Why it's a good thing the long-awaited Volkswagen ID.3 hatchback will arrive later than the ID.4 and ID.5 SUVs

If you were hoping to replace your Volkswagen Golf with its electric equivalent, the ID.3 hatchback, we’ve got some bad news.

Speaking to CarsGuide at the launch of the updated T-Roc small SUV, the brand’s local director of passenger cars, Michal Szaniecki, explained that while the timeline had been brought forward for the ID.4 and ID.5 all-electric SUVs, it had been at the cost of a later arrival date for the ID.3 hatch.

“I can’t say for sure yet, but it is our ambition to have the ID.4 and ID.5 on sale in Australia before the end of 2023,” he said.

“Sadly, that means the on-sale date for ID.3 is still to be confirmed for Australia. Now, we will be waiting for the facelift to arrive, which should happen around 2024. It’s looking likely that this car won’t arrive in Australia until 2025.”

Elaborating, Mr Szaniecki said: “We wanted HQ to understand that it’s a much better choice to bring the 4 and 5 first, they are much more adequate for the Australian market.”

Three years is an eternity away in such a rapidly evolving electric car market in Australia, with major rivals like BYD and Tesla expected to overcome their delivery woes and backlogs for popular models like the Atto 3 and Model Y respectively at that time.

The good news is that Australia will skip the first ID.3 altogether, and instead receive the car’s first facelift, which promises some improvements which will help its chances specifically in Australia.

As to what the ID.3’s mid-life facelift might include? Mr Szaniecki encouraged us to look at the big changes in battery technology VW was working on at present.

The German juggernaut currently sources its batteries from one of the largest suppliers in the world - Korea’s LG Chem - although has aggressive plans to take battery production in-house as part of its vertically integrated strategy.

To that end, VW is investing heavily in an internal battery business which will construct batteries for group products in Salzgitter, Germany as well as Skellefteå, Sweden where it has a joint venture with Northvolt, a Swedish battery manufacturer of which it owns a significant portion.

The new battery tech being developed by VW at its Salzgitter facility is claimed by the brand to reduce battery costs by up to 50 per cent, and allow charging times from 5-80 per cent in just 12 minutes.

The brand claims technology being worked on at this facility will allow its existing batteries to be recycled more than once in a high-voltage application, before they are reclaimed for raw materials.

Batteries from both the Salzgitter and Skellefteå joint-venture factories are expected to hit the market some time in 2023, with time to spare before the ID.3 facelift, due late 2024 for a 2025 model year.

These advancements could make the ID.3 cheaper, charge faster, and have a longer driving range by the time it arrives in Australia. Ultimately, a car more appropriate for the needs of our market. 

A knock-on benefit for both VW and customers is the fact that the facilities, powered by renewable energy, and the commitment to closed-loop materials processing, means the car will theoretically also have a lower carbon footprint than the current model.

Meanwhile, build slots for the ID.4 and ID.5 SUV in Germany have been opened up for the local division to start producing its cars mid-to-late next year, ahead of its previously planned schedule.

Stay tuned as we keep up to date with Volkswagen's electric vehicle rollout, expected to begin from late next year. The brand also plans to flesh out its electrified line-up in the coming years with plug-in hybrid versions of its existing combustion vehicles.