New Volkswagen ID.3 with LFP battery and larger screen launched in China for 16,500 USD
Volkswagen launched an updated version of the ID.3 in China with minor exterior and interior changes and equipped with a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. The 2025 ID.3 has a price range of 119,900 – 136,900 yuan (16,500 – 18,800 USD).
Volkswagen ID.3 has always been equipped with an NMC ternary battery, but this is the first time Volkswagen has put a version powered by LFP on the market.
The LFP battery, supplied by CATL, has a capacity of 53.6 kWh and provides a 451 km range under CLTC conditions. It can DC charge 30-80% in about 48 minutes.
The motor is the same as the previous version: 125 kW mounted on the rear axle with 310 Nm peak torque. It consumes 13.4 kWh/100km.
The exterior is mostly the same. The wheels have the same design as the previous version and offer 18″ and 20″ options. The A-pillar is now painted partly black. Volkswagen added two new colours: beige and light blue.
The interior changes are more interesting. The central control screen grew from 10″ to 12.9″, while the LCD instrument panel remained at 5.3″. Also, the central screen has smaller bezels and misses the bottom-mounted physical button add-on. The central tunnel is redesigned with a wireless charging pad and two cupholders. Overall, the interior has a more premium look.
Volkswagen also offers the NMC battery version of ID.3 for the same starting price. The battery is a bit smaller (52.8 kWh), offers nearly the same range (450 km) and has faster charging (30-80% in 42 minutes). AC charging takes 8.5 hours, compared with 9.5 hours for the LFP version. The price is the same as the LFP version – 119,900 yuan (16,500 USD).
SAIC-VW makes ID.3, which is Volkswagen’s best-selling EV in China. In January, the company sold 2,623 units, down 65.5% year-over-year. In 2024, the company sold 93,816 units of ID.3 in China.
China is Volkswagen’s biggest market; however, the German giant has been struggling there in recent years as its EVs are being largely ignored even by its most loyal customers due to a lack of connectivity, digital UX, and ADAS. For example, the ID.7 sedan sold only nine units in January.
Volkswagen fights back by introducing the “In China, for China” strategy. In August, VW bought a stake in EV startup Xpeng for 700 million USD and will introduce two EVs based on their electric platform in China. Moreover, it will launch new electric Audi models based on SAIC’s IM architecture.
