VW start their fightback in China
The VW EV fightback has started, not just in Europe but in China as well.
Down and out only 6 months ago, the VW Group just introduced, not one, but three new concept EV cars, with three different Chinese Joint Venture partners, at the Shanghai Auto Show 2025.
Don’t forget, VW has built it’s success in China on the back of partnering with local manufacturers. In fact, it’s been the only way for a foreign OEM to do business in China, under Chinese Government regulations and up until now Chinese buyers have lapped up VW ICE cars.
But that all changed and sales have been falling, Chinese customers no longer finding the VW ICE and new ID VW’s up to the standard of the latest from the Chinese brands. EV sales are down 36%, from Q1 2024 to Q1, 2025. And that was a fairly modest number to start with.
Three new EV Joint Ventures
VW need something and they needed if fast. So at their Shanghai Group Media night, on the eve of the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show, they presented three new EV concepts with no less three Joint Venture partners.
With FAW (First Automotive Works) the electric ID.Aura sedan. One with SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation) the hybrid ID.ERA and one with Xpeng, the ID.EVO, designed to bring the VW name back to life in China.
All were beautiful designs, distinctively Volkswagen, but all concept at this stage.
However Group CEO said the VW Group would bring 20 new EV models to market by 2027. Talk about a fightback.
What’s clear from the VW strategy, is there is now a need to tailor cars for the Chinese market specifically.
We’ve seen new, different concept EV’s for the European market and now these three new ones for the VW brand, and for the new China specific AUDI brand are China only.
Incredible really, VW have gone from being down and out to a big fight back. Let’s see how this plays out.