[jlewis3323]

I talked to VW Customer Service EV Rep today. She stated the ID4 will have a “Spring” Delivery and was not optimistic that it would happen in March. Stated that ID4 US production has not yet started. It would be nice if VW Of America would put out some communication to keep us informed and stop the rumors. I have to admit the Tesla Customer Service have given very detailed info on delivery of the Model Y RWD which I plan to test drive again on Friday.

 

[MCheiron]

The first ID.4s will not be produced in the US. I wonder if this was a “EV specialist” only by title.

 

[ErickF]

UK FE sales launched today with reported March deliveries.

 

[jlewis3323]

The first ID.4s will not be produced in the US. I wonder if this was a “EV specialist” only by title.

What I meant to say was the US FE Model has not yet started production in Germany.

 

[Hot Soup]

What I meant to say was the US FE Model has not yet started production in Germany.

I suspected as much. The $400 down payments for the FEs ended yesterday on the 27th. I suppose they are using those "locked in" configs to inform the production schedule in the next couple of months.

 

[emtonsti]

It is definitely helpful to post what VW reps say, but for those who went through the first round from 9/23/20, we got a lot of different answers from different reps on different days. They were all very nice, responsive, and helpful, however universally, they do not seem to have any first hand inside information from the plant in Germany. At the first big delay as reported by electrive and tens of news outlets, the rep. told me, if that many outlets are reporting the delay (the one for CO2 emissions) it must be true, noting that they often find out about such things from callers, then from VW much later.

I just checked the embedded code on my reservation page, and all estimated production dates are still n or null. OTOH, as Eric said, the reservation system may not have the day to day factory data. Our cars could be built in a parking lot, or could be parts in parts boxes. Short of any information from the factory, I think we don't really know.

 

[MCheiron]

What I meant to say was the US FE Model has not yet started production in Germany.

Ahhh, that makes a lot of sense. Sorry for being snippy.

Well, I hope that they are quick but your rep does make a valid point. Production, transport to the port and loading, shipping, unloading and transport, maybe final software update will take time and it is nearly February. Maybe they have a few days of production slots allocated for US FE.

 

[jlewis3323]

It is definitely helpful to post what VW reps say, but for those who went through the first round from 9/23/20, we got a lot of different answers from different reps on different days. They were all very nice, responsive, and helpful, however universally, they do not seem to have any first hand inside information from the plant in Germany. At the first big delay as reported by electrive and tens of news outlets, the rep. told me, if that many outlets are reporting the delay (the one for CO2 emissions) it must be true, noting that they often find out about such things from callers, then from VW much later.

I just checked the embedded code on my reservation page, and all estimated production dates are still n or null. OTOH, as Eric said, the reservation system may not have the day to day factory data. Our cars could be built in a parking lot, or could be parts in parts boxes. Short of any information from the factory, I think we don't really know.

I too have been waiting for my FE ID4 since 9/23/20. I do not think VW has done very well communicating with us on the progress or production of the car. By comparison I have found the Tesla reps to be aware of the competition from the ID4 and production of the 2 RWD MY. Many of us I am sure are doing our own comparisons and I even had a Tesla rep give comparison to consider when buying their car vs the ID4. Just wish VW would get more proactive with us so we have some sense of progress and status of the production cycle to the US.

 

[ErickF]

Not expecting much, if anything, of a reply, but I sent a message to my EV specialist and eMobility today looking to get clarity around production schedules.

The market is volatile now. One could start to wonder if it's moving more towards European deliveries and buying time until tax credits, etc. are more clear.

 

[ID Rather Drive Electric]

Has anyone tried tweeting at Scott Keough to see what he says about this? Might just be that he’s not at liberty to discuss but would be helpful to have him know a bunch of us are frustrated and looking elsewhere. Myself, I’m going to test drive/inspect a Model Y this weekend, just in case.

 

[emtonsti]

I too have been waiting for my FE ID4 since 9/23/20. I do not think VW has done very well communicating with us on the progress or production of the car. By comparison I have found the Tesla reps to be aware of the competition from the ID4 and production of the 2 RWD MY. Many of us I am sure are doing our own comparisons and I even had a Tesla rep give comparison to consider when buying their car vs the ID4. Just wish VW would get more proactive with us so we have some sense of progress and status of the production cycle to the US.

Agree. If I come across a delivered but canceled Mach-E at a nearby dealer, I might reconsider too. Again MY is lower on my list, but not without interest either. Also, MY seems to be the ID.4 alternative interest vehicle by far.

Sad to say, but the one thing VW got exactly right in their reservation system, is that it is very easy to cancel and get a full refund. (I'm not there yet, but it could happen.)

 

[ErickF]

Has anyone tried tweeting at Scott Keough to see what he says about this? Might just be that he’s not at liberty to discuss but would be helpful to have him know a bunch of us are frustrated and looking elsewhere. Myself, I’m going to test drive/inspect a Model Y this weekend, just in case.

Last I looked, his account still reflected his role at Audi.

 

[ID Rather Drive Electric]

Last I looked, his account still reflected his role at Audi.

🙄

 

[Huey52]

Let’s consider that Germany is hard hit by COVID-19. I was recently going to order a Festool track saw and the anticipated delivery for it is in May, with the pandemic cited as the primary reason for such a prolonged delay. A hand miterbox I ordered from Sweden in November has been delayed month by month as well. So VAG may well be struggling with production scheduling. The factory may be largely robotic but JIS/JIT vendors are the key.

