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News

Volkswagen ID. Cross Gets a 37 kWh Battery: Prices Start at €27,995

Volkswagen has opened pre-sales for the new Volkswagen ID. Cross with a 37 kWh battery, introducing a more affordable version of its all-electric compact SUV. Starting at €27,995 in Germany, the entry-level ID. Cross Trend is designed for urban drivers and commuters looking for an electric vehicle that combines everyday practicality, competitive running costs and modern technology.

The new battery option expands the ID. Cross range, which initially launched with a larger 52 kWh battery following the model’s world premiere in mid-July. The smaller battery is available with two electric motor outputs, delivering 85 kW (116 PS) or 99 kW (135 PS), and can be paired with the Trend, Life and Style trim levels.

With a claimed WLTP driving range of up to 324 kilometres, a maximum speed of 160 km/h and standard DC rapid charging, the Volkswagen ID. Cross 37 kWh aims to make electric SUV ownership more accessible without abandoning the comfort, space and equipment expected from a modern Volkswagen.

Volkswagen ID. Cross 37 kWh: Key Specifications

The new entry-level configuration focuses on affordability and efficiency rather than maximum driving range or outright performance.

Key specifications for the German market include:

  • Starting price: €27,995 for the ID. Cross Trend with the 85 kW motor.
  • Battery capacity: 37 kWh.
  • Electric motor options: 85 kW (116 PS) and 99 kW (135 PS).
  • Maximum WLTP range: Up to 324 kilometres.
  • DC fast charging: 10–80 per cent in approximately 23 minutes.
  • Maximum speed: 160 km/h.
  • Available trim levels: Trend, Life and Style.
  • Larger battery option: 52 kWh, already introduced in the model range.

All prices and specifications quoted here relate to the German market. Equipment, prices and availability may differ in other countries.

A More Affordable Electric SUV for Everyday Driving

The Volkswagen ID. Cross with a 37 kWh battery is aimed at customers whose daily journeys rarely require the additional range provided by a larger battery pack.

For drivers who primarily travel around town, commute to work or make regular trips between nearby communities, the smaller battery could offer a more economical way to switch to electric mobility.

A smaller battery generally requires fewer materials and can reduce vehicle cost and weight, although the actual differences depend on the final vehicle configuration. For buyers who can charge at home or at work, the ID. Cross could provide a practical alternative to a petrol-powered compact SUV.

Volkswagen’s strategy also reflects a broader shift in the electric vehicle market. Rather than focusing exclusively on ever-larger batteries and longer driving ranges, manufacturers are increasingly introducing more affordable configurations designed around the needs of everyday motorists.

The ID. Cross 37 kWh is intended to serve precisely this market: customers who want an electric SUV for normal daily use without paying for battery capacity they may rarely need.

Up to 324 Kilometres of WLTP Range

The 37 kWh battery delivers a claimed driving range of up to 324 kilometres on the WLTP test cycle.

That figure should be sufficient for many urban and suburban driving routines, particularly when the vehicle can be charged overnight. It also provides some flexibility for longer journeys, although motorway driving, cold weather, heating or air-conditioning use and driving style can reduce the distance available between charging stops.

The ID. Cross is not restricted to low-speed urban environments, either. With a maximum speed of 160 km/h, Volkswagen says the electric SUV is also suitable for motorway driving.

Nevertheless, buyers who regularly undertake long-distance motorway journeys may prefer the 52 kWh version, particularly if charging opportunities along their routes are limited.

For commuters and households with predictable daily driving patterns, the smaller battery could represent a sensible balance between purchase price, usability and charging requirements.

DC Fast Charging Comes as Standard

One of the most important features of the new Volkswagen ID. Cross 37 kWh is its standard DC rapid-charging capability.

Volkswagen quotes a charging time of approximately 23 minutes to increase the battery’s state of charge from 10 to 80 per cent.

That makes it possible to add a meaningful amount of energy during a short stop, helping the vehicle remain practical beyond daily commuting.

