Volkswagen’s including a sub-brand to a sub-brand as a part of its EV push
The brand new sub-brand might be for China solely and named ID.Unyx
Volkswagen already launched a sub-brand in China named ID.UX
Volkswagen is launching a China-only sub-brand inside its ID EV sub-brand.
The automaker on Wednesday introduced ID.Unyx, which is able to embody 5 electrical fashions by 2026, beginning with a coupe-like crossover of the identical identify. They’re going to be amongst 34 new fashions the automaker plans to launch globally by 2030, with a particular give attention to China because it seems to be to strengthen its place on the earth’s largest automotive market.
“Intelligently networked electrical fashions reminiscent of the brand new ID.Unyx are the important thing to attracting younger, lifestyle-oriented goal teams and retaining current prospects for the Volkswagen model,” Stefan Mecha, head of the VW model in China, stated in a press release. Mecha did not clarify why these new fashions wanted to be in a brand new sub-brand nested throughout the ID EV household, although, and did not specify whether or not they’ll use the identical MEB platform as different ID fashions.
Volkswagen ID.Unyx
VW did say that the primary ID.Unyx mannequin was developed at a brand new facility in Hefei, China, and also will be manufactured in that metropolis. Styling differs a bit from different ID fashions, with sharp creases within the physique sides, a ribbed hood, and sophisticated detailing on the entrance and rear bumpers.
The ID.Unyx crossover coupe might be provided with each single-motor rear-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrains, rated at 281 hp and 335 hp, respectively. A 77.0-kwh battery pack is used with each powertrains. VW expects single-motor fashions to attain 385 miles of vary in CLTC testing.
The ID identify goes again to 2016, when the preliminary ID idea debuted on the Paris auto present. That idea previewed the ID.3 electrical five-door hatchback that might finally launch in Europe as the primary ID mannequin. VW has since settled on a mixture of numbers, as with the ID.3 and the ID.4 crossover that’s central to the automaker’s EV plans within the U.S., and names, as with the ID.Buzz van—with the ID prefix.
Volkswagen ID.Unyx
However VW has appeared to complement the worldwide ID sub-brand with China-specific EVs. It beforehand introduced a distinct sub-brand for China, referred to as ID.UX, with 5 fashions in 2027. On the 2024 Beijing auto present, it unveiled an idea automotive referred to as the ID.Code with styling claimed to be extra consistent with Chinese language tastes.
VW can be creating no less than one China-specific EV platform, dubbed the China Important Platform (CMP) for debut in 2026 and is partnering with Chinese language automaker Xpeng on EV growth. That is along with current joint ventures with native automakers SAIC and FAW, which originated below a authorities coverage that required international automakers to companion with native companies.