Author: EVAI

The 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV is one of this year’s most important new electric vehicles. Nominally a compact crossover SUV with 285 to 319 miles of EPA-estimated range, it’s priced competitively, with prices starting at $43,295 (including a mandatory $1,395 delivery fee). 

And an entry-level trim starting at $34,995 remains promised for “later this year.”

The front-wheel-drive Chevy Equinox EV (319 miles, $43,295) effectively equals the Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD (320 miles, $46,630) on range but undercuts it slightly on price. As of now, every version of both cars qualifies for the $7,500 EV tax credit—now a point-of-sale purchase rebate for eligible buyers. NOTE: EV powerhouse Tesla alters its specs and prices so often that you should confirm this for yourself. 

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

Equinox EV is “normal” for mass market

Crucially, the electric Equinox has few of the peculiarities that can make EVs seem foreign to first-time shoppers. Its controls are largely conventional, including a stalk for the windshield wipers, and knobs or switches for climate control and audio volume. Regenerative braking and one-pedal driving are built in, but you can dispense with them entirely to make the Equinox EV drive as if it had a conventional torque-converter automatic transmission. On the downside, it forgoes a front trunk—a wasted opportunity, since the included portable charging cord lives deep under the rear cargo bay, meaning all luggage must be removed to retrieve it.

All this differentiates Chevy’s smallest EV from the Tesla Model Y—which last year was not just the world’s best-selling EV but its most popular single vehicle by sales. Other small-SUV EV competitors include the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Nissan Ariya, and Volkswagen ID.4. 

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

The Equinox EV has been a long time coming, and it’s meant to be Chevy’s highest-volume EV. Its projected 2023 arrival is why Bolt EV production ended last year, according to GM. 

The ensuing—and humiliating—12-to-18-month delay in getting Ultium vehicles into production wasn’t due to problems at GM’s cell plants, but a vendor’s inability to provide reliable, high-speed automated machinery to assemble large, complex Ultium battery modules. With Blazer EV, Silverado EV, and (front-wheel-drive) Equinox EV models now arriving at GM dealers, those problems seem to be in the rear-view mirror—permanently, GM hopes.

We spent a day and more than 100 miles with two Equinox EVs in mid-May, and found ourselves impressed. Most of our time was in an LT model with front-wheel drive; we also drove an AWD version briefly. By the time you read this review, most Chevy dealers should have Equinox EVs in stock.

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

Equinox EV sizes up compact—again

Chevy may call the Equinox EV a “compact crossover” SUV. That segment is the largest single piece of the U.S. market, accounting for 1 in 4 vehicles sold (more than midsize SUVs or full-size pickups), but the Equinox EV is large for the segment. Versus a gasoline Equinox (the two share no structure), the electric Equinox is about 8 inches longer (at 191 inches), 12 inches wider (85 inches with mirrors out), and the same height (65 inches). Its 116-inch wheelbase is about 9 inches longer. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Volkswagen ID.4 are about 8 inches and 11 inches shorter, respectively. But the “compact” Equinox offers substantial interior room front and rear, along with a flat floor for rear-seat riders.

We like the styling of the Equinox EV more than that of the bigger Blazer EV. The Chevy “brow” and bowtie remain at the front, but the smoothly sculpted sides avoid unusual creases or accent lines. The rear has a sleek, full-width light dividing the ducktail liftgate, but it all somehow works. We didn’t get a coefficient of drag, but this is an entirely normal-looking crossover SUV—and we found it handsome at that. We were quite taken by our test car’s Galaxy Grey metallic paint; it has a hint of pink or lilac, for a striking hue that was appealing and distinctive. (Yes, you can get predictable, boring silver if you prefer.)

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

Inside, the standard Chevrolet suite of digital instrument cluster in front of the driver and central touchscreen for driver and front passenger defines the cabin width. Chevy’s comparison sheet specifically notes its center screen is larger (17.7 inches) than that of the Tesla Model Y (15.4 inches). The Model Y has no instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, while the Chevy cluster is 11.1 inches.

Our 2LT test car had a largely gray and black interior, with accents in blue and silver matte trim that livened up the color scheme a bit. The low, wide screens underscored the horizontal dash, which had two large outboard eyeball vents (but, oddly, two rectangular ones in the center).

