Photo: Volkswagen of America
Volkswagen announced today that it will postpone the launch of its ID.7 sedan in the United States, and did not specify a specific date for the car’s availability.
The ID.7 is Volkswagen’s upcoming electric sedan, which has already begun sales in Europe and China.
In March, we learned about the expected trim levels for the “semi-luxury” sedan. Last year, we drove the European-style ID.7 and absolutely loved it.
Although we have not learned information about pricing or range, it was supposed to be announced in the third quarter, closer to the car’s launch date. A launch date has not yet been announced, but the car was scheduled to come to North America in 2025.
But today, Volkswagen says it is postponing this launch indefinitely due to “market conditions.”
VW failed to pinpoint the market conditions it was referring to, but we have some doubts.
Manufacturers think Americans only want SUVs (or so they say — in fact, that’s at least partly driven by emissions rules), and the ID.7 isn’t one. When we first saw the ID.7 it was under the guise of the “Space Vizzion” concept, VW said it “combines the aerodynamic qualities of a Gran Turismo with the generous interior space of an SUV” — an attempt to capitalize on Americans’ supposed desire only for land yachts By portraying a somewhat more logical vehicle as what it is not.
This concept was converted into the ID.7 Tourer station wagon, and the ID.7 Sedan is the sedan version of the same platform.
So perhaps VW is heeding this belief, thinking Americans won’t want a sedan.
Another possibility is that VW EV sales are not doing well. Volkswagen has not been as strong in the United States as it is in the rest of the world, but electric vehicles offer a new avenue for them to hopefully move into new markets. In North America’s fast-growing electric vehicle market, which grew about 13% in the first quarter compared to the previous year, Volkswagen has already seen a 3% decline in sales – one of the few brands to see such a decline.
Part of this is due to new models coming, like the newly released 2024 ID.4 update that has several improvements, making it feel more like a mid-cycle update than a simple model year refresh. The VW ID.Buzz, which we finally got some details about last week, is also expected to be released later this year.
Buyers may be waiting for these new models (or for VW to add NACS connectors) before committing to a new car.
But one of those upcoming new models was also the ID.7, which we now know will be delayed. Some buyers may have been waiting for it, but we won’t know how popular it will be until it finally makes its way stateside. If sales are not strong elsewhere, it may be worth opening another new market.
But according to Volkswagen, the ID.7 “has become an industry standard winning several international awards.” It also says that demand for the ID.7 Tourer is “higher than expected, especially in Germany.” So this, combined with a disappointing start to sales in China where local brands are increasingly capturing more of the market, may have prompted VW to shift its focus back home for the time being, as it felt hesitant about opening up another new market if it Things are going well enough at home.
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