VW introduced at present that it’ll delay the discharge of its ID.7 sedan within the US, setting no particular date for when the automobile shall be out there.
The ID.7 is VW’s upcoming electrical sedan, which has already began gross sales in Europe and in China.
In March we discovered about potential trim ranges for the flagship “near-luxury” sedan. And final yr, we had a drive within the ID.7’s European trim and fairly favored it.
Whereas we didn’t be taught pricing or vary data, that was supposed to return out in Q3, nearer to when the automobile will launch. A launch date hadn’t but been introduced, however the automobile was meant to return to North America within the 2025 mannequin yr.
However at present VW says that it’s delaying that launch indefinitely because of “market circumstances.”
VW didn’t specify which market circumstances it was referring to, however we have now some suspicions.
Producers have a perception that People solely need SUVs (or so they are saying – actually, that is no less than partially pushed by emissions guidelines), and the ID.7 is just not one. After we first noticed the ID.7 it was within the guise of the “Area Vizzion” idea, VW mentioned it “combines the aerodynamic qualities of a Gran Turismo with the beneficiant inside area of an SUV” – attempting to leverage People’ supposed want just for land yachts by portraying a considerably extra smart wagon as one thing it’s not.
That idea received changed into the ID.7 Tourer station wagon, and the ID.7 sedan is the sedan model of the identical platform.
So VW could also be responding to this perception, considering that People gained’t need a sedan.
One other chance is that VW EV gross sales should not going nice. VW has by no means been as robust within the US as it’s in the remainder of the world, however EVs supply a recent taking part in subject for them to hope to maneuver into new markets. In a quickly rising North American EV market, which grew some 13% in Q1 in comparison with the yr prior, VW truly noticed a gross sales lower of three% – one in all few manufacturers to see such a dip.
A part of this is because of upcoming new fashions, just like the newly-released ID.4 2024 replace which has so many enhancements it feels extra like a mid-cycle refresh than a easy mannequin yr replace. The VW ID.Buzz, which we lastly received some particulars on final week, can also be anticipated later this yr.
Consumers is likely to be ready for these new fashions (or for VW so as to add NACS connectors) earlier than committing to a brand new automobile.
However a kind of upcoming new fashions was additionally the ID.7, which as we now know shall be delayed. Some consumers may need been ready for it, however we gained’t know now how fashionable it may need been till it lastly does make its technique to the US. And if gross sales aren’t robust elsewhere, opening one other new market may need helped.
However in line with VW, the ID.7 “has change into an trade commonplace profitable numerous worldwide awards.” It additionally says that demand for the ID.7 Tourer is “larger than anticipated, particularly in Germany.” So maybe this, mixed with a disappointing begin of gross sales in China the place home manufacturers are capturing more and more extra of the market, has triggered VW to carry its focus again homewards in the intervening time, and it received chilly ft about opening one other new market if issues are going nicely sufficient at dwelling.