Is the Low-Cost Electric Volkswagen a Project Without a Future?

Amidst sluggish sales, factory closures, and layoffs, Volkswagen is experiencing dark times but remains hopeful about the electric future.

Although the launches of several new electric models and the refresh of the current lineup have been put on hold, Volkswagen’s most affordable model, the ID.2, is still scheduled for release at the end of 2025. The fragile automotive giant even wants to make it a new starting point toward a bright future.

A proactive and optimistic approach that feels good, but the schedule is perplexing. Volkswagen has indeed announced a new style and visual identity for its electric lineup starting from… 2026. Since it’s not specified whether the ID.2 will benefit from this, one might ask the question, but it’s hard to imagine Volkswagen working on a new car with an already outdated look. In that case, it’s better to do only Retrofit. Rather, we can expect an ID.2 debuting the new Volkswagen style at the beginning of 2026.

Volkswagen is Running in Slow Motion

Since we’re talking about Retrofit, the interior should feature many stylistic markers and design elements reminiscent of Volkswagen’s glorious past. We already know one essential characteristic: digital displays on the driver’s screen, labeled “Classic” and “Vintage,” which mimic the dashboard of the legendary Beetle and Golf. Hopefully, Volkswagen will stick to that, and perhaps a subtle reinterpretation of plaid fabrics or the golf ball-shaped gearshift, because we prefer a modern interior over a pale copy of 1980s minimalism. Otherwise, as we said, there’s always Retrofit!

This announcement still raises an essential question, that of responsiveness more than resources. The ID.2 was announced over two years ago, and we will still have to wait more than a year before the first sales. Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers can design and launch more than 10 new vehicles in 12 months. Batteries are evolving daily, offering more range and faster charging, and the prices of electric cars now start below 20,000 Euros, while the ID.2 is expected to be close to 25,000 Euros. An excellent example of this inertia that has brought Volkswagen to the brink of disaster…

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