Volkswagen ID 3 specifications shortened due to chip shortage

Several specifications have been temporarily removed for the Volkswagen ID 3 in the UK due to the ongoing international semiconductor crisis.
The electric hatchback is now only available in Life specification, which is based on the 200hp ID 3 Pro Performance and comes with a 58kWh battery with a range of 259 miles.
With the ID 3 Life priced at £35,835, this means there is currently no ID 3 on offer that meets the criteria for the UK Government’s £1500 Plug-in Car Grant.
VW said: “Due to the very high demand for the all-electric Volkswagen ID 3 in connection with the still volatile semiconductor supply situation, the delivery times for this popular model are currently significantly longer than usual.
“In order to minimize the waiting time for a new car, Volkswagen has therefore temporarily simplified the ID 3 model range in some markets. A special ID 3 Life model based on the ID 3 Pro Performance will initially be offered for Great Britain.”
Volkswagen said the specially introduced equipment is “all the specs you need for a comfortable life,” with 18-inch wheels, microfleece seats, Discover Pro infotainment system, LED headlights, wireless smartphone charging, keyless entry and a Backup camera.
The German company is already struggling with large backlogs for his ID family of electric vehicles, which has been exacerbated by bottlenecks in the automotive industry.
“All in all, the order backlog for the ID family is currently around 95,000 vehicles across Europe,” it said. “Volkswagen assumes that the supply situation will remain very volatile and challenging, at least for the first half of 2022. However, production is expected to stabilize over the course of the year.”
Volkswagen’s total inventory stands at around 543,000 vehicles in Europe and has previously adjusted production at its Wolfsburg plant due to the crisis, including reducing night shifts.