Volkswagen has finally paid off when it launches its highly anticipated electric SUV range in Australia.
The VolkswagenID.4 And ID.5 electric vehicles (EVs) are expected to hit the market locally in March 2025, almost a year after deliveries were supposed to begin, following numerous delays and setbacks.
After initially arriving in the second quarter of 2024 (April to June), their May arrival was pushed back to the fourth quarter (October to December), before the automaker said in August that they would launch before Christmas.
Speak with AutoExpertVolkswagen Group Australia (VGA) product and PR communications manager Daniel DeGasperi said customers may get them “a little while before we get the [media] launch”.
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‘It’s not a postponement until March. We want to end the year with ID. Buzz, which is the right thing to do, and we want to strategically do ID.4 and ID.5 before Everything Electric (EV show in March 2025), and [Cupra] Tavascan shortly afterwards.”
Volkswagen still has not confirmed prices for the ID.4 and ID. 5 not yet published, although it has previously said it will be “pleasantly surprising.”
The brand was originally going to announce the prices of the ID.4 and ID.5 in September.
“That hasn’t been done yet. I think we need a few more days [a short] time to finalize it with the head office,” VGA director Karsten Seifert said in September.
“But I’m pretty sure we’ll be just as reasonably priced, with a very welcome price point for the Australian market, including for the ID.4.
“We have to find the right price point, which is not always the easiest topic for our group. We are getting better at this.”
The Volkswagen ID.4 electric SUV was originally unveiled in 2020, while the accompanying ID.5 electric ‘coupe’ SUV was unveiled in 2021.
The electric SUV pair was intended to be the first Volkswagen-branded EVs to be offered in Australia, but after launch delays, that title now goes to ID. Buzz electric people mover and van.
Both regular Pro and high-performance versions of the ID.4 and ID.5 will be available.
Although the SUVs look much the same as when they were first unveiled, Volkswagen has recently given them a series of mechanical updates.
These include a new, more powerful electric motor of 210kW and 545Nm in rear-wheel drive models, which also saw increased range, as well as new charging and temperature management.
Inside, the electric SUVs also received a larger 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen with illuminated touch sliders underneath.
The ID.4 and ID.5 are far from the only vehicles in their segments to experience significant differences between launch overseas and arrival in Australia.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E went on sale in North America in late 2020 but didn’t arrive here until late 2023, while the Toyota bZ4X went on sale there in 2022 and took until this year to arrive locally.
The Nissan Ariya still won’t arrive in Australia until the second half of 2025, about three years after it went on sale overseas.
While Volkswagen said the EV market is maturing, with more vehicles arriving and Tesla’s dominance being eroded, Mr. Seifert noted as early as September that the market is “not getting any smoother.” [but] becoming more difficult year after year” and that “the Chinese are coming in.”
The ID.4 and ID.5 will not only have to contend with the aforementioned rivals and others like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, but also a plethora of Chinese newcomers.
That includes the upcoming BYD Sealion 7, Leapmotor C10, Xpeng G6, Zeekr 7X and likely a mid-size electric SUV from MG.
Between January and November 2024, sales of new EVs in Australia increased by almost nine percent, well below the triple-digit figures of the previous year.
MORE: Everything Volkswagen ID.4 • ID.5
