China-made Volkswagen ID.3 to hit market on Oct. 22

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- The China-made Volkswagen ID.3, the third model of Volkswagen’s ID. series introduced to the world’s largest auto market, will hit the market on Oct. 22, according to SAIC Volkswagen.

The homegrown ID.3 was shown for the first time in China at the Chengdu Motor Show 2021 with a pre-order system launched afterwards.

The ID.3 for China is manufactured at the MEB-only plant in Anting, Shanghai, which is jointly operated by Volkswagen Group and its joint venture partner SAIC Motor. Unlike the earlier comers, the ID.4 X and the ID.6 X, the ID.3 does not have the “X” suffix. It signifies that the ID.3 will have no sister model made by FAW-Volkswagen, who is producing and selling the ID.4 and the ID.6 carrying the suffix “Crozz”. 

ID.3; photo credit: SAIC Volkswagen

With dimensions of 4,261mm long, 1,809mm wide, 1,552mm tall, and a wheelbase that spans 2,765mm, the ID.3 is indeed a compact hatchback.

The China-built ID.3 inherits the exterior design of the version sold in Europe. It dispenses with a front grille and the massive headlights are composed of matrix LEDs that can actively vary their light pattern.

Powering the made-in-China ID.3 is a rear-axle-mounted electric motor that churns out up to 125kW and 310 N·m. The vehicle features a range of 430km under NEDC test cycle thanks to a 57.3kWh ternary lithium battery pack. Using a fast-charging system, the car can be charged from 30% to 80% of battery capacity within 30 minutes.