Volkswagen Group introduced a series of electric vehicle concepts and a China-specific platform at its Group Night event in Beijing, underscoring its push to localize technology and accelerate development in the world’s largest EV market.
The company unveiled the China Main Platform (CMP), a new architecture aimed at entry-level electric vehicles, alongside the Volkswagen ID. CODE, a concept model featuring Level 4 autonomous driving capabilities and AI-powered user interaction systems.
The announcements form part of Volkswagen’s “In China, for China” strategy, which emphasizes localized research and development to better compete with domestic EV manufacturers. The automaker said it has established a new entity, Volkswagen China Technology Company, in Hefei to streamline development and reduce time-to-market by up to 30%.
Volkswagen said the CMP platform is being developed in collaboration with Xpeng and targets the compact EV segment. The company aims to reduce costs by around 40% by 2026 through the use of localized components and supply chains.
At the same time, Volkswagen will continue to expand its global Modular Electric Drive Matrix architecture, which supports higher-performance electric models and ongoing upgrades to battery and charging systems.
The ID. CODE concept serves as a preview of Volkswagen’s next-generation design and technology direction. The company said the vehicle is engineered for Level 4 autonomy, allowing drivers to disengage from driving tasks under certain conditions. It also features AI-driven elements such as interactive “Smart Windows” with avatar-based communication and an exterior lighting system designed to interact with its surroundings.
Volkswagen said it plans to expand its ID. lineup in China to 16 models by 2030, including the launch of the ID.UNYX, a new sub-brand focused on lifestyle-oriented design aimed at younger urban consumers.
The strategy reflects increasing competition in China’s EV sector, where global automakers face pressure to match the speed of innovation and software integration offered by local rivals.