With the world premiere of the ID. EVERY1 show car this week, Volkswagen‘s namesake brand is presenting a preview of an entry-level all-electric model with a starting price of around €20,000. Planned for production in 2027, it will follow the production version of the ID. 2all, which will be launched in the €25,000 class as early as in 2026.

Following the ID. 2all and its sportier ID. Concept GTI version, the ID. EVERY1 belongs to the Electric Urban Car Family that is being developed under the Core brand group in the Volkswagen Group. They are based on the new modular electric drive platform called MEB with front-wheel drive.

Attractive mobility in the electric era from Europe for Europe is one of the central pillars of the brand’s plan for the future. With the European launch of the Electric Urban Car Family in 2026, Volkswagen says it will offer the most diverse portfolio in the high-volume segment, from efficient combustion-engine models and advanced hybrids to future-oriented all-electric vehicles.

“The ID. EVERY1 represents the last piece of the puzzle on our way to the widest model selection in the volume segment,” said Thomas Schäfer, Member of the Board at Volkswagen Group, CEO of Volkswagen Brand, and Head of Brand Group Core. “We will then offer every customer the right car with the right drive system including affordable all-electric entry-level mobility. Our goal is to be the world’s technologically leading high-volume manufacturer by 2030, and as a brand for everyone—just as you would expect from Volkswagen.”

The production version of the ID. EVERY1 for 2027 is just one part of the Volkswagen brand’s electric model campaign, which is now taking the next step with the “Future Volkswagen” agreement. Volkswagen AG agreed with the employee side at the end of December 2024 on a vision that combines economic stability, employment, and technological leadership in the field of sustainable mobility. Binding targets and the measures agreed for them form the foundation for key future projects.

“By 2027, we’ll have introduced nine new models in Europe,” added Schäfer, with the larger ID. 2all show car as a backdrop. “With this car, we’re making a bold move in the €25,000 EV segment next year and, by the way, this car has two siblings, a sporty GTI variant and a spacious SUV. And don’t worry more compact cars and SUVs are on the way.”

During a workshop in late 2023, Andreas Mindt, Volkswagen’s Head of Design, gave the first preview of the ID. 2all SUV.

 

Customer- vs. software-defined vehicle

The production version of the ID. EVERY1 will be the first model from the Volkswagen Group to use a new more powerful software architecture. Among other benefits, this means that the future entry-level Volkswagen can be equipped with new functions throughout its entire life cycle.

“For some companies, developing a software-defined vehicle is the most important topic for their future,” said Kai Grünitz, Member of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management responsible for Development. “But, let’s be honest, software that defines a car, really, is this the right approach? At Volkswagen, we believe the customers should be at the center.

“In the future model, we talk about customer-defined vehicles,” said Grünitz. “The ID. EVERY1 shows that we are putting our customers, their wishes, interests, and preferences at the center of vehicle development more consistently than ever.”

That philosophy began with the design process.

“We were given more freedom than ever before,” said Bau Truong, Design Strategy, Volkswagen Brand. “The task was simple, to create a car for everyone; but who’s everyone? We did not start sketching in the first step; we focused on the people.”

Designers condensed the range of people into just three groups, she said, giving more definition to the customer target: “The first, called the urban group, are the ones who live in cities or just want to enjoy the flexibility and all the advantages a small car brings. Second, the entertainment group, young and old, are the ones who simply want to have fun driving that car. And third are our daily heroes such as caretakers or delivery services.”

VW engineers then focused on developing a customer-defined vehicle “that supports its driver in everyday life, that perfectly and seamlessly integrates the digital life of its driver and other passengers, a car that is highly updatable as we all know it from our smartphones,” Grünitz added. “This requires a redesigned, high-performance software architecture. And because we are Volkswagen, we are not using it in the most expensive vehicles first. We are delivering bottom up the production version of the ID. EVERY1 will be the very first car in the Volkswagen group to get this new software architecture. It will be ready as early as 2027. It will be one of the most modern and performant software architectures in the entire industry, and affordable for many.”

 

Stability, likeability, and secret sauce

The new Volkswagen design language of the EVERY1 picks up on characteristic elements of its immediate predecessor, the Up!, which went out of production in 2023.

