Easily the biggest disappointment of Tesla’s Investor Day this month came about 40 minutes into the nearly four-hour-long presentation when execs buried all hope that a new entry-model electric car would be revealed. Elon Musk has been touting plans for a $25,000 car ever since September 2020, yet no one has seen so much as a computer-generated image or stylized pencil sketch, let alone a real-life design study.
Two weeks after Tesla failed to pull a rabbit out of its hat, rival Volkswagen swooped in to steal Musk’s thunder. On Wednesday, the VW brand unveiled the ID2 hatchback. While still a study, it gives a very real glimpse at a production-version electric car for the masses that should cost less than €25,000 ($26,500), drive 450 kilometers (280 miles) on one charge, and be as roomy as a compact when it hits the market—currently scheduled for the end of 2025.
