Volkswagen unveiled three new electric concept vehicles on the eve of Auto Shanghai as part of its push to expand its product lineup in China, aiming to launch 30 new models by 2027, including 20 New Energy Vehicles (NEVs). The concepts – ID. AURA, ID. ERA and ID. EVO – were developed by the German carmaker’s joint ventures with FAW, SAIC, and Volkswagen Anhui, underscoring its intensified “In China, for China” strategy.
The new models, which Volkswagen described as “representative of a new generation of smart electric vehicles,” are designed to meet the evolving technological demands of Chinese consumers. “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,” said Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand.
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The ID. AURA, created by FAW-Volkswagen, is the first concept model to utilize Volkswagen’s new Compact Main Platform (CMP) architecture, designed specifically for the Chinese market. The electric notchback sedan targets customers in the A-segment, offering a cost-conscious alternative without compromising on technology. Volkswagen highlighted its “smartphone-like UI/UX concept” and an AI-based humanoid assistant, which enables seamless control of vehicle functions and infotainment. “The system for highly automated driving of the CMP is intended to set new standards for intelligent and natural driving behaviour,” the company stated.
Meanwhile, Volkswagen Anhui presented the ID. EVO, a sporty SUV concept aimed at “young, lifestyle-conscious buyers who are keen to set themselves apart from the crowd.” Featuring a bold front-end design with narrow headlights and a pronounced, largely closed-off grille, the ID. EVO builds upon the design direction introduced with last year’s ID. CODE show car. “The ID. CODE show car we exhibited in Beijing last year was the jumping-off point for our new design direction in China,” said Andreas Mindt, Volkswagen Chief Designer. “We have refined this in recent months and adapted it specifically for each of our joint ventures.” Technically, the ID. EVO is built on an 800-volt platform and utilizes a zonal electronics architecture that supports rapid over-the-air updates and a broad range of digital services.
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SAIC-Volkswagen’s ID. ERA introduces a different drivetrain concept. It is Volkswagen’s first model in China equipped with a range extender, catering to growing interest in Extended Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs) in the Chinese market. The ID. ERA combines a purely electric range of 300 kilometres with a fuel-powered generator that can extend the total driving range to more than 1,000 kilometres. “Our goal is to develop our models within 34 months at most,” said Thomas Ulbrich, CEO of the Volkswagen China Technology Center (VCTC). “We will launch the right models at the right speed and with the right partners.”
Volkswagen emphasized that the 30 new models, including the 20 NEVs, will all come under the Volkswagen brand alone. Separately, Audi, part of Volkswagen Group, showcased new developments for China, including the A6L e-tron and the newly introduced E5 Sportback, the first vehicle from its Chinese subsidiary, AUDI.
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The E5 Sportback, developed jointly with SAIC, is positioned in the mid-size segment and built on the Advanced Digitised Platform (ADP). The vehicle measures 4.88 meters in length, 1.96 meters in width, and 1.48 meters in height. It will be available in four variants offering outputs of 220 kW, 300 kW, 425 kW, and 579 kW. The rear-wheel-drive version offers a maximum range of 770 kilometres thanks to a battery capacity of up to 100 kWh. Although it does not match the rapid-charging figures recently announced by BYD or CATL, Audi claims the E5 can recharge enough for 370 kilometres in just ten minutes, which it considers a competitive performance within its product lineup.
“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,” said 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.”
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Audi has equipped the E5 with an extensive list of premium features, including progressive all-wheel steering and adaptive air suspension with continuous damper control for enhanced comfort. In the digital realm, the model introduces the new AUDI OS operating system, running on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 processor and supporting a 27-inch 4K display along with an AI-powered AUDI Assistant. The in-car system is fully integrated into China’s digital ecosystem, offering seamless smartphone connectivity and a wide range of local entertainment apps. Audi emphasized that the high computing power would allow for natural language processing, personalized memory functions, behavior prediction through “Vohico” by ByteDance, and haptic feedback for user interactions.
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The Advanced Digitised Platform also supports over-the-air updates, allowing continuous enhancements of infotainment, driving assistance systems, and overall vehicle functionality. Audi announced that two more electric models based on the E5 platform are planned for 2026 and 2027.
During the Group Night event in Shanghai, Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume highlighted the company’s ambition to lead in the rapidly changing automotive landscape. “Five of our seven world premieres are on stage here – products and technologies at their finest,” Blume said. “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!”