Actual charging times will depend on the available charging station, battery temperature, initial state of charge and other operating conditions. The quoted figure should therefore be treated as a manufacturer specification rather than a guarantee for every charging session.

For owners with access to home charging, the ability to recharge overnight may be even more important than maximum DC charging speed. Regular charging at home can simplify daily use and reduce the need to visit public charging stations.

The combination of a relatively small battery and rapid charging could make the ID. Cross particularly attractive to drivers who can plan their journeys around predictable daily distances.

Two Electric Motor Options: 116 PS or 135 PS

Volkswagen offers the 37 kWh battery with two electric motor outputs, giving customers a choice between affordability and additional power.

The entry-level 85 kW (116 PS) version is available in the Trend trim, with prices starting at €27,995 in Germany. The 99 kW (135 PS) motor provides a more powerful alternative for customers who want additional performance.

Volkswagen has not provided acceleration figures or complete pricing for every battery, motor and equipment combination in the supplied announcement.

Both configurations are intended to deliver the smooth and immediate response associated with electric powertrains. This characteristic can be especially useful in urban traffic, where frequent acceleration and deceleration are part of everyday driving.

The availability of two motor outputs also allows buyers to select a configuration that better matches their budget and driving requirements.

Volkswagen ID. Cross Trend, Life and Style: What Equipment Is Available?

The new 37 kWh battery can be ordered with three equipment lines: Trend, Life and Style.

Even the entry-level Trend specification includes a useful range of standard features, helping Volkswagen position the ID. Cross as an affordable electric SUV without stripping away essential convenience technology.

ID. Cross Trend

The Trend is the entry point into the range, with the 85 kW motor version starting at €27,995.

Standard equipment includes Park Distance Control at the front and rear, helping drivers manoeuvre in tight parking spaces, as well as App Connect smartphone integration.

For buyers who prioritise value and straightforward everyday usability, the Trend could be the most appealing configuration.

ID. Cross Life

The Life specification adds further comfort and technology features, making it a potential middle ground for buyers who want more equipment without moving to the highest trim level.

Depending on the selected configuration, the ID. Cross range offers access to technologies designed to simplify driving and improve the passenger experience.

ID. Cross Style

The Style sits at the more equipment-focused end of the range, with access to additional convenience and premium features.

Depending on trim and configuration, available options include a panoramic sunroof, a Harman Kardon sound system and electrically adjustable 12-way seats with a massage function.

These features bring equipment typically associated with more expensive vehicle classes into Volkswagen’s compact electric SUV segment.

Connected Travel Assist and Advanced Driver Assistance

The Volkswagen ID. Cross is designed to offer more than basic electric transportation.

One of the technologies available, depending on equipment specification, is Connected Travel Assist. The system can use networked data to support predictive assisted driving, helping the vehicle respond more intelligently to road conditions.

As with other driver-assistance technologies, its capabilities and operating limits depend on the system configuration, road conditions and applicable regulations. The driver remains responsible for supervising the vehicle and maintaining control.

The availability of such technology in a more affordable electric SUV demonstrates how connected driving assistance is becoming increasingly important beyond premium vehicle segments.

For buyers who spend considerable time commuting, driver-assistance features can contribute to a more convenient driving experience, although they do not replace attentive driving.

Interior Design: Space, Comfort and Intuitive Technology

Volkswagen says the fundamental concept of the ID. Cross remains unchanged regardless of battery size.

The electric SUV combines a distinctive exterior design with a cabin intended to feel spacious, comfortable and easy to use. Large displays, intuitive controls and a high-quality interior environment are central to its appeal.

The range of equipment options allows customers to tailor the vehicle to their preferences, from a straightforward commuter vehicle to a more luxurious compact SUV.

Available features such as the panoramic sunroof, massage-function seats and premium Harman Kardon audio system can enhance comfort on longer journeys.

