Volkswagen electric cars debuting delayed Tesla-style phone app in Australia

Volkswagen has a raft of electric vehicles arriving on Australian shores over the next two years, but to date the brand has lacked any form of connected services for its vehicles. That’s all set to change soon.

Speaking to media at the 2023 Munich motor show, Daniel DeGasperi, product and PR communications manager for Volkswagen Australia, confirmed connected services will be included on the ID.4 and ID.5 electric SUVs when they arrive Down Under.

The company has previously confirmed the ID.4 and ID.5 are due here early in the second half of 2024.

In Europe, these models offer owners the option to use a smartphone app to check on their vehicle’s location and whether it’s locked or unlocked or if the windows are open.

An additional ‘Plus’ paid subscription allows you to do things like adjust the climate controls remotely and access live traffic information.

“We will launch ID.4 and ID.5 as the first of the Volkswagen electric vehicles next year with a connectivity solution that we have been working on, it’s a manufacturer-designed solution,” said Mr DeGasperi.

“We’ve been working on it between global and our local outfit for a while now. But it’s in a place where we can say that we we’ll have it ready for ID.4 and ID.5.”

When asked why it has taken Volkswagen so long to come up with a solution for connectivity in its vehicles, Mr DeGasperi confirmed it came down to Australia not being an approved market for this type of connectivity solution.

“Like proofing anything for particular markets, it needs to be proofed thoroughly and it needs to be technical approved and there’s myriad reasons behind the scenes as to why,” he said.

“But in the rollout of connectivity, Australia was not an approved market for those connectivity solutions, but we have not been sitting idle for for that. We’ve been working, we’ve known for a while that it has been coming. We’re just a little bit delayed.”

Mr DeGasperi also confirmed the solution will apply to other Volkswagen Group products, which will be rolled out following the ID.4 and ID.5 launches. At this stage it will also be an inclusive connectivity solution that won’t require a paid subscription to remain operational.

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