Equinox EV performance: No kick in the kidneys

All versions of the Equinox EV are powered by an Ultium battery pack, which GM says has 85 kilowatt-hours of usable capacity. Its NMCA cells come from joint-venture GM-LG cell plants. Two of those plants (Lordstown, Ohio, and Spring Hill, Tennessee) are now up and running, with a third in Lansing, Michigan, now under construction. 

The permanent-magnet motor that powers the front wheels in every Equinox EV is rated at 157 kilowatts (213 horsepower) and 236 pound-feet of torque, with 0-to-60-mph acceleration quoted at 8.0 seconds. If you want all-wheel drive, buyers can add an induction motor powering the rear axle, for a combined power of 212 kw (288 hp) and 333 lb-ft of torque, That cuts 2 seconds off the quoted 0-to-60-mph acceleration, but it knocks 34 miles off the rated EPA range, taking it from 319 to 285 miles. That’s still higher than most competitors but below the magic 300-mile mark.

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

Still, the FWD Equinox EV’s highest range of 319 miles equals the RWD Model Y Long Range (320 miles), with the Ioniq 5, Ariya, and ID.4 trailing behind at 291 to 304 miles. On the road in a FWD 2LT model, our rough observations suggested Chevrolet’s remaining-range estimator was accurate: Covering 102 miles reduced the indicated range by 106 miles—and it took battery capacity from 98 percent to 66 percent. Chevy suggests these ranges will let drivers treat it “like a tank of gas,” meaning they won’t have to plug in every day in average usage.

Acceleration is quick enough to keep up with most traffic, though the accelerator is far from hair-trigger: You need to ask for the extra oomph to get it, and you won’t get the kick-in-the-kidneys experience here. The AWD model is somewhat quicker, though not substantially so, and we noticed some torque steer in it that was entirely absent from the FWD version. 

The electric Equinox is about 1,600 pounds heavier than the gasoline version of the same name. That and its long wheelbase make it smooth and confident on the road. The 38-foot turning circle is average for the category (though larger than the ID.4’s admirable 31.5 feet). The suspension is tuned for comfort, and roadholding was perfectly fine for any situation we put it through—bearing in mind Detroit has essentially no hills and very few curvy roads. We look forward to testing it more energetically in more varied terrain.

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

Chevy one-pedal driving has always been good, and Ultium EVs are no exception. An icon at the top of the touchscreen produces a box for “One Pedal Driving” set on “Normal”; tapping the icon again turns off regen entirely. But further action is needed to get to the strongest regen: a driver must tap the words “Set Level” in that box, then tap “High” on the dropdown that appears. This ought to be combined into a single popup window to lessen driver distraction.

Spacious, smooth, gets the details right

For a “compact” crossover SUV, the Equinox EV has considerable space inside—not just in front, but in the rear too. It has as much rear-seat legroom as some midsize gasoline SUVs, plus the flat rear floor that makes the center rear seat more tolerable in long-distance travel.

Sitting behind the wheel, the hood bevels downward, offering a good view of the road ahead. Raising the seat to get the driver’s shoulders above the window line helps too. Rear three-quarter vision is minimal, like most SUVs these days.

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

The wide console offers two cupholders, a slot for pens, and plenty of space for all the other stuff passengers carry. There’s also a large storage tray on the floor underneath the upper part of the console; like most, it’s invisible when the interior plastics and carpet are black. The console itself, under the central armrest, is hinged to open toward the driver—inconvenient for front passengers.

A power icon on a small button sitting atop the center dash screen serves two functions: one tap mutes the audio volume, a second tap turns off the screen. 

Cargo volume is 26.4 cubic feet in the load bay behind the rear seat, and 57.2 cu ft with the rear seat backs folded down. Unlike some competitors, those in the Equinox EV fold all but flat, giving a long load floor that handles flat cargo. 

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

Two Equinox EV trims, optional AWD

For the moment, the Equinox EV range is fairly simple. Shoppers can choose the standard LT or “more expressive” RS trim. Both are offered with standard front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive optional. Each trim has a “2” level and a “3” level, with a higher number indicating more standard and optional equipment at a higher price. Chevy says the base 1LT will arrive later this year.

