VW CEO Diess reveals some updates to ID4

Diess didn’t answer very extensively on Reddit, usually the CEO gave more hints at what the future might hold. He was specific about the so-called over-the-air updates that the ID4 will receive this summer. According to Diess, the electric Volkswagen will have the option of bi-directional charging, something that the Hyundai Ioniq 5 can already do, for example. ‘Plug & Charge’ will soon also be part of the ID4. With the latter service, the car automatically invoices the charging rate at certain charging stations, without you needing a charging card. Pon confirms to AutoWeek that ID4 updates for the Dutch market are also coming, but could not say anything concrete about it yet.

Furthermore, Diess gives a number of hints for the future of Volkswagen. He calls an electric pick-up for the American market ‘a good idea’. He also hints at the arrival of an electric Beetle. The priority, according to Diess, is first with the unveiling of the ID Buzz, but says that after that “many other emotional cars are possible on the scalable MEB platform.” Diess also confirms a few things we already knew: the ID Vizzion and Space Vizzion are coming to market, with the introduction of the former planned for next year. He also refers to Audi and Bentley for the arrival of electric limousines. These two brands are working together under the banner of Project Artemis on a new flagship.

Future of the car

When asked about what he thinks the car industry will look like in 25 years, Diess states that ‘all cars can drive autonomously’ and that ‘there will probably be no more accidents’. Cars will then no longer emit anything and are very comfortable, according to Diess. He does say that individual car brands still have a future. “There will still be brands for different customers, cars will remain the main form of transport,” said Diess. “But completely safe, easy and sustainable.”