Volkswagen ID.5 Enters Series Production In Germany

It’s the sixth MEB-based model produced at the site.

Volkswagen announced the official start of series production of the Volkswagen ID.5 model (and its all-wheel drive ID.5 GTX version) in Zwickau in western Saxony, Germany.

The launch of the ID.5 took longer than expected, as the pilot production started almost a year ago – in mid-February 2021. As we understand, the cause is related to supply constraints, which forced VW to stop the plant for a while in November.

The ID.5 joins several other MEB-based models produced at the plant:

Volkswagen ID.3
Volkswagen ID.4 (and ID.4 GTX)
Volkswagen ID.5 (and ID.5 GTX) – a coupé version of the ID.4
Audi Q4 e-tron – a cousin of ID.4
Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron – a coupe version of Audi Q4 e-tron
Cupra Born (since September 2021) – a cousin of ID.3

This marks the completion of Volkswagen’s transformation of its Zwickau plant, which is considered the first large-scale facility of any volume manufacturer worldwide to switch over all production from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles.

The switch from 100% ICE to 100% BEVs (six models) took about 26 months. The potential manufacturing capacity of six models is 330,000 per year. Since 2018, around €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) has been spent on the conversion of the plant.

According to the press release, in 2021, the company produced roughly 180,000 units at Zwickau and in the much smaller Transparent Factory (ID.3) in Dresden (Gläserne Manufaktur Dresden). Of course, the goal for 2022 is to increase production.

In 2022, Volkswagen will launch electric car production (MEB-based) at three more plants:

Emden, Germany: Volkswagen ID.4 (an all new model to follow in 2023)
Hanover, Germany: Volkswagen ID. Buzz (it will produce a few models, although not Porsche)
Chattanooga, US: Volkswagen ID.4 (currently in pre-production)

According to the manufacturer, the total global Volkswagen (brand) all-electric manufacturing capacity is expected to reach 1.2 million, counting Europe, the U.S. and China.

Dr. Christian Vollmer, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Brand responsible for Production:

“Volkswagen will continue to increase the pace of e-mobility in 2022 with its ACCELERATE strategy and the expansion of the model portfolio. The Zwickau production plant has paved the way for the Group to do this with six ramp-ups from three brands in just 26 months. The knowledge and experience gained will help us to continue to electrify our production network quickly and efficiently.”

Dr. Stefan Loth, Chairman of the Board of Volkswagen Saxony:

“After Gläserne Manufaktur Dresden, we have now converted a second Volkswagen factory in Saxony to dedicated electric vehicle production. The start of production of the ID.5 and ID.5 GTX marks the successful transformation of the Zwickau plant on the product side. Our focus now – depending on how the semiconductor situation pans out – will be on achieving full capacity. This year we aim to exceed the 180,000 vehicles Volkswagen Saxony built in 2021.”

The Volkswagen ID.5 starts in Germany from €46,515.

Volkswagen ID.5 specs:

Three motor options, one battery.

Volkswagen ID.5 Pro specs:

WLTP range: up to 520 km (323 miles)
82 kWh battery (77 kWh net usable)
0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 10.4 seconds
top speed of 160 km/h (99 mph)
single motor rear-wheel drive
peak system output of 128 kW (174 PS)
128 kW permanently excited synchronous machine in the rear
AC charging (on-board): 11 kW (three-phase)
DC fast charging: up to 135 kW
can replenish up to or 390 km (242 miles) in around 30 minutes
Dimensions:Length in mm: 4,599Width in mm: 1,852Height in mm: 1,613
Wheelbase in mm: 2,766
Drag Coefficient 0.26 Cd

Volkswagen ID.5 Pro Performance specs:

WLTP range: up to 520 km (323 miles)
82 kWh battery (77 kWh net usable)
0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.4 seconds
top speed of 160 km/h (99 mph)
single motor rear-wheel drive
peak system output of 150 kW (204 PS)
150 kW permanently excited synchronous machine in the rear
AC charging (on-board): 11 kW (three-phase)
DC fast charging: up to 135 kW
can replenish up to or 390 km (242 miles) in around 30 minutes
Dimensions:Length in mm: 4,599Width in mm: 1,852Height in mm: 1,613
Wheelbase in mm: 2,766
Drag Coefficient 0.26 Cd

Volkswagen ID.5 GTX specs:

WLTP range: up to 490 km (305 miles)
82 kWh battery (77 kWh net usable)
0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.3 seconds
top speed of 180 km/h (112 mph); electronically limited
dual motor all-wheel drive
peak system output of 220 kW (299 PS) [only up to 30 seconds]
150 kW permanently excited synchronous machine in the rear and an asynchronous electric motor in the front
AC charging (on-board): 11 kW (three-phase)
DC fast charging: up to 150 kW
can replenish up to 100 km (62 miles) in just 6 minutes or 320 km in around 30 minutes
Dimensions:Length 4,582 mmWidth 1,852 mmHeight 1,619 mm
Wheelbase 2,765 mm
Drag Coefficient 0.27 Cd