Emden

German orders open on the 13th of this month, starting at €42,500.

Production in Emden and European deliveries beginning early 2027.

US launch will follow.

Having sold more than 950,000 ID.4s and ID.5s over the last five years, they are shifting away from making their electric vehicles feel fundamentally different and more like, well, just the normal Volkswagen.

I don't think that's like a point to point in town kind of FSD style, but it's a little bit more advanced ADAS than what they've had.

Seats 5, it's being built in Emden and pre-orders for Europe start in October.

And it's going to start in Europe at 42,695 euros.

In North America, Volkswagen says the ID Tiguan will succeed the ID4 here, but hasn't announced any US timing or pricing or trims.

Uh, joining us today we have freshman defensive specialist, uh, Kelli Rodriguez, uh, from Ellsworth, Kansas, and also with us today we have freshman outside hitter Samira Bousri.

She is from Emden, Germany.

And I appreciate the two of you, uh, taking time to join me.

And, uh, so a little behind-the-scenes thing to start with.

Germany is planning new major naval base in Emden amid rising security threats.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius says strategic North Sea location will strengthen NATO deterrence and provide rapid access to North Atlantic.

Multi-billion euro base expected to be fully operational by twenty-thirty, eventually hosting up to two thousand personnel.

From here, we can quickly reach the North Atlantic and the North Sea.

The strategic location is also crucial, particularly with regards to our NATO allies, our shared training and operational areas, as well as joint training activities." The new base will be Germany's fifth major naval base and is expected to ease the load on Wilhelmshaven, now the navy's most important site on the North Sea.

Defense Ministry sources said Wilhelmshaven will remain central, and the Emden base will complement it.

Pistorius said Germany has decided to expand its navy capabilities in response to rising international threats and a worsening security environment in the world, and to meet its commitments to NATO deterrence.

He said, "We currently have the smallest navy in the history of Bundeswehr and, at the same time, the largest and most extensive set of tasks.

In fact, I think it's the first time that the battery electric vehicle intake at VW in Germany, at least, has now exceeded combustion cars.

So they're cancelling additional shifts at the combustion-only plants and adding two additional shifts at electric plants, the likes of Emden, according to DPA.

News reports say the additional Emden shifts are going to be building the ID.7.

In Zwickau, they will be making the ID.3 Neo.

And most new orders, though, are for the cheap cars.