NEWS

Shanghai, November 5, 2023. Under the theme ‘Empowering Innovation and Sustainability’, Volkswagen Group China (VGC) is sharing its inspirational vision for a green, smart, and electric future ‘in China, for China’, at this year's China International Import Expo (CIIE). Showcasing the Group's rapidly growing innovation power, its software company CARIAD China is displaying the latest in cutting-edge software development, with its Forward! Cube simulator, while the Group and its brands are exhibiting five NEV models, including one Asian premiere. Building on the goal to achieve carbon neutrality globally by 2050, the Group is highlighting the effective environment measures in China. This year also marks Volkswagen Group’s sixth consecutive participation in CIIE since its inauguration in 2018.

Dr. Liu Yunfeng, Executive Vice President of Volkswagen Group China Responsible for Corporate & JV Affairs, said: "China is driving the global transformation of the automotive industry in this new era of intelligent and fully connected vehicles. Through our comprehensive 'Target Picture 2030', we have a strong, clear vision that will empower our future innovation, in China, for China. We are making a strong and lasting contribution, not only to this dynamically developing auto market but also to a sustainable future for all." 

Rapidly accelerating e-transformation in China

Volkswagen Group China is decisively accelerating its innovation at ‘China speed’ to become closer to its Chinese customers. The Group has recently implemented a range of bold strategic measures under its 'Target Picture 2030' to achieve this goal. 

Under the strategy, the Group and its brands are speeding up their NEV product offensive. By 2030, Volkswagen Group aims to offer over 30 electric models and take a leading role in the era of Intelligent Connected Vehicles (ICV). Later this year, the ID.7, Volkswagen’s first all-electric sedan, will be handed over to customers. Volkswagen Anhui will start production within the year.  with a Volkswagen brand model will come off the production line in Anhui early 2024. Meanwhile, Audi FAW NEV Company will also start production of Audi models based on the PPE platform in Changchun by the end of 2024.

The Group will also build on its long-term success story in the internal combustion engine (ICE) market, and advance the development of hybridization.

Harnessing China's innovation power and integrating into local ecosystem 

Amid dynamic transformation and technological innovation, China has become the powerhouse of the international automotive industry. With its clear ‘in China for China’ strategy, Volkswagen Group will significantly strengthen local development capabilities to respond more quickly to the needs of Chinese customers. 

Volkswagen Group is investing around EUR 1 billion to establish the Volkswagen Group China Technology Company, a new state-of-the-art development, innovation, and procurement center for fully connected intelligent electric vehicles in Hefei. The company will play a key role in reducing time to market by 30%, while enhancing customer focus. The Group’s software unit CARIAD China is also accelerating in-house innovation to better address the needs of Chinese customers.

Beyond its own capacities, Volkswagen Group is becoming an integral part of the Chinese ecosystem through long-standing joint ventures and trailblazing new partnerships. Recently announced collaborations with Chinese high-tech companies like Horizon Robotics, Gotion, and ThunderSoft will help the Group efficiently develop customized technological solutions for the market. Meanwhile, Volkswagen Brand and XPENG shall jointly develop two VW brand electric models for the mid-size segment in the Chinese market with competitive technology, opening up new customer opportunities. Audi and SAIC will expand their cooperation to extend the portfolio of fully connected electric vehicles on offer in the premium segment swiftly and efficiently. 

Contributing to sustainable mobility and society in China 

Volkswagen Group China is executing its ‘goTOzero’ mission in support of China’s sustainable development. All production sites are actively minimizing the environmental impacts via reducing carbon emissions, energy consumption, and waste, while improving water efficiency and protecting biodiversity. In 2022, VGC's in-house production reduced its CO2 emissions by 41% compared to 2015 levels. By 2030, the Group plans to utilize renewable electricity and clean energy in every China plant.

To make e-mobility more accessible and convenient, the Group is building a holistic ecosystem, underpinned by a high-quality charging infrastructure. Work is underway to develop innovative solutions for private, public, and destination charging scenarios, in collaboration with joint venture CAMS. By the end of October 2023, the CAMS network covers 199 cities, with 1,341 public charging stations and 11,574 charging points. By 2025, the Group plans to install 17,000 fast-charging points across the country.

The Group is also supporting sustainability projects beyond its own operations. With the ‘Green Belt’ afforestation project, it is driving the improvement of ecosystems in rural areas across northern China and fostering economic benefits for local communities.

