The conversations at this year's L.A. Auto show are largely centered around electrification and emissions standards as automakers show off their newest concept cars and race to meet demand for SUVs.
Volkswagen gets its first chance to show off its new electric vehicle, the ID. Space Vizzion. The concept model is on display at the Auto Show as the seventh member of the ID. family of electric vehicles.
"This is an exciting car that we just unveiled last night for the first time," Matt Renna, the vice president of electric vehicles for the North American region at Volkswagen told Cheddar, "This is a more aerodynamic design but is still focused on cargo space."
Renna explained the car was designed to promote aerodynamics so that drivers can go longer between charges. "You can see things like flushed door handles, the mirror features, and the wheels all seek to get better and better range. This is a priority at Volkswagen as we know range anxiety is a real fear of electric vehicle drivers."
Other style aspects make the design of the car unique to the Volkswagen family, like the two toned paint, the large glass roof, and the wagon-like rear of the vehicle. The ID. Space Vizzion also features a door that opens and closes at the push of a button. "We really tried to focus on space and design," he said.
The company also pushed for sustainability in design. "We have a lot of leatherette and vegan leather interior materials so obviously our push toward sustainability at Volkswagen is not just about electric vehicles and CO2 but the whole chain," according to Renna.
When considering competition in the EV space, he said, "We are proud of this car. At 300 miles it is well positioned in the EV world and it is really only possible with the dedicated electric vehicle platform. You won't see that in a converted car that is a gasoline car that had batteries added after the fact."
But, those interested in purchasing the new car will have to keep waiting. "We are still a few years away from actual production. We have started our ID 3 production in the past weeks in Germany, next comes our ID Crozz, and then we have the following cars after that."
The Volkswagen executive says the company has a bright electric fleet future. "In 5 years we have a very aggressive rollout. We're building factories around the world including our own in Chattanooga, Tennessee. We have multiple in Germany and China as well. So we are building a lot of platform locations with a lot of hats," said Renna.
Despite the exciting breakthroughs in EV, the California emissions battle is casting a dark shadow over the show, with officials from the California Air Resources Board boycotting the event altogether. This is the first time in 50 years that the group will not attend the event according to a statement. The Board, which is dubbed the "clean air agency" of the California government is boycotting the show in response to the several automakers taking sides with the Trump administration in a lawsuit with California over emissions standards.
Craig Segall, assistant chief counsel to the California Air Resources Board discussed the message that the board is sending with their absence at the auto show. "We want to tell automakers that they need to be on the right side of history here," he told Cheddar. "Auto emissions from gas-fired cars kill people, and they hurt a lot of Californians. Siding with the Trump administration to attack the authority of this board, which is responsible for protecting the health of millions of people, isn't acceptable, and we want to be very clear about that."
Renna says VW stands with California's desire to set its own standards and supports the position of the Air Resources Board.
"We have formally aligned with the state of California and we feel very strongly about the CO2 initiative set in the Paris Climate Agreement and this is part of our push toward sustainability. We expect to be carbon neutral by 2050 in accordance with the Paris Climate Agreement," said Renna. "This is independent of what is being driven in DC right now."
