VW EV Mass Production Delay: One Year
Chris Bangle, prominent for his work at BMW, is now lending his expertise to Xiaomi as they design motor vehicles. It looks like the manufacturing of the Volkswagen ID.2 won’t be up and running until 2026.
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Former BMW designer, Chris Bangle, is lending his creativity to Xiaomi as the firm moves ahead with plans to design cars of the future. As a Chinese technology firm without traditional automotive experience, experts have voiced doubts that Xiaomi can execute a successful shift into the transportation sector. But Bangle appears to be helping make inroads.The seasoned automobile expert has taken on the role as chief designer for Xiaomi and is overseeing the developing of concepts and models for its up and coming line of cars. The magnitude of the project is still unclear, but it’s speculated that a prototype developed during Bangle’s time at the company will become available as soon as mid-2020. Bangle made a name for himself during his tenure at BMW, where he worked from 1992 to 2008. During that time, he designed some of the German company’s legendary vehicles, like the Z4 Roadster, 1 Series Coupe and 7 Series Sedan. Today, his influence reverberates through the auto industry and his designs are held as benchmarks of modern fashion.Bringing his distinct style to Xiaomi, Bangle could help the innovative technology firm devise singular automobiles that capture the public’s imagination. His vision could be instrumental in shaping Xiaomi’s vehicle designs for the future –
It appears as though the news of Xiaomi’s new venture has not gone unnoticed – it has recently been announced that the tech giant has taken on a second car designer from BMW, namely Chris Bangle. He joins Li Tianyuan, the lead designer of the controversial BMW iX, to create Xiaomi’s first electric vehicle: the SU7 sedan, which is produced under contract by BAIC.
Xiaomi chairman and co-founder Lei Jun recently made a surprising announcement on X regarding the appointment of Christopher Edward Bangle to the company’s car division. Bangle is no stranger to the auto industry, having worked for Opel and Fiat in the 1980s before being appointed chief of BMW design in 1992. During his time in Bavaria until 2009, he designed a variety of cars – some of which were famously known for their “Bangle Butt” such as the E65 7 Series and E63 6 Series Coupe.
Production of Volkswagen’s ID.2 might be postponed until 2026 due to a number of factors, it has been revealed. The all-electric SUV was meant to hit the market this year, but reports suggest that the rollout may have to wait longer.A variety of elements have been purported to potentially lead to a shift in the timeline for the vehicle manufacturer’s new offering. Reports indicate that technological challenges have arisen which could contribute to hindering the car’s completion and rollout. Moreover, current market circumstances related to coronavirus pandemic have further complicated matters.Though the vehicular industry is gradually regaining some momentum, its long-term viability still remains uncertain. This means that Volkswagen needs to reevaluate its entire production schedule if it wishes to adhere to reasonable profitability expectations. That includes potentially putting the release of the ID.2 on hold until 2026. It seems increasingly apparent that Volkswagen’s ID.2 launch may indeed be delayed to 2026. Various components -including technical issues and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic- have set back the projected roll-out time for the electric SUV. As the automobile industry is in the process of recovery, VW must assess the respective economic picture in order to optimise its output
Volkswagen presented the ID.2 concept last year with the plan to make a cost-effective electric car available for sale in 2025. But, according to a fresh article on Auto Motor und Sport (via Automotive News Europe), bulk production is postponed until 2026. It is guessed that due to the expanded Euro 7 regulations, VW will still be capable of selling the Polo productively passed 2025. Ergo, the German automobile company is in no need to quickly substitute it with the ID.2.
The production at SEAT’s plant in Martorell, Spain has supposedly been delayed to the 20th of May, 2026. The VW ID.2, basing off the upcoming MEB Entry platform intended for front-drive electric automobiles, is likely to be sold for a charge underneath €25,000 ($27,000). VW is currently engineering an EV with an expenditure of less than €20,000 ($22,000) to come out later this decade.
In the meantime, the ID.2 that is ready for production is forecasted to be officially unveiled sometime in 2025, however, its production could potentially be delayed until approximately mid-2026.
Sources: Lei Jun / X, Auto Motor und Sport via Automotive News Europe
