Volkswagen Anhui 100,000th EV Marks Major China Production Milestone

Volkswagen Anhui Reaches 100,000 Smart EV Milestone

Volkswagen Anhui has reached a major production milestone in China, with its 100,000th smart electric vehicle rolling off the production line at its Hefei plant. The milestone vehicle was an ID. UNYX 08, which was handed directly to its owner during a ceremony attended by more than 200 guests. The achievement highlights the rapid expansion of the joint venture’s electric-vehicle manufacturing operations since mass production began in February 2024. For Volkswagen, the milestone also reflects a broader effort to strengthen its position in China’s increasingly competitive new-energy vehicle market through locally developed products and technology.

Volkswagen Anhui Builds Localized EV Manufacturing Base

The company was established in 2017 as JAC Volkswagen Automotive Co Ltd, a joint venture between Volkswagen Group and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp, commonly known as JAC. It was the German automaker’s first joint venture in China dedicated to new-energy vehicles. At the end of 2020, Volkswagen increased its stake to 75 percent and renamed the company Volkswagen Anhui, giving the operation a stronger focus on research, development and production of electric vehicles. The transition established the Hefei facility as an important base for Volkswagen’s localized electric-vehicle strategy in China.

Hefei Plant Expands Cupra And ID. UNYX Portfolio

Volkswagen Anhui began mass production in February 2024, initially producing the Cupra Tavascan for overseas markets. The joint venture has now reached 100,000 vehicles in slightly more than two years and operates two product lines, Cupra and ID. UNYX. Current models include the Cupra Tavascan and the ID. UNYX 06, ID. UNYX 07 and ID. UNYX 08, while Cupra vehicles produced at the facility are intended exclusively for overseas markets. All three existing ID. UNYX models were launched during the first half of 2026, with the ID. UNYX 09 scheduled to enter the market later this year.

ID. UNYX 08 Introduces Xpeng Smart-Driving Technology

The ID. UNYX 08 represents a deeper technology relationship between Volkswagen and Xpeng, following their strategic partnership. Launched on April 16 with a starting price of 229,900 yuan, the model is the first production vehicle jointly developed by the two companies. It uses two Turing AI chips supplied by Xpeng, providing combined computing power of 1,500 TOPS, and incorporates Xpeng’s second-generation Vision-Language-Action, or VLA 2.0, autonomous-driving system. The technology package demonstrates Volkswagen’s reliance on local Chinese capabilities to accelerate smart-driving functions in its electric-vehicle portfolio.

ID. UNYX 09 Targets China’s Smart EV Segment

The next product from the partnership, the ID. UNYX 09, is positioned as a B-segment smart all-electric coupe sedan and was included in a July filing with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The five-seat sedan measures 5,081 mm in length, 1,980 mm in width and 1,509 mm in height, with a 3,030 mm wheelbase. It will be available with either a single-motor rear-wheel-drive system producing 230 kW or a dual-motor all-wheel-drive configuration producing 370 kW. Both versions will use lithium iron phosphate batteries supplied by CATL.

Volkswagen Expands Strategic Partnership And Retail Access

Volkswagen and Xpeng began their strategic partnership in July 2023, when Volkswagen announced a $700 million investment in the Chinese electric-vehicle maker. Since then, the collaboration has expanded from investment into jointly developed vehicle products and locally sourced technology. Volkswagen is also adjusting its retail strategy in China by breaking down sales barriers among its joint ventures. Under a shop-in-shop approach, some FAW-Volkswagen dealerships can sell models built by Volkswagen Anhui, potentially giving the newer product range broader access to customers and reducing the limitations created by separate distribution networks.

Localized Technology Supports Volkswagen’s China EV Strategy

The 100,000-vehicle milestone comes as Volkswagen faces intense competition from established and emerging electric-vehicle manufacturers in China. Its strategy increasingly combines global brands, locally developed technology and broader distribution rather than relying only on traditional Volkswagen engineering and imported capabilities. The upcoming ID. UNYX 09, together with the existing ID. UNYX range and the Cupra Tavascan, is expected to play an important role in this approach. By using partnerships with Chinese technology suppliers and expanding retail access, Volkswagen is seeking to regain market share while building a more competitive localized electric-vehicle business.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the significance of Volkswagen Anhui reaching 100,000 EVs?
Volkswagen Anhui reached the 100,000-vehicle milestone after beginning mass production in February 2024 at its Hefei electric-vehicle manufacturing facility in China. The milestone vehicle was an ID. UNYX 08, reflecting the company’s expanding electric-vehicle portfolio and localized production strategy. The joint venture was originally established as JAC Volkswagen Automotive Co Ltd in 2017 and Volkswagen increased its stake to 75 percent in 2020. The plant now produces Cupra and ID. UNYX models, with additional ID. UNYX vehicles planned for launch. The milestone underscores Volkswagen’s effort to strengthen its competitive position in China’s rapidly developing EV market.

What technology does the ID. UNYX 08 use from Xpeng?
The ID. UNYX 08 is the first production model jointly developed by Volkswagen and Xpeng, combining Volkswagen’s vehicle platform and brand with locally developed smart-driving technology. It uses two Turing AI chips supplied by Xpeng with combined computing power of 1,500 TOPS and employs the company’s second-generation Vision-Language-Action autonomous-driving system. The partnership began in July 2023, when Volkswagen announced a $700 million investment in Xpeng. The next model, ID. UNYX 09, will offer rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions, with LFP batteries supplied by CATL. The collaboration illustrates Volkswagen’s shift toward deeper technology localization.