Volkswagen AG has set the starting price of its first locally built all-electric SUV with its Chinese partner FAW Group Co. at 199,900 yuan ($30,800) after subsidies, marking a play for the mass market as a growing number of automakers jostle for share in China.
The ID.4 Crozz is built on VW’s MEB electric vehicle manufacturing platform, which is also used in some models of Audi and Skoda. The car is cheaper than Tesla Inc.’s recently launched Model Y crossover, which starts at 339,900 yuan and isn’t eligible for subsidies.
The vehicle can run as far as 400 kilometers (249 miles) on a single charge. VW is also selling a version with a range of 550 kilometers, starting at 219,900 yuan.
China is a critical market for the world’s biggest carmaker, with VW’s sprawling Chinese operations accounting for about 40% of global vehicle deliveries and a large chunk of profits. In May, it struck deals with two Chinese companies, broadening its strategic footprint as the coronavirus sparks the worst economic contraction in decades.
