Volkswagen’s joint venture with SAIC Motor continued its dominance in China’s electric vehicle (EV) market in 2024, securing the title of top-selling joint venture brand. The partnership sold over 1.2 million vehicles last year, with more than 1.14 million units attributed to the Volkswagen brand, making it the top-selling joint venture in the country.
The SAIC-Volkswagen ID family stood out with strong sales performance, especially the ID.3, which became the top-selling joint venture EV and A-class hatchback in China. With 130,222 ID electric vehicles sold in 2024, marking a 24% increase from 2023, the ID series was the best-selling joint venture EV series. “The ID family secured the title of joint venture pure electric sales champion,” the company stated. Along with the ID.3, the ID.4 X and ID.6 X SUVs also contributed to the success, with the models receiving new “Smart Editions” and further driving demand.
Despite strong competition from domestic EV manufacturers, particularly BYD, Volkswagen’s price adjustments and the launch of the “new ID family smart models” helped bolster sales. The ID.3 now starts at about $17,800 (129,888 yuan), positioning it in the lower-priced segment compared to competitors like BYD’s Dolphin, priced at around $13,700 (99,800 yuan).
In response to growing competition from low-cost Chinese brands, including BYD, Volkswagen is looking to strengthen its presence in China with new models and strategic partnerships. The company extended its 40-year collaboration with SAIC Motor through 2040 and plans to launch two EVs based on its new CMP platform as early as 2026.
By 2030, Volkswagen aims to introduce 18 new models, 15 of which will be developed exclusively for the Chinese market. The Volkswagen Group also plans to bring 40 new models to China in the next three years, with half of them being electrified.
