VW ID. Tiguan enters series production

Just a few weeks after the unveiling of the VW ID. Tiguan, Volkswagen has now started series production of the electric SUV at its Emden plant. Although the vehicle will not be available at dealerships until early 2027, thousands of pre-orders have already been placed.

Start of production of the VW ID. Tiguan

Image: Volkswagen

Volkswagen unveiled the new ID. Tiguan in early October. It replaces the electric SUV ID.4 and its coupé variant, the ID.5, although there will be no coupé version of the ID. Tiguan. With the new name VW ID. Tiguan, the group emphasises the model’s close relation to the combustion-engine bestseller Tiguan, which has sold more than eight million units to date.

The new VW ID. Tiguan offers drivetrains with up to 220 kW, enabling ranges of up to 600 km and towing capacities of up to two tonnes. However, the charging power has already drawn considerable criticism from electrive readers, as it is far from state-of-the-art: the smaller 58-kWh LFP battery only achieves 105 kW at a DC fast charger, while the larger 77-kWh NMC battery manages 165 kW. For more details, see our VW ID. Tiguan model preview.

Volkswagen has now launched series production of the ID. Tiguan – not at its main plant, where the “Gamechanger” project was recently scrapped, but in Emden as previously planned. The plant near the Dutch border has been producing only electric vehicles for around two years, most recently the ID.4, the ID.7, and the ID.7 Tourer, the estate version of the ID.7 saloon.

ID.4 production now discontinued

Although Volkswagen has not mentioned this in its communications, production of the ID.4 appears to have ended with the start of ID. Tiguan production. Configurable versions of the ID.4 are no longer available for order, and the manufacturer now only offers stock vehicles of the model on its website. The production of the coupé variant, the ID.5, must have been stopped weeks ago, as there are no longer any stock units available.

Returning to the start of series production of the VW ID. Tiguan, with which Volkswagen aims to continue the success story of the ID. family, which has delivered more than two million vehicles since its launch in 2019. Production in Hall 20b at the VW plant in Emden has now begun in the presence of, among others, VW brand chief Thomas Schäfer, deputy general works council chairman Jürgen Mahnkopf, and Lower Saxony’s minister-president Olaf Lies (SPD).

Emden plant has successfully transitioned to electromobility

Christian Vollmer, Member of the Board of Management for Production and Logistics at Volkswagen, said: “The start of production of the ID. Tiguan is a special moment for the Emden plant. This launch represents an enormous joint achievement. Over the past years, our colleagues have actively shaped the transition to electromobility, implemented new technologies and processes, and adapted to changing production requirements. With their extensive experience, flexibility, and personal commitment, they have created the conditions to produce the ID. Tiguan here at the highest quality. For this, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all employees in Emden.”

Image: Volkswagen

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According to NDR, the plant has recently been producing 780 vehicles per day across all model series. To date, VW states that more than 500,000 electric vehicles have been produced in Emden. However, the plant is on the list of endangered sites that VW might close, as plant utilisation from 2031 onwards is uncertain.

Major concerns about the plant’s future

This concern is also reflected in the statement by deputy general works council chairman Jürgen Mahnkopf. He said: “In Emden, you can always feel how passionate the colleagues are about their products. The ID. Tiguan is in the best hands here. And it could be a key building block for the future of the Emden factory in the next decade: We are very confident that the ID. Tiguan will make a decisive contribution to ensuring that VW can celebrate 70 years of history in Emden in 2034 – looking back on a proud production record for electric vehicles.”

At the event marking the start of series production of the VW ID. Tiguan, Minister-President Olaf Lies, who also sits on Volkswagen’s supervisory board, spoke out in favour of keeping the VW plant in Emden open. According to _Handelsblatt_, he stated that there is “no end date for car production in Emden”. The first collective bargaining negotiations in the current dispute will take place on 24 November. While these negotiations are not directly related to a potential plant closure from 2031, the IG Metall trade union has called for a demonstration on that day under the slogan ‘Save VW Emden’.

volkswagen-newsroom.com, ndr.de, handelsblatt.com (Lies), igmetall.de (Demo) (links in German)