Wen | and Ling
Beijing time yesterday in the early morning, Volkswagen ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo made its world debut. When Volkswagen's most classic model, the T1, was revived as an electric car, it felt like everything was back. What excites me the most is that T1 is back, and it is estimated that it is not far from the return of pure electric beetles, right?
The Beetle used to be my Dream car, missed ten thousand times, and if the electric returns, this time absolutely can't be missed. As for T1 for the Chinese people, more classic memories come from movies. Sunny little beauty Oliver family on the road to pursue their dreams, bad on the road T1 small yellow car, need a family to help to start, life is like this little yellow car, bumpy, always unsatisfactory, but with love can always continue to move forward...
The Volkswagen T series is regarded as a classic by fans around the world, and it is the pioneer of VAN models, which is what we often call vans and the originator of MPV. In the 50s and 60s of the last century, Volkswagen T1 carried countless European and American countries about freedom, love, youth, collapse, adventure, all on the road, full of feelings... This time accompanied by id. Buzz's listing, do we also have a chance to feel it?
Volkswagen's official news is that the model will be officially launched in Europe in 2022, and some countries will accept reservations in May; the long-axis version will be officially unveiled in North America in 2023 and is scheduled to be launched in 2024. When will it enter the domestic market? Volkswagen China said there is no clear timetable at this time. However, for the world's largest new energy vehicle market, how can Volkswagen miss it, it is estimated that it is faster.
A tribute to the classics
Actually, ID. The Buzz isn't the first Bulli (Volkswagen Compact MPV) model to be equipped with an electric drive system. At the Hannover Trade Fair 50 years ago, Volkswagen presented the first prototype T2 with a rear-mounted electric drive. But at that time, there was only a maximum endurance of 85 kilometers, so in the end there was no mass production.
In 2022, the zero-emission Bulli is finally here. I feel that this time the german who has always been cautious is very full of inner drama, "You say that my ID. series is not smart enough to sell; it doesn't matter, then I play 'feelings + electric', see if you can still fight?" ”
First of all, ID. Buzz pays tribute to the classic in terms of styling, insisting on the cute style, which is definitely the first selling point. The T1's driver's seat is above the front axle and there is almost no front overhang. And ID. Buzz's front overhang is also short, guaranteeing security and technology while ID. Buzz wind resistance coefficient is only 0.285, reducing energy consumption and improving endurance. ID. Buzz has a battery life of 500+ (the final announcement is subject to the official announcement), which is enough to go out and surf. The steering diameter is only 11.1 meters, which is as easy to operate as the golf. Recycled materials and non-leather interiors are also heavily used in the interior, which is very compatible with the electric gene.
Second, the market demand for electric MPV is just in time. The ID. Buzz has a wheelbase of 2988 mm (5-seat version) and can reach 1121 litres of luggage space for 5 people, and can be expanded to 2205 litres when the second row is placed. Soon after, ID. Buzz will also be available in long wheelbase versions in six- and seven-seat layouts. That's right, six seats are the most pleasing to Chinese consumers, spacious and practical, or why does the ideal ONE sell so well.
Third, ID. Buzz is also from MEB and will be powered by the latest version of ID software. This is a point that the public particularly emphasizes. It is said that the latest version includes a new driver assistance system, front Assist pre-collision safety system, and a Lane Assist lane keeping system on the MPV model.
The European version will be equipped with a 77 kWh battery pack (total capacity: 82 kWh) and a 150 kW rear motor. The AC charging power is 11 kW, and the DC fast charge power through the European CCS standard charging port can reach 170 kW, so it takes only 30 minutes to charge from 5% to 80%. Using the latest version of ID.software, ID. Buzz will also provide a "plug and charge" function in the future, as well as a two-way charging function (V2H), that is, it can power the excess power in the vehicle's battery to the user's home grid.
Bet on Volkswagen Anhui?
In fact, everyone knows that it is impossible to effectively promote the transformation of Volkswagen electric vehicles by relying on feelings alone. The ID. Buzz is more likely to be imported. Of course, if the amount is large, it is not impossible for domestic production in the future, and the ready-made MEB platform is available. The key is to increase the volume, and at present, Volkswagen urgently needs to rapidly expand its market share in the field of electric vehicles in China.
In the past 2021, the ID. family has sold 70,000 vehicles in China, which has not achieved the target. Volkswagen China then said that sales of ID series electric vehicles are expected to double to more than 140,000 units in 2022; by 2023, Volkswagen will produce 1 million electric vehicles in China every year.
