The ID.3 was previewed as a concept car called the Volkswagen I.D. with hatchback body type. and was first shown at the September 2016Paris Motor Show. It was the first concept model of the new all-electric I.D. sub-brand. According to Volkswagen, the I.D. features innovations such as virtual wing mirrors, "chocolate bar" battery design, and retractable LiDAR sensors used for autonomous driving, not all of which will make it to the production version.
Production model
In May 2019, Volkswagen confirmed the production model based on this prototype will be known as the Volkswagen ID.3, instead of the rumoured I.D. Neo name, which will be officially presented at the International Motor Show Germanyin September 2019 and launched in 2020, and will be one of five new Volkswagen models based on the MEB platform. Smaller cars bearing the ID.1 and ID.2 names are expected, and bigger models will range from ID.4 to ID.9. Volkswagen has also applied for trademark protection of an additional "X", supposedly for a SUV. Reservations for the launch model of the ID.3 started on the 8 May 2019, which are set to be delivered in midyear 2020, whereas the base model, expected to cost under €30,000, will be delivered in 2021. Volkswagen names high expected demand as a reason. It received 10,000 buyer reservations within 24 hours after the opening and 30,000 before the unveiling at IAA 2019. The production version of the ID.3 was unveiled on 9 September 2019 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, along with the new Volkswagen logo and branding. The cars are assembled at Volkswagen's Zwickau factory, where the company expects to produce the full plant capacity from 2021 onwards.
Specifications
Three different battery choices will be offered with the ID.3.
The 77 kWh variant will seat 4, the others 5, and all but the 77 kWh variant will have an optional panoramic roof that can be combined with a roof rack. The MEB platform will support up to 125 kW charging using CCS. The 58 kWh version is said to support 100 kW charging. The drag coefficient of the car is 0.267 and the minimum turning circle is. It will be available in 3 different trim levels, namely ID.3 1st, ID.3 1st Plus and ID.3 1st Max. The battery size and powertrain will remain the same across all 3 trim levels, however there will be different levels of equipment, styling options and wheels. The wheels provided are: for ID.3 1st, for ID.3 1st Plus and for ID.3 1st Max.
Software issues
In early 2020 it was announced that delivery of the ID.3 was going to be delayed until at least September 2020 due to software errors that VW had yet to be able to resolve. Some stripped down cars may be delivered in September with cloud connected ones likely not being delivered until the end of 2020.
