VW loses ground in compact electric cars: models delayed

New Models VW Postpones the Market Launch of the ID Golf Again

2025-09-18 From sp-x | Translated by AI 1 min Reading Time

Related Vendor

VW loses ground in the competitive market for compact electric cars. Two high-volume models are coming later than planned.

ID.GTI concept(Image: VW) — ID.GTI concept
(Image: VW)

VW must postpone the launch of the fully electric Golf again. Instead of the originally planned 2029, the important model, along with the technically related crossover ID Roc, will now start in 2030, according to the Handelsblatt, citing sources familiar with the matter. The reasons for the delay are reportedly high cost pressures at VW, unresolved production issues, and sales difficulties with electric cars.

Originally, the high-volume electric car now called ID Golf, from the Wolfsburg main plant (Germany), was supposed to launch no later than 2028. Later, the introduction was officially postponed due to difficulties with the new software architecture.

VW's entry-level electric vehicle is set to launch at the end of 2027. (Image:VW)

Plant Relocations of Several Models Postponed

The renewed rescheduling has far-reaching consequences: because the combustion engine Golf will now be built in Wolfsburg, Germany for a year longer than planned, the anticipated relocation of the model's production to Mexico will be delayed. At the same time, the ID.3 is to continue being produced in Zwickau, Germany for the time being and will not move to Wolfsburg. A center for electric compact cars is actually planned there.

Not least, VW is losing valuable time in the battle for shares in the fiercely competitive market for mass-market electric cars. For the time being, the Northern Germans will have to rely on the ID.3 and, starting at the end of 2026, on the smaller ID Polo in the segment of comparatively affordable volume models.

Subscribe to the newsletter now

Don't Miss out on Our Best Content

Business E-mail

Please enter a valid mailadress.

By clicking on „Subscribe to Newsletter“ I agree to the processing and use of my data according to the consent form (please expand for details) and accept the Terms of Use. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. The consent declaration relates, among other things, to the sending of editorial newsletters by email and to data matching for marketing purposes with selected advertising partners (e.g., LinkedIn, Google, Meta)

Date: 08.12.2025

Naturally, we always handle your personal data responsibly. Any personal data we receive from you is processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. For detailed information please see our privacy policy.

Consent to the use of data for promotional purposes

I hereby consent to Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG, Max-Planck-Str. 7-9, 97082 Würzburg including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG (hereafter: Vogel Communications Group) using my e-mail address to send editorial newsletters. A list of all affiliated companies can be found here

Newsletter content may include all products and services of any companies mentioned above, including for example specialist journals and books, events and fairs as well as event-related products and services, print and digital media offers and services such as additional (editorial) newsletters, raffles, lead campaigns, market research both online and offline, specialist webportals and e-learning offers. In case my personal telephone number has also been collected, it may be used for offers of aforementioned products, for services of the companies mentioned above, and market research purposes.

Additionally, my consent also includes the processing of my email address and telephone number for data matching for marketing purposes with select advertising partners such as LinkedIn, Google, and Meta. For this, Vogel Communications Group may transmit said data in hashed form to the advertising partners who then use said data to determine whether I am also a member of the mentioned advertising partner portals. Vogel Communications Group uses this feature for the purposes of re-targeting (up-selling, cross-selling, and customer loyalty), generating so-called look-alike audiences for acquisition of new customers, and as basis for exclusion for on-going advertising campaigns. Further information can be found in section “data matching for marketing purposes”.

In case I access protected data on Internet portals of Vogel Communications Group including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG, I need to provide further data in order to register for the access to such content. In return for this free access to editorial content, my data may be used in accordance with this consent for the purposes stated here. This does not apply to data matching for marketing purposes.

Right of revocation

I understand that I can revoke my consent at will. My revocation does not change the lawfulness of data processing that was conducted based on my consent leading up to my revocation. One option to declare my revocation is to use the contact form found at https://contact.vogel.de. In case I no longer wish to receive certain newsletters, I have subscribed to, I can also click on the unsubscribe link included at the end of a newsletter. Further information regarding my right of revocation and the implementation of it as well as the consequences of my revocation can be found in the data protection declaration, section editorial newsletter.