Volkswagen Reveals Electric Luxury Sedan ‘ID.7’ With 700-km Battery Range

The ID.7, Volkswagen's newest electric luxury vehicle, was recently introduced at the Auto Shanghai 2023.

The sedan's battery range is said to be 700 kilometers (435 miles), a major improvement over the battery range of the previous ID.6 model, which was approximately 588 kilometers (365 miles), according to a report by AP.

New Flagship Model for VW EVs

The ID.7, one of 28 models unveiled by the carmaker at the auto show and half of which are electric, is the new flagship model for VW's electric vehicles.

Thomas Schaefer, CEO of Volkswagen's passenger car division, arrived on stage in an electric minibus to emphasize the company's commitment to electric vehicles.

According to Schaefer, the company is accelerating its electric campaign by introducing 10 additional EVs in the following three years.

The newest models from international automakers, including General Motors, BMW, and Nissan, as well as Chinese automakers BYD Auto and NIO, were on display at the Auto Shanghai 2023 event.

Since China accounted for two-thirds of worldwide electric car sales last year, AP notes that there is fierce rivalry in the country's rapidly expanding electric vehicle sector.

Automobile manufacturers are looking to China to help boost sales growth at a time when American and European demand is weak. However, they are under pressure from ambitious entrants in China and from government sales targets for electric vehicles.

The newest SUV from Chinese premium electric firm NIO, the ES6, as well as an upgrade to its flagship sedan, the ET7, were unveiled at the event.

Both variants have onboard computers with connections for tablets and other devices, as well as digital cockpits. NIO, a luxury automaker that competes with Tesla, is also growing in Europe, according to AP.

Toyota Introduced 2 New Models

Toyota Motor revealed two new models for its bZ series of zero-emission vehicles, while General Motors debuted its electric SUV, the Buick Electra E5, ahead of the auto show.

A self-driving taxi prototype that Toyota created with Pony.ai, a major rival in China's rapidly developing autonomous vehicle market, was also on display.

BMW showcased an all-electric portfolio that included the i7 M70L and XM Label Red. The M760Le from the German sport luxury brand also made its debut in China.

The event's automakers emphasized China's expanding status as a source of innovation and exports, notably in the market for electric vehicles.

According to AP, sales of electric vehicles in China last year accounted for slightly more than 25% of the total 23.6 million SUVs, sedans, and minivans sold, while sales of conventional gasoline-powered cars declined.

Following the lifting of anti-virus controls in December, which had previously barred most travels into and out of China, Auto Shanghai 2023 marked the first major sales event for the auto industry in its largest market since 2019.