Start with the Volkswagen, because it is the one that should give Europe pause. SAIC Volkswagen, the joint venture with China’s state-owned SAIC Motor, opened preorders for the ID. Era 5S saloon this week.
The introductory price is 115,900 yuan, which Digital Trends converts to about $17,175. The car goes on sale in China on 21 August.
That is a Volkswagen badge on a car costing little more than half what the cheapest electric car costs in America.
What the money actually buys
The drivetrain is a 19.1kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, a 1.5-litre petrol engine and a 130kW electric motor. It covers 160km on electricity alone under China’s CLTC test.
