Volkswagen Releases New Sketches Of ID.1 Concept, Will Be Entry Level ID Model

Volkswagen releases new sketches of ID.1 concept as the company prepares to bring the ID EV family into the budget vehicle wars with ID.1

After releasing a couple of teaser photos of a mysterious concept, Volkswagen followed them up with two new sketches.

It has been nearly two years since Volkswagen unveiled the ID.2all concept a futuristic preview of a budget friendly EV that it was supposed to be developing with the company saying it has a base price of $26,000. Alot has happened since then but the one noticeable thing that hasn’t happened is the appearance of the car in production with Volkswagen still not releasing a production version after two years.

Volkswagen is still serious about making a budget EV though and the company has released two sketches of another budget EV it plans to debut, the ID.1 with the concept version of this inexpensive EV expected to debut in March.

Sketches confirm style will still reign in ID.1

Volkswagen didn’t officially confirm the name of the vehicle, but the company’s existing naming habits and some interesting patent claims suggest this is the rumored ID.1

The two sketches Volkswagen released of the concept show a vehicle that makes full use of its compact dimensions. While the exaggerated wheels will be exclusive to the drawing pad, the rest of the sketch reveals a look that’s simple with a hatchback shape that’s reminiscent of classic Volkswagen Golf models. The front end has a simple look to it with the spunky side profile leading to the clean rear end which gets a clean set of taillights and a large rear bumper. Volkswagen for its part didn’t confirm the official name along with the release of these sketches but chances are good that this is the ID.1 since the company is already using a numerical system to denote the size of its EVs with smaller numbers being used for compact ones while going up the numerical ladder will see them get bigger as is the case with the ID.3 and so on.

Further evidence appears when you look at recent patent findings with the company trademarking the moniker “ID.EVERY1 with the European Union Intellectual Property office. The playful moniker seems to hint that Volkswagen is viewing this EV as a gateway model which is supposed to bring in new buyers especially those that might want an EV of their own but don’t have the money to move into a bigger model.

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ID.1 has French connection

The ID.1 would be targeting entry-level buyers but it remains to be seen if the model will make it to the United States or if it will be exclusive to international markets.

Volkswagen was originally going to develop the ID.1 alongside French automaker Renault as part of a partnership but cooperation between the two sides was chilly and both automakers chose to end their collaboration last year. The split appeared to be Volkswagen’s responsibility with Renault CEO Lucs de Meo saying that the abrupt end of the collaboration was a “lost opportunity” but Renault didn’t come away empty-handed with some aspects of the project making their way to the Twingo city car which will make its debut in 2026.

As for the ID.1 it will be built on the MEB Small platform with the model having ties with the slightly bigger ID.2 which is expected to go on sale in Europe in 2026. It will be interesting to see if Volkswagen will bring the ID.1 to the U.S. after it likely goes on sale first in Europe. With the company being slow in introducing ID models to our shores, the only two U.S. buyers have access to are the ID.4 and the retro-inspired ID.Buzz van. Both of these models cater to utility buyers but they are also expensive with the Buzz in particular being pricey in certain trim levels. A smaller ID model would help create a gateway model for the brand’s U.S. sales arm and be a welcome infusion of sales for dealerships with some of them being frustrated with how slowly the EVs have been selling.