VW integrates LFP battery in the ID.3 – in China
In addition to the NMC battery with a capacity of 52.8 kWh, which is still on offer, the VW ID.3 is now also available in China with an LFP battery from CATL, which offers a capacity of 53.6 kWh. This should ensure a range of 451 kilometres in the Chinese CLTC test procedure. However, the charging capacity of the LFP battery is manageable: the ID.3 with the CATL battery is said to need an impressive 48 minutes to charge from 30 to 80 per cent. But the NMC battery in China also needs 42 minutes to charge from 30 to 80 per cent. By comparison, the ID.3 Pure with a 52 kWh battery offered in Europe can charge at 145 kW at its peak and only needs 25 minutes from ten (not 30) to 80 per cent.
The drive is the same, whether in Europe or China: the 125 kW version of the APP310 is used, which offers 310 Nm of torque at the rear axle. According to CLTC, consumption should be 13.4 kWh/100 km.
It is striking that VW is not making any changes to the body design for the facelift in China – the innovations that were already introduced in Europe with a facelift in 2023 are still not available in China. The 2025 China ID.3 is still adorned with the familiar front apron with diamond pattern and the black contrasting element on the bonnet can still be found there.
However, the changes to the interior have been carried over: The central touchscreen grows from ten to 12.9 inches diagonally, and the button bar at the bottom of the screen has also been adapted. The new centre console with cup holders and inductive charging cradle will also be installed in the Chinese version with immediate effect.
The ID.3 has been sold by SAIC-Volkswagen in China since the end of 2021. Initially, sales bobbed along, but with discount campaigns in 2023, SAIC-VW was able to increase monthly sales by up to 13,000 units, making the ID.3 one of the best-selling electric VWs in China. However, after a solid 2024, sales slumped at the start of the year – 2,623 ID.3s in January represent a decline of 65.5 per cent.
It remains to be seen whether the new LFP battery and revised interior will be enough to reverse the trend. It is unlikely to be down to the prices, as VW is even undercutting the promotional prices from 2023: The ID.3 of the 2025 model year is available on the Chinese market at prices between 119,900 and 136,900 yuan (equivalent to around 15,600 to 17,800 euros) – regardless of the battery installed.
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