Volkswagen Anhui has reached a significant milestone, rolling out its 100,000th smart electric vehicle at its Hefei plant. The landmark vehicle, an ID. UNYX 08, underscores the joint venture’s ongoing efforts to expand its electric lineup in China.
Milestone for Volkswagen Anhui
Volkswagen Anhui announced the production of its 100,000th smart electric vehicle, marking over two years since mass production began in February 2024. The milestone vehicle, an ID. UNYX 08, was handed over to its new owner during a ceremony attended by more than 200 guests.
Originally established in 2017 as JAC Volkswagen Automotive Co Ltd, the company was Volkswagen’s first joint venture in China dedicated to new energy vehicles. Volkswagen increased its stake to 75% at the end of 2020, renaming the company Volkswagen Anhui and focusing on NEV research, development, and production.
ID. UNYX and Cupra Product Lines
Volkswagen Anhui currently operates two product lines: Cupra and ID. UNYX. The Cupra Tavascan, the joint venture’s first model, targets export markets and is produced exclusively for overseas customers.
The ID. UNYX lineup includes the 06, 07, and 08 models, all launched in the first half of 2026. The ID. UNYX 08, launched on April 16 with a starting price of $34,043 (~AUD 47,891), is the first production model jointly developed by Volkswagen and Xpeng.
Technology and Features of the ID. UNYX 08
The ID. UNYX 08 is equipped with two Turing AI chips from Xpeng, providing a combined computing power of 1,500 TOPS. It also features Xpeng’s second-generation Vision-Language-Action (VLA 2.0) autonomous driving system, reflecting the integration of advanced local technologies.
Upcoming ID. UNYX 09
The next addition to the lineup, the ID. UNYX 09, is scheduled to go on sale later this year. Positioned as a B-segment smart all-electric coupe sedan, it was included in a July filing with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
The ID. UNYX 09 is a 5-seat sedan measuring 5,081 mm (~200 inches) in length, 1,980 mm (~78 inches) in width, and 1,509 mm (~59 inches) in height, with a wheelbase of 3,030 mm (~119 inches). It will be available in single-motor rear-wheel-drive (230 kW) and dual-motor all-wheel-drive (370 kW) versions, both using lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries supplied by CATL.
Volkswagen-Xpeng Partnership and Market Approach
Volkswagen and Xpeng began their strategic partnership in July 2023, with Volkswagen investing $700M (~AUD 984.7M) in the Chinese EV maker. To expand reach, Volkswagen has enabled some FAW-Volkswagen dealerships to sell Volkswagen Anhui-built models through a shop-in-shop format.
The joint venture continues to incorporate locally developed technologies into its new models as it seeks to strengthen its presence in China’s competitive EV market.
Why this matters
Volkswagen Anhui’s achievement of producing 100,000 smart EVs highlights the rapid growth and localization of global automakers in China’s electric vehicle sector. The collaboration with Xpeng and the rollout of new models like the ID. UNYX 08 and upcoming ID. UNYX 09 demonstrate Volkswagen’s commitment to integrating advanced Chinese technology and responding to local market demands.
What this means for buyers
For consumers in China, the expanding ID. UNYX lineup offers more choices in the smart EV segment, with features developed through international and local partnerships. Buyers can expect continued innovation and new model launches from Volkswagen Anhui, including the upcoming ID. UNYX 09.
Key Specs
- ID. UNYX 08 Starting Price: $34,043 (~AUD 47,891)
- ID. UNYX 08 AI Computing Power: 1,500 TOPS (2 Turing AI chips)
- ID. UNYX 08 Autonomous Driving: Xpeng VLA 2.0 system
- ID. UNYX 09 Dimensions: 5,081 mm (~200 inches) L, 1,980 mm (~78 inches) W, 1,509 mm (~59 inches) H, 3,030 mm (~119 inches) wheelbase
- ID. UNYX 09 Power Output: 230 kW (single-motor), 370 kW (dual-motor)
- ID. UNYX 09 Battery: LFP (CATL supplied)
Source
Images sourced from: evc-energy.com
