre of gravity and immediately available torque create an unbelievable driving sensation. There was nothing missing for me from the first drive. In fact, combined with our situation-dependent user interface and connectivity, we create a mobility experience like no other in the compact class – it’s a huge leap forward.
Now that the ID.3 is ready for production and the ID. family is nearly complete, what’s next?
The ID.3 is just the beginning. The entire ID. family is moving towards production. And, of course, we’re already working on the future beyond the future.
