VW presents outlook on product offensive in China

The three announced studies are the ID. AURA from FAW-Volkswagen, the ID. ERA from SAIC-Volkswagen and the ID. EVO from Volkswagen Anhui, the former JAC-Volkswagen. According to VW, these three concept vehicles are the “representative of a new generation of smart electric vehicles.” They are the harbinger for the 30 new models, including 20 New Energy Vehicles, which are to be launched on the Chinese market by the end of 2027, including the series versions of the concept vehicles now presented in Shanghai, as VW emphasises.

So let’s take a look at the three concepts: The ID. Aura is the first concept car to be based on the Compact Main Platform (CMP) with zonal electronics architecture designed specifically for China. On the one hand, the model as an electric notchback saloon is aimed “in particular for customers in the price-conscious A-segment.” On the other hand, there will be no shortage of pioneering technologies: There is talk of a smartphone-like UI/UX concept. “The AI-based humanoid assistant enables seamless control of vehicle functions and infotainment,” says Volkswagen. The system for highly automated driving of the CMP – more on this here – is intended to “set new standards for intelligent and at the same time natural driving behaviour” thanks to its AI-supported computing power.

ID. EVO features 800-Volt system for “lifestyle-conscious buyers”

The ID. EVO from Volkswagen Anhui is intended to appeal to “young, lifestyle-conscious buyers who are keen to set themselves apart from the crowd.” The concept car features a striking design, particularly at the front, and emphasises the design of the ID. UNYX (which is essentially a Cupra Tavascan with the VW logo) to a new level. Narrow headlights and a hard edge at the largely closed front characterise the look. “The ID. CODE show car we exhibited in Beijing last year was the jumping-off point for our new design direction in China,” says Chief Designer Andreas Mindt about the overarching design language. “We have refined this in recent months and adapted it specifically for each of our joint ventures.”

Technically, the ID. EVO is based on an 800-volt platform (VW is not giving any further details here) and also has a zonal electronics architecture. According to the Wolfsburg-based company, this should not only enable a wide range of digital services but also over-the-air updates at short intervals to continuously enhance the customer experience.

The ID. ERA from SAIC-Volkswagen will be the first VW model with a range extender on board, an EREV (Extended Range Electric Vehicle). This type of drive has recently gained popularity in China and has grown more strongly than purely battery-electric drives, in some cases. A small combustion engine on board recharges the battery as a generator during the journey. With a battery-electric range of 300 kilometres and 700 kilometres from the fuel tank, this should give a total range of more than 1,000 kilometres.

‘In China, for China’ strategy to accelerate development time

“The three concept vehicles are the visible outcome of our ‘In China, for China’ strategy. We have thus made all the necessary preparations to remain in pole position among foreign automakers in China,” says Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand. Thomas Ulbrich, CEO of the Volkswagen China Technology Center (VCTC), adds: “Our goal is to develop our models within 34 months at most. We will launch the right models at the right speed and with the right partners. The three concept vehicles meet the different technological requirements of Chinese customers with their all-electric drive systems for the volume and full-size segments and range extender technology.”

The 30 new models and 20 new energy vehicles only apply to the VW brand. At the Group Night in Shanghai, Audi also presented its innovations for the Chinese market, including the A6L e-tron, the long-wheelbase version of the already familiar A6 e-tron based on the PPE (Premium Platform Electric). However, the first model of the new Chinese subsidiary AUDI, the E5 Sportback, is likely to attract the most attention at Audi. This was not only designed for China (hence the omission of the four rings at the front and rear), but was also developed in China, together with SAIC.

“With our new AUDI brand exclusively for China, we are taking the next step and offering new answers to the growing Chinese electric car market,” says Gernot Döllner, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. “The E5 Sportback offers the strengths of Audi, reinterprets the DNA of our brand and is perfectly tailored to the needs of Chinese customers.”

With a length of 4.88 metres, a width of 1.96 metres and a height of 1.48 metres, the E5 Sportback is positioned in the mid-size class. The model is based on the new Advanced Digitised Platform (ADP) developed jointly with SAIC and will be available in four drive variants in summer 2025, with 220, 300, 425 or 579 kW of power. The rear-wheel drive model offers a maximum range of 770 kilometres thanks to its battery of up to 100 kWh, while the more powerful all-wheel drive models are designed more for performance. The 800-volt system ensures that the E5 can recharge electricity for 370 kilometres in ten minutes, not the 400 or even 520 kilometres in five minutes that BYD or CATL recently announced, but a good value for the Audi universe.

The Ingolstadt-based company also emphasises classic features such as progressive all-wheel steering and adaptive air suspension with continuous damper control, which are intended to ensure comfortable handling. But at its core, the E5 should score points with other features, as Audi models could also have offered such technology. Even before the announcement about the drive is made, the ‘intuitive’ AUDI OS operating system with the high-performance Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 processor, the 27-inch 4K display and the AUDI Assistant are presented.

The AUDI OS is to be linked to a “rich ecosystem of entertainment offerings and apps,” and the app store is “fully integrated into China’s digital world, smartphone connectivity works seamlessly,” according to Audi. The AUDI Assistant is an AI-supported, touch and voice-controlled avatar designed to make digital interaction more human. “The high computing power enables natural language processing, personal memory, behaviour selection (Vohico by ByteDance) and haptic feedback, among other things,” explains Audi.

As the Advanced Digitised Platform with its electronics architecture enables OTA updates, such features will likely also be continuously further developed. This also applies to the driving assistants, which use a 100-line long-range lidar, among other things. Future AUDI models will also benefit from this: AUDI has announced two further electric models based on the E5 for 2026 and 2027.

“Five of our seven world premieres are on stage here – products and technologies at their finest,” says VW Group CEO Oliver Blume at the Group Night. “They are visible proof of our strength. The pace of change is certainly breathtaking, our industry is at a turning point. In this environment, the Volkswagen Group not only wants to plan the future, but actively shape it!”

Source: Livestream of the Group Night, volkswagen-newsroom.com (VW concept cars), audi-mediacenter.com (in German, AUDI E5 Sportback), audi-mediacenter.com (in German, Audi A6L e-tron)