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German auto giant Volkswagen has launched series production of its ID.7 electric car at a plant in Emden in north-eastern Germany.
“Today’s production start-up of the ID.7 is an important milestone for our transformation,” VW brand leader Thomas Schäfer said at a launch event at the plant on Monday. “With the ID.7, we are reaching the next level in electro-mobility. As early as 2026, we will have the broadest portfolio in the industry.”
The ID.7 sedan, which is modelled after the VW Passat and has a range of up to 700 kilometres, was unveiled in April with plans to go on sale by the end of the year.
VW sees the ID.7 as covering the upper mid-range product segment in its new lineup of all-electric vehicles, which already includes the ID.3 compact car and the ID.4 small SUV.
Production of the ID.4 launched at the Emden plant last year. According to VW, the company has invested more than €1 billion ($1.1 billion) since 2020 to convert the factory to produce electric vehicles.
VW intends the Emden plant to be the main production facility for the ID.7, which will also be built in China.
Volkswagen is currently producing around 800 cars a day in Emden, of which around 300 are electric cars. Around 8,000 people are employed by VW at the site.
According to the factory works council, only about a dozen ID.7 vehicles a day are currently being produced. By the beginning of 2024, Volkswagen plans on producing between 200 and 300 ID.7 vehicles per day.