The 2LT comes standard with 19-inch alloy wheels, a front LED light bar, roof rails, a power liftgate, heated front seats and steering wheel, power driver’s seat adjustment, and adaptive cruise control. Options include Super Cruise hands-free cruise control, and either a white-painted roof or a panoramic sunroof. The 2RS adds 21-inch wheels with lower-profile tires, a black-painted roof, a “flat-bottom” steering wheel, and other appearance items.

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

Moving up to the 3LT adds ventilation to the heated front seats, power adjustment to the front passenger seat, heated seats in the two outboard rear positions, dual-zone climate control, heated wiper parking, and 21-inch alloy wheels. The 3RS has similar appearance upgrades to the 2RS. 

While larger wheels often look better, we always suggest the ride may be better and drivers may get better range with the smaller wheels—if other EVs are anything to go by. (Chevy reps couldn’t tell us which wheels applied to the EPA range ratings.)

Unlike many EVs in this class, our Equinox EV 2LT model included a rear-window wiper—a standard feature on gasoline crossovers, but one often eliminated on their electric counterparts to reduce air drag. On the other hand, wireless phone charging does not appear to be available. Fitted with an optional hitch receiver, the Equinox EV can trailer up to 1,500 pounds. Chevy had no information on how that could affect its rated range.

A major option is the Super Cruise hands-free adaptive cruise control system, among the best we’ve tested. It’s an option on all trim levels (2LT, 2RS, 3LT, 3RS) at launch. We used it multiple times in our Equinox EV drive, and it performed exactly as promised—including automatic lane changes, when safe, that overtake slower traffic ahead and then (kudos!) move back to the right-hand lane after passing. The system comes with a 36-month free trial, after which it’s $25 per month to continue OnStar and Super Cruise connectivity.

Chevrolet Equinox EV

No Apple CarPlay, and Google gatekeeping

This brings us to the elephant in the room. The Equinox EV does not offer Android Auto or Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring. (GM staff emphasized Tesla also has never offered those features—without ever naming the other EV maker.) That pushes apps onto the vehicle’s system, using the vehicle’s data access—required separately—and GM reps couldn’t say who owns the data on drivers’ app usage, routing, destinations, song choices, and all the rest.

For this Android-using reporter, the navigation aspect proved somewhat less dire than expected. Apple fans who now rely on Apple Maps are pretty much out of luck.

In the Equinox EV, the built-in Google Assistant delivers navigation via Google Maps, integrating the battery state of charge. Like a Tesla, it will route the electric Equinox to a destination via fast-charging stations and precondition the battery before a charge when needed—and it tells drivers how long to stay and what state of charge will remain at their next stop. (Just as every Tesla has done for 10+ years.) We weren’t able to test the routing feature during our time with the Equinox EV. This feature will be free to owners for 8 years, perhaps more. GM reps suggested it hasn’t been decided if access will continue beyond then, or what it might cost afterward.

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

Range over efficiency?

Our drive route mixed rural Michigan roads and fast Interstate traffic up to 80 mph. Over 100 miles, we saw efficiency of about 3 miles per kwh. That’s not as high as some competitors, but buyers focus far more on range than efficiency—if they even know what a kilowatt-hour is. The 300-mile range number will be the one they care about. 

Like all Chevy EVs smaller than full-size trucks, the charge port door is found at the top of the left-front fender, just ahead of the driver’s door. The onboard charger of every Equinox EV is rated at 11.5 kw, meaning up to 36 miles of range added per charging hour. 

DC fast charging up to 150 kw comes via a CCS port, though a switch to the NACS port seems likely for future model years. At that rate, Chevy quotes “approximately 77 miles of range in 10 minutes,” but it has the good grace to note that number “varies” based on state of charge, charging-station power capability, ambient temperature, and other factors. Bidirectional charging for V2H emergency home backup is coming later.

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

Equinox EV is competent overall, competitive on range and price

Overall, we found the Equinox EV not just competent, but better than expected and fully competitive. Its rated range equals that of a Tesla Model Y, at a slightly lower price, and we hope its navigation routes among charging stations as seamlessly as Tesla’s does. Importantly, it’s a new and fresh EV (which the Model Y no longer is) in the largest current segment: small crossover EVs. Chevrolet says it can build up to 150,000 of them a year, “if the demand is there.” 

The major hurdle for the electric Equinox may be the variable quality of the salespeople at Chevrolet’s “valued partners,” the independently owned and operated franchised dealerships. 

