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I get the skepticism but VW have done what they said, a couple of years later than originally planned Well, they've just about managed to release a 200+ mile E
by codeulike 6y ago
I get the skepticism but VW have done what they said, a couple of years later than originally planned
Well, they've just about managed to release a 200+ mile EV at roughly the same price/range as their competitors * . Thats hardly 'top automaker in all respects, including electric mobility'.
* and thats only because the Tesla Model 3 is extra expensive in Europe, until they get that German factory fired up
Just yesterday on the motorway here I saw an advert for the new ID3 - it’s here.
Is the ID3 actually delivered to customers and on the road though? Wasn't last time I checked.
- clouddrover 6y agoYes. Deliveries started a week ago. Here's someone posting videos about his new ID.3 to his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/BatteryLife/videos https://www.youtube.com/c/BatteryLife/videos He's tried various drives and charging sessions. The matrix headlights are quite nice.
- codeulike 6y agoWell thats something. I hope the new VW platform turns out to be as world changing as they are making it out to be.
- reitzensteinm 6y agoAre you comparing USD and EUR prices? Because VAT is a larger difference than import duties, and GF Berlin won't help there.
- codeulike 6y agoI'm basing it on Musks statements that to get the cars as cheap as possible they need to be manufactured in the appropriate continent. Thats the point of the German gigafactory. But indeed who knows what the eventual UK Model 3 price will be. Better than it currently is for sure.
- reitzensteinm 6y agoDepending on where tariffs land after Brexit, it's possible there's little difference. GF Berlin will probably be more efficient than Fremont. But so will Texas and whatever comes after.
- davedx 6y agoDon't forget transportation costs too. Not cheap shipping containers full of cars halfway across the world. Fremont -> Rotterdam is quite a sail!
- reitzensteinm 6y agoThat's true, although as an individual that costs maybe ~$1k, and I imagine they get much better prices sending them a ship full at a time. I'd love to know exactly how much. Plus intermediate parts (eg batteries) have to be shipped from China or the US until the factory itself is self sufficient, which may take a few years, and this eats in to the shipping savings. The Gigafactory Berlin plans currently approved do not yet include battery manufacturing. As far as costs go, shipping is a distant third factor in the US/EU price difference (maybe 2%), compared to the import tariff (10%) and VAT (often >20%).
- jabl 6y agoOne of my neighbors has an ID3 (since a few weeks IIRC), so it seems they're available. I've also seen another one on the road.