 

[PGilly]

[I would agree. Launch an new vehicle during a worldwide once in a lifetime pandemic can cause some delays. QUOTE="Huey52, post: 6878, member: 823"]
Let’s consider that Germany is hard hit by COVID-19. I was recently going to order a Festool track saw and the anticipated delivery for it is in May, with the pandemic cited as the primary reason for such a prolonged delay. A hand miterbox I ordered from Sweden in November has been delayed month by month as well. So VAG may well be struggling with production scheduling. The factory may be largely robotic but JIS/JIT vendors are the key.
[/QUOTE]

 

[emtonsti]

Every living human being should be okay with the COVID delay. Would it be okay for someone's mom or dad to die so you can get your ID.4 sooner? NO

That is not what bothers me (COVID may indeed be the root reason for all of the delivery delays). (I am still on board for a FE.). The problem that concerns me and possibly others is two fold, lack of communication from VW, and reasons seemingly not COVID (e.g. emissions) for U.S. delays.

It is probably okay that they needed to deliver FE to the EU for the CO2 fine, but then 1) Why did they not account for that? (Or, tell us, hey with COVID, we need to adjust.). Also, 2) there maybe technical problems and delays too (chip shortage, software issues). Also, probably okay and reasonable. A bit of friendly update from VW or VWoA would go a long way. [I guess both of those could be COVID too, chip shortage, and software issues where programmers are out and/or cannot work together as efficiently as teams without office time]

I think the biggest failure is that VW simply does not communicate with us. Either they are just very secretive as a corporate culture, or they simply do not see us as significant enough to warrant any explanation. Maybe they are giving us far more than the $2k savings on each FE, and it cost them a lot more to make each ID.4 FE, and they don't understand why we are not more grateful. Or, maybe 4,000 VW buyers are truly insignificant and easily replaced; just another week of FE availability some weeks or months from now could easily replace any canceled FE orders.

I'm still looking forward to a FE, it looks like a reasonably good and fun car that would meet my needs. I am totally okay with COVID delays. But, if VW has the slightest amount of marketing or PR sense, all they need to do is to shoot us a brief (honest) email update once in a while.

hmm, I may have just convinced myself that most of the problems probably are COVID related

 

[corfam]

I think the biggest failure is that VW simply does not communicate with us. ....

But, if VW has the slightest amount of marketing or PR sense, all they need to do is to shoot us a brief (honest) email update once in a while.

What's still weird to me is that I remember that ID.4 prelaunch call that VoA had with their dealers in Sept just prior to launch...with Scott Keogh, Dustin Krause, and one other woman from Marketing. Sorry, I don't remember the woman's name and I couldn't find the forum thread again that contained the video link, but the woman stated how educated EV shoppers are and will want detailed info available. She told the dealer EV specialists to be ready. They had the right idea originally. Not sure what happened.

 

[ErickF]

VoW hired Kimberley Gardiner in November as Vice President of VW Marketing - her role is to lead the charge with electrification messaging, among other things. Her predecessor was only on the job nine months. There's probably a lot to get on the right track.

Mitsubishi's Gardiner to lead VW of America marketing

Kimberly Gardiner replaces Saad Chehab, who left Volkswagen in May after nine months on the job. Gardiner's appointment is effective Monday, Nov. 16.

www.autonews.com

 

[emtonsti]

Oh Crap. What I have it backwards? What if we send thank you email to them, either from the forum, or individually from us to them? Clearly a lot of VW people did work through COVID at some risk to themselves and their families, so that we could eventually have our FE. Maybe that would even open some communications.

Not Pollyannish or Kool-Aide, but seriously, what if we made the first overture to them?

 

[RocketVol]

I am as frustrated with the lack of information as anyone else and scour the web for some new tidbit regularly. VW has never been great about customer communications, so I don't think this is limited just to the ID.4. They are a legacy manufacturer and are not used to the new way EV's are marketed and sold, and that is showing here and I hope they are trying to adapt. And I would hope and presume that someone at VW is reading this forum and taking notes, but like was mentioned above, this is only for about 4000 units max. The number of users on this forum is 596, or about 14% of the theoretical max number of FE orders, not counting the PRO ones which would make the numbers worse. Compared to what VW is going for we literally are a drop in the bucket, and compared to hundreds of millions of Euros in fines, we will go to the bottom of the list for deliveries every time. If I was the CEO I would make the same call (but I hope I would explain it better!)

Personally I want to know where every part that will go into my car is at every step! I am geeky that way. Back in the day, before my time with VW, when the Phaeton rolled out they had a dedicated customer support team with a special direct number to get immediate support. Mechanics that worked on them had to go to a special school to get the patch on their shoulder to allow them to work on them, parts were overnighted from Germany at no expense to the owner.......I would love it if VW brought something like that back for the first runs of ID.4's for the people who have reserved. Something to support all of us who are jumping in with both financial feet to let us know that they appreciate that support and more importantly they appreciate that faith.

With all of that said, VW has been consistent with the Q1 '21 delivery timeframe and that gives them until 30 March to make the first delivery.....notice they didn't say how MANY they would deliver I am willing to still believe them and believe they have a plan until proven otherwise.

A lack of information does not mean they will not make it, but more information would really be great!