Volkswagen’s entry into the affordable electric vehicle market is poised to take a notable turn with a new model that will integrate technology from a key American competitor. The new ultra-cheap EV, dubbed the ID EVERY1, will be the first to leverage software and architecture from Rivian. Revealed as a small four-door hatchback, the ID EVERY1 is slated to begin production in 2027. According to sources familiar with the matter, it’s expected to have a starting price of 20,000 euros (approximately $21,500).
A second EV, the ID.2all, will be available in 2026, positioned in the 25,000 euro price range. Both vehicles are designed for the European market and represent Volkswagen’s new category of electric urban front-wheel-drive cars, developed under its “Brand Group Core,” which encompasses the volume brands within the VW Group.
The integration of Rivian’s technology stems from a $5.8 billion joint venture established last year between the German automaker and the U.S. EV maker. The ID EVERY1 will be the first to ship with Rivian’s vehicle architecture and software. The ID.2all, by contrast, will be based on the E3 1.1 architecture and software developed by VW’s software unit, Cariad.
While Volkswagen’s Wednesday reveal didn’t explicitly name Rivian, the presentation hinted at next-generation software capabilities. Kai Grünitz, a member of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management, noted that the ID EVERY1 would be the first model in the VW Group to utilize a “fundamentally new, particularly powerful software architecture.”
“This means the future entry-level Volkswagen can be equipped with new functions throughout its entire life cycle,” Grünitz said. “Even after purchase of a new car, the small Volkswagen can still be individually adapted to customer needs.”
Sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to not being authorized to communicate publicly, confirmed to TechCrunch that Rivian’s software will indeed be incorporated into the ID EVERY1 EV. TechCrunch reached out to both Rivian and Volkswagen for comment and will update the story as needed.
This joint venture provides Rivian with financial backing and allows it to broaden its business scope. For the VW Group, the partnership provides a next-generation electrical architecture and software to increase its competitiveness in the EV market. The collaboration, named Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies, aims to cut development costs and expedite the scaling of novel technologies. The venture is structured as a 50-50 partnership, with Wassym Bensaid, Rivian’s head of software, and Carsten Helbing, Volkswagen Group’s chief technical engineer, acting as co-CEOs. Initial operations will be based in Palo Alto, California. The companies previously announced the development of three additional sites in North America and Europe.
Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand and head of the Brand Group Core, emphasized the significance of the ID EVERY1. “The ID. EVERY1 represents the last piece of the puzzle on our way to the widest model selection in the volume segment,” he said. “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.”
For now, the Volkswagen ID EVERY1 remains a concept car, with limited details. According to Volkswagen, the concept vehicle can achieve a top speed of 130 km/h (approximately 80 miles per hour) and is driven by a newly developed 70 kW electric drive motor. The company anticipates a range of at least 250 kilometers (150 miles) for the EVERY1. While compact in size, the vehicle is larger than VW’s previous UP! model. It is designed to comfortably accommodate four passengers and offers a luggage compartment volume of 305 liters.