2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV

During our drive event, one Chevy exec said to media colleagues, “They told us this one has to be right, out of the gate.” We’d say the car has ticked that box. Let’s hope the way they’re sold—especially to the growing pool of EV-curious first-time shoppers—clears the same bar.

—
Chevrolet provided airfare, lodging, and meals to enable Green Car Reports to bring you this first-person drive report. 

Amid uncertainty about the future of the Tesla Supercharger network, rival charging networks see an opportunity to grow.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently fired most of the Tesla Supercharger team, but has since reversed that move and attempted to hire people back. Tesla has also made it clear that it will continue the buildout of whatever new infrastructure is in process, but may still shift way from further fast-paced growth of the Supercharger network. That, reports Politico, creates an opening for other networks.

Those networks are now planning more charging stations and seeking to hire jilted Tesla employees, according to the report. For example, Atlanta-based EnviroSpark Energy Solutions hired “a dozen Tesla castaways” in the last month, and landed $15 million in funding in the days after the Tesla layoffs. The company started out installing chargers for Tesla before looking to create its own network.

Rendering of EnviroSpark EV chargers at at Waffle House

New York City-based Revel last week hired Tesla veteran Edward Noseworthy to lead its design and construction team, Politico notes. And EVgo vice president Sara Rafalson told Politico that the company was having “a lot of conversations with talent.”

Immediately after the announced of the Supercharger-related layoffs at Tesla, BP also announced that it was seeking to buy stranded sites from the charging network for its own use. The oil giant reportedly plans to spend $1 billion by 2030 to install over 3,000 chargers in the U.S.

Part of the motivation for this is to grab some of Tesla’s share of the $5 billion federal EV charging infrastructure push, Politico reports. Part of the Biden administration’s infrastructure law passed by Congress in 2021, this National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program is slated to spend that money on road-trip fast chargers over five years.

2023 Nissan Ariya at EVgo charging station

Installations for the NEVI-funded network started last year, with the first site opening in Ohio in December. NEVI is one of the factors related to how the national fast-charger network is filling in, but the buildout still has a long way to go.

Federal guidelines for the NEVI funding call for four 150-kw connectors every 50 miles. A 2023 analysis found that 1,104 new EV fast-charging stations will be needed to meet those parameters.

• Papin to Nissan dealers: Throughput coming

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• Supply chain on fire

• VinFast considers another plant delay

 VW gets on board with affordable EVs. Toyota, Subaru, and Mazda commit to a new generation of engines. And Cadillac’s most affordable EV makes its debut. This and more, here at Green Car Reports. 

The 2025 Cadillac Optiq EV arrives later this year, and Green Car Reports recently got up close with it. All-wheel drive, a vast fixed-glass roof, lots of screen space, and an interior that looks all the part of a luxury vehicle will distinguish this 300-mile EV that turns to lighting to sharpen its look. 

Toyota, Subaru, and Mazda are allying to build downsized engines for hybrid models—engines that would potentially burn hydrogen or e-fuels in addition to gasoline. Subaru suggested the next-generation tech could be headed to its next Crosstrek Hybrid. 

And Volkswagen has confirmed that it’s working on a $22,000 VW EV created in Europe and intended primarily for the European market—at a price of only about $22,000. Would such a vehicle also make waves in the U.S.?

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• A small electric SUV, the Optiq joins the Ultium family of GM EVs that includes the Blazer EV, Equinox EV, and Lyriq
• Prices start in the mid-$50,000s—and the Mexico-built Optiq should qualify for tax incentives
• Cadillac promises fully-charged driving range of about 300 miles

Cadillac has revealed an entry EV for the GM luxury brand that doesn’t seem so entry-level in size, technology, or price. 

The 2025 Cadillac Optiq will cost about $54,000 including destination when it arrives later this year with a range of around 300 miles, according to Cadillac. While that price tag won’t be anywhere as affordable as the XT4 ($39,090 base), Cadillac’s gasoline-fueled compact entry SUV, if it qualifies for the $7,500 EV tax credit it will cost about the same, effectively, as today’s XT5 SUV ($47,290 base) while providing much more cargo and passenger space. 