“Our ambition was to create something bold yet accessible,” said Mindt. “The ID. EVERY1 has a self-assured appearance but remains likable—thanks to details such as the dynamic front lights and the ‘smiling’ rear. These design elements make it more than just a car; they give it character and an identity that people can relate to.”

The style and character of the smallest electric Volkswagen are shaped by the three central values of the new design language: stability, likeability, and secret sauce.

“The widely flared wheel housings over the large 19-in wheels and the athletic and clearly designed surfaces of the silhouette ensure stability,” added Mindt. “The slightly cheeky smile at the front is a particularly likable feature. A secret sauce element is the roof drawn in in the middle, as is usually known from sports cars. All these design elements lend to the ID. EVERY1 a charismatic identity with which people can identify.”

An important style element is the golden ratio because people find this likeable. It is based on the ratio of three-fifths to two-fifths applied to vehicles. In the silhouette of the ID. EVERY1, it is the 2/5:3/5 split between the window band and the body surfaces; at the rear, it is the rear window, which is flatter in relation to the bumper—the black surround of the window can be seen as a small homage to the up! and the Golf GTI No. 1. The front with its distinctive ‘looking’ LED headlights and the stylized radiator grille in between also follows the golden ratio.

Other “likable” features are human-oriented design elements like the “looking” headlights and taillights, with animated welcome and goodbye scenarios that reinforce this effect. The lower areas of the front and rear bumpers feature a “smile” achieved by wide, horizontal lines and slightly raised. The LED headlights with the stylized radiator grille between them form a horizontal bar that emphasizes width and the historic link to Volkswagen icons. The design element of the vertical daytime running lights is picked up at the rear by the similarly vertical reflectors in the bumper. The Volkswagen badges at the front and rear are illuminated.

The secret sauce is the “flying roof concept” with the roof surface lowered in the middle most noticeable from the rear, which is said to not restrict headroom inside. From the rear, the third brake light is integrated into the recess in the center of the roof. The outer surfaces in the roof end strip are visually floating elements that also serve as an aerodynamic separation edge in the rear area, reducing air turbulence and so increasing the range.

Thanks to electric front-wheel drive, the MEB platform is said to offer impressive space utilization and maximum efficiency. With a length of 3880 mm (152.8 in), the ID. EVERY1 is longer than the former up!, at 3600 mm (141.7 in), and it is shorter than the ID. 2all, at 4050 mm (159.4 in), and the current Polo, at 4074 mm (160.4 in). Inside, it offers space for four people and a luggage compartment volume of 305 L (10.8 ft³).

The concept vehicle is 1816 mm (71.5 in) wide and 1490 mm (58.7 in) tall, with a wheelbase of 2539 mm (100.0 in) and 225/40R19 tires. It is powered by a newly developed electric drive motor with 70 kW and has a top speed of 130 km/h (81 mph) and a range of at least 250 km (155 km).

 

Large and variable interior design

The four doors open up to a new small car with more room than expected. With an exterior length between the Up! and the current Polo, it offers just as much space as the larger Polo. The new MEB platform with front-wheel drive enables this space efficiency.

The interior surfaces are designed to be pleasant to the touch and are finished in warm, friendly colors with a simple design and lounge-like seating. The use of mottled surface materials is intended to give a light and modern look. Most of the fabrics are made from recycled materials such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles.

Horizontal lines characterize the dash panel dominated by the central touch infotainment display, with ergonomic buttons for interior temperature, seat heating, and audio volume located below.

A further design highlight is the two-spoke multifunction steering wheel with flattened upper and lower sections. Digital instruments are integrated into the center dash panel strip ahead of the driver. The square shape of the steering wheel buttons is adopted in other locations like the button for exterior mirror adjustment in the driver door and for the illuminated and removable Bluetooth speaker between the driver and front passenger.

The front passenger side of the dash panel is designed to be variable. A tablet can be snapped onto a rail and it is possible to attach a shelf that can be used as a table.

The center console not only serves as an armrest for the driver and front passenger but also can be moved all the way to the rear on a rail. Shelves that can be adjusted forward and backward can be pulled out from the console and used for a range of purposes. This is similar in concept to that used on the much larger Volkswagen ID. Buzz.

The front passenger seat and rear seats can be folded down for various transport scenarios including for configuration as a safe place for pets.