VW Says ‘Nein’ to ID.7 in America – For Now

Matthew Guy
by Matthew Guy

Not even two months after detailing powertrain, battery size, and trim walk for the all-electric ID.7 sedan, Volkswagen has announced they are delaying its introduction.

Citing the handy catchall of ‘changing market dynamics’, VW sent a missive early this morning which spoke of the decision to put the ID.7 on ice in this market. Since the PR bumf indicated precisely zero indication as to the model’s new on-sale date stateside, it is technically correct to say the delay is indefinite. However, it is worth noting the ID.7 has been on sale across the pond since 2023 and has won a smattering of awards. Reading the tea leaves, it isn't a bad car.


This could be another canary in the coal mine that is EV sales in America, a segment whose take rate remain apace but not at the leaps and bounds of the last couple of years. Talking heads say EV sales in America rose a few percent in the first quarter of 2024 compared to this same time last year – but fell by a fifth compared to the Q4 of 2023. Anyone blessed with the gift of common sense knows this is largely thanks to the fact that early adopters have bought their fill of EVs; since sales cycles of vehicles isn’t what one would call short, it’ll be a spell before those same folks begin lining up again at dealers.


Meanwhile, electric vehicles can be a hard sell to everyone else, for a variety of reasons including but not limited to driving range and lack of public charging infrastructure. Your writer will defend to the death John Doe’s right to purchase or lease whatever vehicle they wish, whether that’s an EV for road trips or long box truck for running errands. It’s your money; get what you like.


But it won’t be a Volkswagen ID.7, at least not any time soon.


[Image: VW]


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Matthew Guy
Matthew Guy

Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.

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  • Akear Mary Barra has little or no feel for the market. This is yet another reason why GM will perform better when she retires. Barra's track record at GM is about as good as Biden debate performance last week.
  • Peter Nissan should hire someone to explain basic economics to their Board of Directors.
  • Jeff China now has the manufacturing capacity to produce 1/3 of the World's vehicles but under the current geopolitical environment this will not happen. As someone above stated all bets are off if China invades Taiwan. What many don't understand is that China plans for the long term and can wait it out till the geopolitical environment becomes less hostile toward China. I am not endorsing Chinese trade just stating that China is preparing for the future.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Im glad it was fixed in time that would’ve been a huge pain and inconvenience to you if it had broke. My 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 has been great with no recalls. My 1985 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60 actually had a recall for the gas tank and seat belt warning stickers about 10 years go and Toyota fixed it, got a new tank, fuel lines and stickers.
  • Rochester Statistics and numbers don't have an agenda, which is why I like most lists. But these days statistics are used to validate why raw market trends are "correct"; (crossovers, EV's pro and con, the manual transmission, etc.). But by smugly declaring an opinion or trend as proven true by the market, it overlooks any intrinsic value the point of discussion may have. And when that gets lost, we all lose.
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