Green Car Reports was able to get up close with the Optiq a few weeks ago, and as far as first impressions go, this vehicle sheds the last remaining design bits of Cadillac’s long-held Art & Science themes that held onto chiseled corners, sharp edges, and straight lines. With the Optiq, the brand is veering toward softer side sculpting, a lower hoodline, and more of a rounded approach to the roofline. In front, it’s way less imposing and chiseled than the rest of the lineup, including the larger Cadillac Lyriq EV, and the Optiq cleverly depends on lighting—not actual sharp edges—to maintain its sharp-edged look and accommodate a more aero-savvy shape.

2025 Cadillac Optiq

Aero and lighting rule Optiq design

“The sporty, aerodynamic look was the main focus on the Optiq,” Cadillac design manager Hoon Kim told me. “That’s why we tried to keep it as low as possible.”

There are many details to linger on. Cadillac also uses a crisscrossing laser-etching process for the grille area, to establish the lighting signature, and it precision-prints a graphic pattern on the rear quarter panel—on acoustic laminate glass—that corresponds to the Cadillac crest. All Optiqs will have a fixed glass roof.

2025 Cadillac Optiq

One of the coolest design traits is the way that the rear lights seem to visually drop down the rear pillars, seemingly disappearing momentarily under the corners of the beltline then reemerging below. 

What’s a bit surprising is that in this era of “the sky’s the limit” EV skateboard design, the Cadillac Optiq follows so closely in silhouette to its cousin, the Chevy Equinox EV. The Optiq shares that model’s 116.3-inch wheelbase and approximately 190-inch length, as well as its 85-kwh battery pack. 

2025 Cadillac Optiq

Optiq has AWD, Blackwing performance connection

Likewise, it opts for a front-wheel-biased all-wheel-drive system, with a stronger permanent-magnet motor in front, making around 200 hp, while an induction motor for the rear wheels backs it up with about 90 hp. That allows it to run as a front-wheel-drive vehicle when cruising at steady speeds, and the combination provides an estimated 300 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque.

While the Lyriq is about prestige, the Optiq is more about the sporty, youthful, dynamic side of Cadillac, according to Cadillac officials. With a performance engineer just off the team that created the Blackwing models, Cadillac aimed to give the Optiq a sportier experience that should extend to the way the vehicle rides and handles. Meanwhile, towing capability will be 1,500 pounds, and hitch accessories will provide the means for carrying other types of gear. 

2025 Cadillac Optiq

The Optiq will offer Tour, Sport, and Snow/Ice modes, along with personalized My Mode settings. A one-pedal driving mode will allow the vehicle to slow and stop without touching the brake pedal under some driving conditions. At the time of the preview Cadillac was still considering propulsion sounds for the cabin and confirmed that they’ll be different than Lyriq.

A new charge port for Cadillac EVs

One other thing that’s different versus the Lyriq is the charge port door. It’s a new, simplified design that will appear in other upcoming Cadillac EVs—including the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ—and the headlights will show at a glance what your state of charge is as you go. 

2025 Cadillac Optiq

Charging time and a beautiful interior are among some of the top concerns for that crowd, Cadillac said; it’s aiming to recover 79 miles in 10 minutes in DC fast-charging but didn’t state a maximum charge rate. 

What sets the cabin apart are some distinctive trims—including patterned accent fabric made from 100% recycled materials, and PaperWood veneer made of tulip wood and recycled newspaper. Yes, you can still read some of it.

Back support for “older Millennials”

Cadillac targets first-time luxury buyers with the Optiq and sees the target buyers as “older Millennials” in their late 20s through 30s (and yes, some Millennials already top 40). For them, it’s bringing on the comfort. There are massaging seats, and the seats are generous on back support, with a new design adapted from one developed by GM in Europe but made wider. 

2025 Cadillac Optiq

2025 Cadillac Optiq

2025 Cadillac Optiq

2025 Cadillac Optiq

The expansive front floor takes advantage of the flat battery pack underneath, and the cargo floor is relatively low, but there isn’t a front trunk (or frunk). The back seat has loads of legroom, but my head touched at the back of the glass roof frame. 

The 33-inch dash display has a 9k resolution and can project more than a billion colors, GM claims. While it’s the centerpoint of the dash, it doesn’t support Apple CarPlay or Android Auto but has a “Google built-in infotainment experience”—meaning you’ll need to subscribe to separate data coverage for the vehicle rather than sharing it from your phone. GM has also considered the breakout between screens and switchgear and given the Optiq hard buttons for climate control.

