Volkswagen plans entry-level electric crossover for 2026

Volkswagen is simplifying its production network as it expands its range of electric vehicles. The firm outlined some of the manufacturing-related changes it will make in the coming years, and it shed light on an electric crossover that will slot near the bottom of its lineup.

Built in the Wolfsburg plant located a stone's throw from Volkswagen's headquarters, the EV will compete in what Europeans refer to as the "A-segment," so it will be considerably smaller than the Taos. For context, the roughly 140-inch-long Up! represents Volkswagen's entry into the A-segment as of this writing. Launching a city car on stilts makes sense; crossovers represent more than 50% of new-car sales in Europe.

When production starts, the pocket-sized soft-roader will be built alongside the ID.3 hatchback, the perennially popular Golf, and the new third-generation Tiguan (that's the short-wheelbase model developed primarily for the European market). Production will start in 2026.