This emphasis on interior quality and usability is important for a vehicle positioned as an everyday family and commuting option. Buyers increasingly expect affordable electric cars to offer the same digital convenience and cabin comfort as their petrol-powered counterparts.

Volkswagen ID. Cross 37 kWh vs 52 kWh: Which Battery Should You Choose?

The introduction of the 37 kWh battery gives customers a more affordable alternative to the 52 kWh version already available in the ID. Cross range.

The choice largely depends on how far the vehicle will be driven each day and how convenient charging will be.

The 37 kWh battery is likely to make the most sense for urban drivers, commuters with predictable routines and households with access to home charging. Its claimed range of up to 324 kilometres should cover many regular journeys, while the lower entry price could reduce the initial cost of ownership.

The 52 kWh battery is worth considering for drivers who frequently travel longer distances, undertake regular motorway journeys or want a larger range buffer between charging stops. The actual range and charging differences between the versions will depend on their final specifications.

A smaller battery does not automatically make a vehicle cheaper to own in every situation. Buyers should also consider electricity prices, insurance, annual mileage, charging access, vehicle equipment and the purchase-price difference between battery variants.

For many city-based motorists, however, paying for a larger battery may be unnecessary if most journeys are short and charging is readily available.

Volkswagen’s Strategy: Making Electric Mobility More Accessible

The ID. Cross 37 kWh arrives as Volkswagen continues to expand its electric vehicle offering across different price points.

For the electric vehicle market to reach a broader audience, manufacturers need to address not only driving range and performance but also the initial purchase price. A lower entry point can make a meaningful difference for private buyers comparing an electric SUV with a conventional petrol-powered model.

The new ID. Cross configuration takes a practical approach by combining a smaller battery, two motor options and three equipment lines. Instead of requiring customers to pay for a single high-specification configuration, Volkswagen gives buyers more flexibility in how they balance cost, power and equipment.

The €27,995 starting price in Germany positions the ID. Cross as a model to watch among buyers considering an affordable electric SUV.

Its success will depend on the final pricing of the wider range, real-world efficiency, charging performance and how it compares with competing electric crossovers.

Source: Volkswagen

News

CATL Claims Its New EV Battery Is Good for a Million Miles

For years, the dirtiest secret in electric cars hasn’t been range anxiety—it’s resale anxiety. New EVs roll off the lot with eight-year battery warranties and optimistic promises, but the second or third owner? They’re left staring at a five-figure battery replacement like a ticking time bomb. Fast charging, meanwhile, has been treated like a guilty pleasure: great when you’re in a hurry, bad for long-term battery health.

Now CATL, the world’s largest battery supplier, says it’s ready to blow up that narrative.

The Chinese battery giant claims its latest 5C lithium-ion pack can retain 80 percent of its original capacity after 3,000 full fast-charge cycles—under ideal 20°C (68°F) conditions. Do the math, and that works out to about 1.1 million miles of driving. That’s not a commuter car. That’s a New York taxi that refuses to die.

Even when the heat gets brutal, the numbers are still eyebrow-raising. At 60°C (140°F)—which CATL likens to a Dubai summer—the same pack is supposedly good for 1,400 cycles before dropping to 80 percent. That’s roughly 520,000 miles. Plenty of gasoline cars don’t survive that long even with engine rebuilds.

The “5C” label refers to how fast the battery can be charged relative to its capacity. In plain English: this pack could theoretically go from empty to full in about 12 minutes. That kind of charging speed usually murders batteries, but CATL insists it has figured out how to cheat physics—at least a little.

According to the company, the trick lies in smarter chemistry and aggressive thermal control. A more uniform cathode coating reduces microscopic structural damage. A special electrolyte additive helps heal tiny internal cracks before they become real problems. A temperature-responsive layer inside the separator slows ion flow when things start getting too hot. And the battery-management system can target cooling to specific hot spots inside the pack instead of treating it like one big, evenly warm brick.