Brand highlights at CIIE 2023

Volkswagen Brand brought two new members of the pure-electric ID. family to CIIE this year, accelerating its transformation towards sustainable future mobility. As the cornerstone of this transformation and the key to achieving net carbon neutrality, the pure-electric ID. family continues to extend to the B-Class sedan segment with the world premiere of the ID.7 in April. The new electric flagship will be offered in two exclusive versions in China. The ID.7 VIZZION from FAW-Volkswagen will be launched in the weeks to come. This model is aerodynamically designed for greater efficiency and range, delivering C-Class roominess with premium-level features to address Chinese customer needs for a safer, more intelligent, and more comfortable drive. The ID. NEXT concept car from SAIC VOLKSWAGEN gives a glimpse into the future of e-mobility that the brand aims to offer, tailored to the varying tastes of Chinese customers. In addition, Volkswagen displayed the technological backbone for its e-transformation – the MEB platform, developed exclusively for electric models. Following the “in China, for China” strategy, Volkswagen Brand is firmly committed to its largest single market, with more autonomy and significantly expanding development competence to strengthen the pace of innovation, technological localization, and customer centricity in China. 

Audi brought the Q6 e-tron prototype to the CIIE this year, showcasing its determination to continuously reshape the future of premium sustainable mobility and empower the green transformation of China’s automotive industry. As Audi’s first production model based on the Platform Premium Electric (PPE) and the new electronics architecture, the Audi Q6 e-tron represents Audi’s vision in shaping premium e-mobility with next-generation ICVs. The Four Rings are also strengthening its commitment to China and its sustainability goals through practical actions across the entire value chain. In terms of production, the Audi FAW NEV Company will be the first all-electric Audi production site in China and will set new standards in sustainable and digital production. In terms of logistics, Audi China’s Harbour Team is also taking multiple measures to help make Audi’s import vehicle harbour business greener, smarter, and more efficient, including innovative decarbonization, digital upgrades and people-oriented development. With a clear strategy for the China market, Audi is continuing to move forward with its technology and innovation roadmap, to meet Chinese customer’s needs with premium products designed and produced “in China, for China”, while contributing to the high-quality, sustainable development of China’s automotive industry.  

Porsche brought two highly representative electrified models to CIIE this year – the innovative concept car Mission X and the new Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupé, showcasing its cutting-edge propositions and future vision for sustainability. Unveiled in July this year, Mission X made its Asian debut on the stage of CIIE. Mission X is Porsche’s spectacular reinterpretation of a hypercar, with a high-performance, efficient electric powertrain. The newly launched Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupé displayed at the same time has achieved significantly greater range, higher system performance and shorter charging times through extensive optimisations to its hybrid system. Porsche also reiterated its commitment to the "double-e path" of driving sustainable development of sports cars through e-mobility and eFuels. In addition, Porsche Financial Leasing signed a strategic cooperation contract with Shanghai Lujiazui Administration Bureau, planning to increase its registered capital by approximately 1.3 billion RMB (180 million US dollar) in the coming two-to-three years, and launch diversified financial solutions in the Chinese market to provide consumers with more tailored car purchasing options.

Drawing on China’s rapidly growing innovation power, CARIAD China keeps on speeding up its local development via both in-house innovation and joint development with local technology partners. In April this year, CARIAD China introduced its own innovation hub “Forward! Lab”, which already incubated and selected 13 software innovations into pre-development in last 6 months. These innovations cover the areas of local infotainment, connectivity and AI, to proceed CARIAD China’s “in China, for China” R&D strategy’s realization in areas UX & UI. Furthermore, CARIAD China is exploring new innovation field in fusion of smart phone and smart mobility, with aim to integrate more deeply into Chinese local digital eco-system. Recently, CARIAD China announced with Vivo, the leading smart phone manufacture in China to establish one specific “Mobile & Mobility Fusion Joint Innovative Lab (The M2Lab)”. Based on “Forward! Lab” innovation platform, the new cooperation will focus on how to bring Chinese customers seamless digital device using experience combining mobile phone and mobility. Already are there some pre-developments coming out, for instance the “Gamebase” introduced on this year CIIE. This innovative feature can realize an immersive gaming space experience by mobile computation power and eco-system, plus gaming effects activated by cockpit functions through sounds, ambi-light, smart light, seats and air-conditioning. CIIE visitors would have chance to test it on CARIAD China’s innovation simulator “Forward! Cube” on the booth.

Under the theme ‘Empowering Innovation and Sustainability’, Volkswagen Group China showcases five NEV models at the 2023 CIIE

Dr. Liu Yunfeng, Executive Vice President of Volkswagen Group China Responsible for Corporate & JV Affairs

Volkswagen Group China has been actively minimizing the environmental impacts of its products and mobility solutions along the entire lifecycle to execute its ‘goTOzero’ mission

Volkswagen Group China showcases comprehensive charging solutions at the expo

Volkswagen Group China’s Green Belt afforestation project supports ecologically fragile regions in China to combat environmental challenges

FAW-Volkswagen ID.7 VIZZION will be launched in the weeks to come

The volume version of ID. NEXT from SAIC VOLKSWAGEN will be launched next year

Audi brings Q6 e-tron prototype to China for the first time at 2023 CIIE

Porsche Mission X made its Asian premiere at 2023 CIIE

The new Cayenne E-Hybrid Coupé

CARIAD China's smart cockpit simulator "Forward! Cube" equipped with innovative functions to meet consumers' demands for intelligent experience