Volkswagen UK delivers first batch of ID.3s to customers

Volkswagen officially sent out the first batch of the ID.3 1st Edition last week. The limited-edition cars were delivered to British customers last Friday evening, September 18.

The Volkswagen ID.3 commemorates the brand’s third era, and "democratises electric mobility," taking after two of the most iconic VW cars: the original Beetle – the People’s Car, which took mobility to the masses – and the Golf, which brought innovation and luxury to the motoring public.

It was back in 2016 when the ID.3 first debuted as a concept, and back then it was viewed as a visionary electric concept vehicle. The production car stays true to the roots of the original, as the brand comes through with their promises of long ranges, technological innovations, intelligent connectivity and an engaging drive.

The Volkswagen ID.3 is produced in the company’s Zwickau plant. Much like the ID.3, the Zwickau factory is entirely powered by renewable energy, with many third-parties in the supply chain also using green energy. On areas where carbon emissions are completely unavoidable, for example during shipping, CO₂ emissions are compensated by supporting internationally recognized climate protection projects.

As a result, the ID.3 is delivered as a carbon neutral product according to the TÜV Nord Standard TN-CC 020. The ID.3’s low environmental impact can be continued into the car’s working life, should owners choose to charge it using renewable energy.

When fitted with a comprehensive equipment package, the Volkswagen ID.3 comes out of the factory with heated front seats, Natural Voice Control with ID. Light, navigation, Adaptive Cruise Control, Keyless entry, IQ. Light LED matrix headlights with Welcome Light function, a dual-tone exterior and 19-inch wheels.

Aside from that, the model also comes with new safety features, including the brand’s first central airbag, which prevents occupants colliding with one another in the event of a side collision, as well as the acclaimed Car2X system, with which the ID.3 can "communicate information, including advance warning of hazards, to other Car2X-equipped vehicles in the vicinity."

The ID.3 1st Edition comes with a 58 kWh, 200 hp engine that boasts around 420km of range on a single charge, with rapid charging capability of up to 100 kW, giving the ID.3 a 290-km range in as little as half an hour.

“I am incredibly proud to witness this moment. Volkswagen has made a commitment to our future, and our children’s future. In 2018 we were the first car maker to sign up to the Paris Agreement on CO₂, while last year we announced our new environmental mission statement ‘goTozero’ the aim of which is to achieve a neutral CO₂ balance by 2050. We intend to be the world market leader in e-mobility, and to achieve this we are investing €33 billion by 2024, including €11 billion for the Volkswagen brand alone," shares Andrew Savvas, Volkswagen UK Managing Director. 

“Today we are seeing the first UK customers drive away in the ID.3 1^ST Edition, the first Volkswagen Group product on the new MEB platform. This is a significant moment, and the start of a massive shift. Some of my colleagues were there for this moment in 1974 when the first Golfs were delivered in the UK, and over 35 million have been sold since. Today I feel a sense of genuine excitement. The MEB platform will underpin numerous products across the Group in the coming months and years. In fact, only next week we unveil the ID.4, Volkswagen’s first electric SUV, which will be sold globally. By 2029 the Group aims to sell 20 million vehicles based on the MEB platform. Today is just the beginning and I can’t wait to see these ID.3s out on UK roads.” 

Interested car buyers can choose from the German marque’s local models, which include the Santana, Santana GTS, Lavida, Lamando, and Tiguan.

Photo/s from Volkswagen 

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