Volkswagen is considering selling electric and hybrid vehicles developed in China in Europe, ArenaEV reports, citing German newspaper Handelsblatt. The company is already conducting an internal study to determine the feasibility of such a move.
For Volkswagen, this will mean a major change in its traditional strategy. Previously, the company mainly developed cars in Germany and then adapted them for the Chinese market. Now, Volkswagen’s Chinese units are creating models much faster and using technology from local partners, and the company wants to use these developments in the European market.
One potential candidate is the ID. Era 5X, an electric crossover created by SAIC-Volkswagen. It is based on the CMP platform developed jointly with XPeng, has a 155 kW electric motor, a CATL LFP battery, LiDAR and a modern driver assistance system.
ID. Era 5X
Another option could be the ID. Era 5S – a plug-in hybrid with a 1.5-liter gasoline engine and an electric motor. According to the Chinese CLTC cycle, it can travel up to 160 km on electric power alone, and the total range exceeds 2,000 km. PHEVs may be of particular interest to Volkswagen, as Chinese manufacturers are already actively increasing their presence in this segment in Europe.
ID. Era 5S
Among the potential candidates are also models of the ID. Unyx line, created by Volkswagen Anhui together with XPeng. For example, the ID. Unyx 08 received an 800-volt electrical system, a CATL battery with a capacity of up to 95 kWh and support for fast charging with a capacity of up to 315 kW. Its older brother, the ID. Unyx 09, has all-wheel drive and up to 496 hp.
ID. Unyx 08
An even bigger potential import could be the ID. Era 9X – a six-seat SUV measuring over 5.2 metres in length. It uses an EREV hybrid system with a range of up to 1,651 km on the Chinese cycle. Incidentally, the ID. Era 9X is a competitor to the recently introduced Xiaomi SkyNomad, which could arrive in Europe in 2027.
ID. Era 9X
However, bringing such models to Europe will be difficult. Volkswagen will have to adapt Chinese software, autonomous driving systems and LiDAR to European safety and cybersecurity requirements.
Nevertheless, the very fact of considering such a scenario shows how much the balance of power in the auto industry has changed. Volkswagen, which for decades was one of Europe’s technological leaders, can now use Chinese developments to reduce the time to create new electric cars and reduce their cost.
Read also: Made in Germany: BYD wants to produce electric cars at the legendary Volkswagen plant
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