The ID. Polo is one of VW's hopefuls. Together with three other models, it is intended to conquer the affordable electric car segment. There is a lot of interest at the start - with consequences for the delivery time.
More than 30,000 people have the ID. Polo already ordered. (Archive image) Photo: Markku Ulander/Lehtikuva/dpa
Wolfsburg. According to Volkswagen, it has so far received more than 30,000 orders for the fully electric Polo. A company spokeswoman said this significantly exceeded original expectations, especially in Germany. The small car has been available to order since the end of April - the ID is available in dealer showrooms. Polo, however, has only been around for a few days. Several media outlets had previously reported.
The basic version of the E-Polo costs just under 25,000 euros. Initially, only a better-equipped variant with a larger battery could be ordered for significantly more than 30,000 euros. Customers have been able to order the basic version of the car with a small battery and less horsepower since July.
High demand means longer waiting times
The ID is manufactured. Polo in the Spanish Martorell factory near Barcelona. As the VW spokeswoman also announced, there are currently longer delivery times due to high demand and the initially planned long-term production capacities. We are working on gradually increasing production. She did not say how long customers currently have to wait. The specific delivery date depends on the equipment. Preconfigured vehicles, however, can now be purchased from VW dealers without waiting.
For the ID. Polo and its sister models VW ID. Cross, Škoda Epiq and Cupra Raval now have more than 100,000 pre-orders. The other models are also built in Spain for cost reasons. With the four small cars, the car company wants to tap into the electric entry-level segment. In 2027 an even cheaper model with the working title ID. Every1 will follow for around 20,000 euros, as the successor to the VW Up small car, which will be discontinued in 2023. It is built in Portugal.
Schäfer: Meets the expectations of many customers
The demand shows that the vehicle family meets the expectations of many customers, said VW brand boss Thomas Schäfer. They jointly developed four independent vehicles that retained the character of their brands while at the same time leveraging the strengths of the collaboration. The models in the vehicle family share more than 80 percent of the components and technologies, but differ in terms of design, driving experience and certain functions, among other things.
The car company is currently suffering from falling sales figures. In the first half of the year, deliveries of all brands worldwide fell by 6.3 percent to a good 4.1 million vehicles. The number of electric cars sold also fell. In Europe, however, VW was able to increase sales of pure electric vehicles by 8.4 percent to 377,000 vehicles. The number of orders for electric cars in Europe has also grown significantly since the beginning of the year.
Expert: The shot has to be right
The ID. According to industry expert Stefan Bratzel, Polo is an important model for Volkswagen. “The shot in the small electric car segment must now be in place,” said the director of the Center of Automotive Management in Bergisch Gladbach. It is positive that the quality and appearance at VW are right again. There have been deficits there in the recent past.
The ID. Polo may come late, but possibly still in time because the market ramp-up for electric mobility is gaining momentum. The decisive factor will be whether customers will accept the price-performance ratio in view of increasing competition from China, explained Bratzel.
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