Volkswagen, Cupra, and Skoda Are Preparing a Small Electric Car

After the Volkswagen Up!, SEAT Mii, and Skoda Citigo, another trio of compact electric cars is arriving in the German group.

Democratizing electric vehicles is a challenge that nearly all automakers are facing. The Volkswagen group plans to meet it not with one but three new cars: a Cupra, a Volkswagen, and a Skoda.

The German giant has just announced that these three brands will launch an affordable electric model in 2025. The vehicles are expected to be based on a shortened version of the MEB platform.

The sketches published online suggest there will be significant aesthetic differences between the three models. Another lesson to draw is that Volkswagen has apparently changed its plans: after exploring the small SUV route with the ID Life concept, the German manufacturer seems to be shifting toward a more traditional hatchback body style. It is also clear that the Cupra will logically be the sportiest of the family, while Skoda is expected to focus on simpler, more angular shapes.

Spain and SEAT at the heart of the project

The three vehicles will be assembled in Spain, where the Volkswagen group is preparing to make significant investments. With the help of SEAT SA and other partners, the German giant aims to gather $10 billion to accelerate electric vehicle production. However, it must first secure approval from Spanish authorities before moving forward.

This funding will partly be used to build a battery Gigafactory in the city of Valencia. Construction is set to begin next year. The factory, covering 200 hectares, is expected to be operational in 2026. According to Volkswagen, it will have an annual production capacity of 40 GWh.

Meanwhile, the German group plans to Modernize the Martorell and Pamplona factories to produce electric cars there. Logically, the supply of battery cells will be handled by the Valencia Gigafactory.

Read also: Volkswagen will start making money from electric cars in 2022