2025 Cadillac Optiq

2025 Cadillac Optiq

2025 Cadillac Optiq

GM will be including three years of Super Cruise driver assistance tech with the Optiq, and adaptive cruise control, an automatic parking system, and a full suite of active safety features are all included. 

Optiq is one of many GM EVs from Mexico

The Optiq will be made in Mexico starting this fall, at the same Ramos Arizpe plant that makes the Chevy Equinox EV and Blazer EV, along with the Honda Prologue. Production is also ramping up soon in China, and GM is banking on China, the U.S., and Europe as key markets.

Luxury and Sport trim levels of the Optiq will be offered, but Cadillac hasn’t yet confirmed all the differences. 

2025 Cadillac Optiq

As GM rolls out more Ultium EVs, and specifically more Ultium electric Cadillacs including the larger Lyriq, the 1980s GM and the luxury-on-a-shoestring Cimarron comes to mind. How do you build more distinct EVs while avoiding the badge-engineering awkwardness? We’ll just have to wait and see later this year, when Cadillac will share more specs and feature details. But for now, the Optiq’s sharp-looking, super-comfortable interior is a great indication the brand gets it.

The Optiq enters Cadillac’s EV luxury lineup as the starting point and will slot beneath the Lyriq At only about $4,500 less than the Lyriq, the Optiq aims for buyers seeking smaller footprint Despite its size the Optiq packs a 33-inch curved screen, AWD, and 300 miles of range Growth in EV demand may be slowing, but Cadillac is ploughing ahead…

The Carousel at Road America comprises turns 9 and 10 but amounts to one long 180-degree righthander. To tackle it in a typical street car, accelerate up to 70-75 mph, place your left-side tires midcorner, hold the throttle and steering wheel steady, and pinch it down to the final apex of turn 10. A car with a well sorted suspension and sticky…

BMW’s 3-Series has received a round of updates for the 2025 model year. It’s actually the second round of updates for the current generation of BMW’s compact sedan, and they include tweaks to the chassis, the latest version of the iDrive interface, and new trim options for the cabin. There’s also mild-hybrid power standard across the range. Audi’s…

• Nissan adopts EV gigacasting

• Scout Motors plant’s green focus

• Tesla shifts on advanced manufacturing

• Hyundai combines hydrogen, autonomy

Volkswagen on Tuesday announced a goal of launching an EV priced at 20,000 euros—equivalent to $22,000 at current exchange rates—in 2027.

This affordable EV is aimed at the European market, with a high degree of manufacturing and supply-chain localization entailed in the project, VW said in a press release. This will allow for shorter transportation routes for components, helping to lower the overall carbon footprint of the vehicles produced, the automaker noted.

“It’s about entry-level electric mobility from Europe for Europe,” Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume said in a statement. “In doing so, we combine a clear commitment to Europe as an industrial location, a European industrial policy, and ultimately act in the interests of European customers.”

Teaser for $22,000 Volkswagen EV for Europe debuting in 2027

The Euro-centric rhetoric hints that this project may be a reaction to an influx of Chinese-branded EVs into the European market. France in 2023 announced that it would exclude China in its EV incentives to help staunch the flow.

It will take some heavy lifting to establish a battery-manufacturing base in Europe. China, meanwhile, now makes enough batteries to supply all global EV production, according to recent Bloomberg New Energy Finance estimates.

In the U.S., the Biden administration has hiked tariffs, effective later this summer, to keep Chinese EVs out. That may help protect manufacturers, but may not be universally favored by consumers. Last week, survey results suggested that younger U.S. drivers are more open to Chinese EVs. Unlike Europe, though, no Chinese brand currently sells EVs in the U.S.

2020 Volkswagen ID 3 production at plane in Zwickau, Germany

The $22,000 EV project is just one of many VW efforts to produce a more affordable EV. The automaker has also embarked on a project for a sub-$35,000 for North America, which should arrive in the 2027 timeframe as well.

In Europe, VW also plans an “Electric Urban Car Family” with four EVs priced under 25,000 euros ($27,000) debuting in 2025. The four models include compact cars from the main VW brand and Cupra, as well as small SUVs from VW and Škoda. All four models will be built in Spain.