Volkswagen ID.UNYX 08 EV crossover starts pre-sales in China

The first jointly developed vehicle between the German auto giant and its local partner Xpeng opened for pre-orders on Thursday, with a pre-sales price range of 239,900 yuan ($34,760) to 299,900 yuan ($43,450) and an official launch expected in the first half of the year. This model is positioned as a “developed in China for China” product

The ID.UNYX 08 is the first technological collaboration result between Volkswagen and its local partner Xpeng. The project took just 24 months from the signing of the joint development agreement to mass production. The model rolled off the assembly line at the Volkswagen Anhui plant on March 13. Volkswagen Anhui, a joint venture established in 2017 between Volkswagen and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group (JAC), is Volkswagen's first joint venture in China focused on new energy vehicles (NEVs). 

Volkswagen's local R&D team in China completed the highly complex development work in just 24 months, and the new vehicle integrates German technology, the automaker said. The ID.UNYX 08 is an important milestone in Volkswagen's largest-ever NEV product offensive in China, said Ralf Brandstätter, chairman and CEO of Volkswagen Group China. Volkswagen will launch electrified products at "China speed" this year, with an average of one all-new EV model hitting the market every two weeks, he added. 

The ID.UNYX 08 is a mid to large-size full-electric crossover, measuring 5,000 mm in length, 1,954 mm in width, and 1,672 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,030 mm. The model is equipped with two Turing smart driving chips provided by Xpeng, making Volkswagen the first commercial customer for the chip. 

The ID.UNYX 08 comes standard with 1,500 TOPS of computing power and features Xpeng's second-generation Vision-Language-Action (VLA 2.0) smart driving solution, supporting both highway and urban navigate-on-autopilot functions. However, despite the shared technical input, the car is positioned independently from Xpeng’s own models, such as the G6 and G9, and it is developed, branded, and marketed solely under Volkswagen Anhui’s product line. 

It is built on an 800-volt high-voltage silicon carbide platform and supports supercharging technology. The entry level ID.UNYX 08 uses a single electric motor at the rear axle, delivering 230 kW (308 hp). The all-wheel-drive configuration adopts two e-motors with a combined output of 370 kW (496 hp). Two CATL-made LFP battery options are available in 82.4 and 95 kWh capacities. The range is 630 – 730 km under CLTC conditions. The ID.UNYX 08 could be charged with 315 kW DC, adding 150 km of range in five minutes. 

Volkswagen describes the vehicle as a blockbuster product executing its "in China, for China" strategy. It aims to fill a market gap by combining German quality with advanced local smart technology. The interior design and configurations have been optimized based on localized Chinese demands. 

The car’s interior adopts a block of two 15-inch screens. The vast majority of modern Chinese new energy vehicles offer the same layout. There is a small LCD instrument panel behind a two-spoke double-D-shaped steering wheel. The gear shifter sits on the steering column, leaving space for two wireless phone chargers on the center tunnel. The car’s front seats adopt power adjustments, 10-point massage, ventilation, and heating. Another feature is a 6.7-liter refrigerator. 

The car’s infotainment system is powered by the Snapdragon 8295P chip. The vehicle adopts an AI voice assistant that supports offline voice control. Another highlight is the Unyx Sound system for 20 speakers. The car’s rear seats adopt power-adjusted backrests. The trunk’s standard volume reaches 766 liters. For clarity, it is 106 liters more than the five-seat BMW X5 (G05) provides. With the rear seats folded, the ID.UNYX 08’s trunk volume reaches 1,845 liters. 

The Volkswagen ID. UNYX 08 electric crossover started presales in China on March 26 with a price range of 239,900 – 299,900 yuan ($34,760 – 43,450). For clarity, the FAW-Volkswagen-made ID.4 Crozz costs 149,900 – 243,600 yuan ($21,720 – 35,340) before discounts. And the bigger ID.6 is priced between 205,900 and 283,900 yuan ($29,835 – 41,135). The first batch of clients can book the car for 99 yuan ($14) and enjoy a 2,000 yuan ($290) discount, a free home charging station, and a lifetime warranty. 

Volkswagen said earlier month that the new car is expected to officially hit the market in the first half of this year. This represents a major milestone in Volkswagen's largest-ever NEV product offensive in China. The Volkswagen ID.UNYX 08 will rival such cars as the Xiaomi YU7, the Zeekr 7X, the Avatr 07, the Li Auto i6, the Luxeed R7, and other Chinese models.