The goal is simple: make fast charging routine, not something owners nervously avoid to protect their investment. If CATL is even half right, this could be huge for taxis, ride-hailing fleets, and delivery vans—anyone for whom a charging stop is lost revenue.

Of course, these are still lab numbers. CATL hasn’t said when these packs will hit mass production or which vehicles will get them first. And anyone who has followed EV tech long enough knows that the real world is far less polite than a temperature-controlled test cell.

Still, the implication is enormous. If a battery can really go half a million—or even a million—miles without collapsing, the most expensive component in an EV stops being a liability and starts becoming an asset. That means used EVs suddenly look a lot less risky, and a lot more like the bargain hunters have been waiting for.

And that might be the biggest revolution here—not faster charging, not longer range, but the simple idea that your electric car’s battery might actually outlive the car wrapped around it.

Source: CATL

News

Volkswagen Begins European Production of Unified EV Battery Cells in Salzgitter

Volkswagen Group’s push to control more of its electric future has taken a tangible step forward. PowerCo, the battery company created within the Group, has officially put its Salzgitter gigafactory into operation, producing the first unified battery cells proudly labeled “Made in Europe.” For an industry still heavily dependent on Asian supply chains, this is more than a symbolic milestone—it’s a strategic statement.

PowerCo’s approach is clear and ambitious: design, develop, and manufacture battery cells entirely in Europe. By doing so, Volkswagen aims to strengthen technological sovereignty while reducing exposure to geopolitical and supply-chain risks that have become painfully visible over the last few years. The first cells rolling out of Salzgitter are now headed to Volkswagen Group brands for final road testing, with their market debut scheduled for next year in electric models from Volkswagen, Škoda, and Seat/Cupra.

At the heart of this strategy is standardization. PowerCo’s “unified cell” concept is designed to work across multiple brands, platforms, and global regions. Within the Group, PowerCo is expected to cover around 50 percent of demand for these standardized cells, with the remainder sourced from external suppliers. The payoff is scale: a single cell architecture that can be produced in large volumes, adapted to different chemistries, and deployed worldwide.

That flexibility is one of the unified cell’s strongest cards. The architecture supports multiple battery chemistries, ranging from cost-focused lithium iron phosphate (LFP) to higher-performance nickel manganese cobalt (NMC), and eventually solid-state technology. This allows Volkswagen to tailor batteries to different vehicle segments and markets without reinventing the wheel each time.

The first production-ready unified cell is based on NMC chemistry and targets the mass market—without sacrificing performance. Compared to previous generations, it delivers around 10 percent higher energy density, a meaningful gain in an era where every kilometer of range counts. Crucially, the cell has been developed in parallel with Volkswagen’s new “cell-to-block” battery system. This tighter integration improves packaging efficiency, reduces weight, and translates into tangible benefits in range, efficiency, and overall performance.

Salzgitter isn’t just another factory; it’s the blueprint. Initial capacity is set at up to 20 GWh annually, enough to supply batteries for approximately 250,000 electric vehicles. If demand requires it, the site can be expanded to 40 GWh. More importantly, Salzgitter will serve as the lead plant for future PowerCo gigafactories, including planned sites in Valencia, Spain, and St. Thomas, Canada.

From an automotive perspective, this move signals a shift in how legacy manufacturers approach electrification. Instead of relying almost entirely on suppliers, Volkswagen is vertically integrating one of the most critical components of an EV. Batteries are no longer just parts; they define cost structures, vehicle architecture, and brand competitiveness.

For customers, the implications should be equally significant. Standardized cells promise more predictable pricing, faster development cycles, and quicker rollout of new technologies across multiple models. The arrival of LFP-based unified cells in the future could also open the door to more affordable electric vehicles, while solid-state development keeps the long-term performance race alive.

PowerCo’s Salzgitter launch won’t grab headlines like a new sports car or concept vehicle, but its importance may ultimately outweigh both. In the electric era, batteries are the new engines—and Volkswagen has just started building its own at scale, right in the heart of Europe.

Source: Volkswagen