SAIC-Volkswagen has begun production of a range-extender system for the upcoming ID. Era 9X SUV in China, marking the first time a Volkswagen-branded vehicle will feature the technology.
The move prompted a lighthearted response from Chinese electric vehicle maker Li Auto, which has long championed range-extender electric vehicles. On social media platform Weibo, a Li Auto executive mocked the development while referencing past criticism of the technology by Volkswagen executives.
“Congratulations to Volkswagen on the successful mass production of a technology that is ‘outdated, highly environmentally harmful, and lacks developmental potential’ – and all in just six years!” Li Auto’s social media director wrote.
The remark referenced comments made by Volkswagen executives several years earlier. In 2020, Stephan Wöllenstein, then chief executive of Volkswagen China, publicly criticised range extenders — systems in which a petrol generator produces electricity to extend the range of battery-powered vehicles.
At the time, Wöllenstein described the concept as “the worst possible solution” and said the technology was environmentally harmful. Other Volkswagen executives also questioned its long-term viability.
Li Auto, however, has built much of its product lineup around range-extender electric vehicles. The company previously highlighted the technology’s advantages by comparing fuel consumption of its Li ONE model with hybrid SUVs produced by Volkswagen Group brands such as Audi and Porsche.
The latest exchange reflects a rivalry that has played out publicly in recent years as both companies compete in China’s rapidly evolving electric vehicle market.
The ID. Era 9X is a large SUV measuring 5.21 metres in length and forms part of Volkswagen’s broader strategy to expand its electric vehicle offerings in China.
In its base configuration, the model features a 220 kW electric motor combined with battery packs of either 51.1 kWh or 65.2 kWh. These batteries provide an all-electric driving range of up to 267 kilometres or 340 kilometres under the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC).
The vehicle also includes a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine functioning as a range extender with a maximum output of 105 kW. Volkswagen refers to the system as the “Golden Range Extender.”
A concept version of the ID. Era 9X was first unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show in April 2025. The model is part of Volkswagen’s broader product plan for China, which includes launching 30 new vehicles in the market by 2027.
Source: CarNewsChina