In two years, from 140,000 vehicles to 1 million vehicles? This is who gives courage.
At present, in addition to the existing SAIC-Volkswagen's Anting plant and FAW-Volkswagen's Foshan plant, Volkswagen is betting on the Volkswagen Anhui plant under construction.
Why? The reason is simple. In FAW-Volkswagen, Volkswagen holds only 40% of the shares; in SAIC-Volkswagen, Volkswagen holds 50% of the shares, while in the Volkswagen Anhui project, Volkswagen holds up to 75%. Needless to say, it is important to say which.
At present, Volkswagen's Anhui MEB plant has completed more than 70% of the construction. This week, Volkswagen Anhui Comprehensive Experimental Center R & D test site officially broke ground. Dr. Ge Wandi, CEO of Volkswagen Anhui, clearly stated that compared with The North and South Volkswagen, Volkswagen Anhui's products focus more on the research and development and landing of intelligent networking and infotainment vehicle networking technology; product design, younger; at the same time, the R & D function undertaken by Volkswagen China plays an important role in Volkswagen's China technology research and development system, and is also an important part of the global R & D system of Volkswagen Group, and the degree of R & D freedom and flexibility is greater.
To put it bluntly, Volkswagen has also focused on the upgrading of intelligent anhui. In fact, as early as more than 20 years ago, Volkswagen already had an R&D center in Beijing, but the R&D center did more localization work than innovation in the true sense. For example, in the Volkswagen e-up! pure electric vehicle is introduced in the form of import after the localization of the R & D center and improvement.
Volkswagen's first batch of vehicle networking systems were also introduced into domestic models after the center optimized the navigation tools and function menu functions. However, it is still obviously unsatisfactory and backward.
Now, with the construction of Volkswagen's Anhui, Volkswagen has planned a new wave of research and development centers, the most important of which is the landing of the CARIAD project of Volkswagen's automotive software company in China. It is reported that the department's Chinese headquarters will be located in Beijing; the CARIAD team in Anhui is mainly around standard software and electronic architecture for in-vehicle applications; the Shanghai CARIAD detachment focuses on autonomous driving; and the team in Chengdu is dedicated to software programming.
In addition to research and development, recently there is news that in addition to the MEB platform previously announced by Volkswagen Anhui, it is expected to introduce the SSP platform in the future in 2025. If it comes true, it's a big melon. According to public information, as Volkswagen's next-generation electric vehicle platform, the SSP platform can produce all Volkswagen brand models, including Audi, Bentley, and Porsche, and the new Porsche brand electric vehicle that was recently exposed is being born on the SSP platform.
Can it be said in other words, then Volkswagen Anhui will have the ability to produce all of Volkswagen's high-end electric vehicles, and domestic Porsche is not impossible. This information has not been officially confirmed.
This melon really made the public Anhui raise its eyebrows and breathe. But the current reality is that Volkswagen Anhui only sells Sihao brand models, does not hang up the Volkswagen logo, and has no sense of existence. However, unexpectedly, the Sales volume of the Sihao brand exceeded 10,000 in January 2022, and the annual sales target was 100,000 vehicles. So it seems that there is still a certain basis for switching to the MEB platform model at the end of the year.
According to the exposed new car plan, Volkswagen Anhui will gradually launch Cupra (Seat's high-performance brand) brand models and Volkswagen brand models from next year. In this way, the Cupra SUV model built on the MEB platform is expected to be the first model put into operation at Volkswagen's Anhui MEB plant in the second half of this year.
Seathouse Cupra Born, built on the MEB platform
Make no mistake about it, right? Si Hao came after another Seat that everyone was not familiar with? Don't worry, it is said that domestic Seats have to take the export route, and all the models sold in The country are hung up on the Volkswagen standard. According to the plan, by 2025, Volkswagen Anhui will launch five models based on the MEB platform, including two Cupra brand models, of which the Volkswagen brand models put into production are from the ID. family, which are cross-border SUV models, small SUV models, and medium and large cars.
In summary, Volkswagen Anhui, as the third grasp of Volkswagen in China, will also shoulder three important missions: first, the intelligent innovation and upgrading that has been criticized by people, firmly grasping in their own hands; second, the production of younger models, more affordable prices, and the heavy responsibility is also here; third, in the future production of high-end models, profits should also stay in their own bowls.
The liberalization of joint venture stocks has given the market more possibilities, one more way out, and one more possibility. It must be the consumer who ultimately benefits.