Volkswagen is embarking on “one of the largest product offensives in its global history”, with a barrage of new China-specific models previewed by the reveal of two key electric vehicles (EVs) ahead of the 2026 Beijing motor show.
Driven by its “In China, For China” strategy, the new models herald a new era for the Volkswagen Group in China, and are “tailored specifically for Chinese customers”.
“In just 36 months, the Volkswagen Group has developed a completely new product portfolio for smart electric vehicles in China,” Volkswagen Group China CEO Ralf Brandstätter said.
“The numerous premieres from our brands at the Beijing motor show underscore the speed and rigour of our transformation.”
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The Group’s push will span plug-in hybrid, electric and extended-range electric vehicles, with around 30 electrified models to launch by 2027 and 50 by 2030, including approximately 30 EV-only models.
The first of two Volkswagen-badged models to be revealed is the ID. Aura T6, a fully electric mid-size SUV developed and built through the brand’s 35-year-old joint venture with China’s FAW Group, FAW-Volkswagen.
It uses the new, locally developed China Electronic Architecture (CEA) supporting intelligent, AI-powered driving, which recently debuted on the mid-size ID. Unyx 07 sedan.
The ID. Aura T6 supports “advanced level two assisted driving” – likely including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping, and automated lane changes – and continuous over-the-air (OTA) updates.
The second is the ID. Unyx 09, a five-metre-long electric sedan co-developed with Xpeng in just 24 months and produced by Volkswagen’s joint venture with JAC Motors, Volkswagen Anhui.
Like the ID. Aura T6, it’s capable of “advanced level two driving assistance”, but also features “high-performance computing” and an intelligent AI assistant.
While Volkswagen hasn’t detailed powertrain information for these two new models, the ID. Unyx 08 – also co-developed with Xpeng – offers an 800V electrical architecture and a choice of 82.4kWh or 95kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries from CATL.
The five-metre-long SUV, also developed in 24 months, offers a choice of 230kW single-motor rear-wheel drive or 370kW dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrains, and features air suspension and adaptive dampers.
Its exterior styling shares many design cues with the ID. Unyx 09, including distinctive LED daytime running lights and a long, sculpted bonnet, while inside there are dual 15-inch screens and available luxuries like a 6.7L heating and cooling refrigerator, a 20-speaker sound system with Dolby Atmos, and heated, ventilated and massaging front seats.
Volkswagen’s newly revealed models also preview its new “Agentic AI for All” strategy, which will see all vehicles built on the CEA fitted with an onboard “AI Agent” from the second half of 2026.
This agent is said to incorporate a “locally trained large language model (LLM) as its natural language interface”, which “proactively understands user intent, executes complex, multi-system actions, and makes contextual decisions to achieve a goal through natural conversation”.
Volkswagen plans to evolve this further with the launch of CEA 2.0 in 2027, which “will unify intelligent driving and cockpit experience onto a more powerful central computing platform”. This will supposedly form the basis of Volkswagen’s “AI-defined vehicle era” in China.
Despite all that, previous remarks make it clear Volkswagen isn’t expecting to take back the sales crown in China, but rather maintain the top spot among foreign brands operating in the country.
BYD overtook Volkswagen as the best-selling brand in China in 2023.
Additionally, the Volkswagen Group has previewed new vehicles for the other brands under its umbrella in China. Revealed as a sneak peek into the electric revival of its budget-oriented brand Jetta was the Jetta X concept, an SUV wearing the brand’s new “Modern Robust” design language.
Though Jetta has operated in China since 2019, the Group hopes the brand can penetrate China’s entry-level electrified-vehicle segment by leveraging its previous success selling affordable internal-combustion models. Four new Jetta models are planned for launch by 2028.
Finally was the second model and first SUV developed under Audi’s China-only AUDI brand: the E7X electric SUV, jointly developed with China’s SAIC. It follows the E5 Sportback and offers ‘quattro’ all-wheel drive, two powertrains producing 300kW or 500kW of power respectively, and level three “highly automated driving capabilities”.
The E7X’s reveal follows last week’s announcement that Audi and SAIC would establish an Innovation and Technology Centre in Shanghai dedicated to the AUDI brand, focused on “China-specific, intelligent electrification technologies and whole-vehicle development”, as well as “AI-powered, immersive smart cabins and advanced driver assistance systems” for the Chinese market.
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