Volkswagen Group has started series production of the ID.UNYX 08, a fully electric full-size SUV jointly developed with XPENG at its Hefei, China facility. Featuring 800V ultra-fast charging and L2 ADAS, the vehicle was brought to production readiness in 24 months. VW plans to launch over 20 NEV models in China in 2026.
Volkswagen Group has begun series production of the ID.UNYX 08, a fully electric full-size SUV jointly developed with Chinese automaker XPENG, at its facility in Hefei, eastern China. The vehicle reached production maturity in 24 months from the start of the cooperation.
The ID.UNYX 08 features 800-volt ultra-fast charging, L2 advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) capabilities, and over-the-air (OTA) update functionality. Market launch is planned for the first half of 2026. A second Volkswagen model from the XPENG partnership is also expected to debut and reach market within the year.
“Three years ago, we launched our strong China strategy – It is now unleashing its full power,” says Oliver Blume, chief executive of Volkswagen Group. “The car was developed in China for China, with German engineering and local cutting-edge technology.”
The ID.UNYX 08 forms part of Volkswagen’s largest electric vehicle product offensive in China, with more than 20 new new energy vehicle (NEV) models scheduled for launch in 2026 alone. The group plans to introduce 50 new NEV models to the Chinese market by 2030.
“On average, the Volkswagen Group is launching one new electric car every two weeks this year,” says Ralf Brandstätter, member of the board of management responsible for China and chairman and chief executive of Volkswagen Group China. “The ID.UNYX 08 is the first Volkswagen model in a new generation of smart electric vehicles that will carry our strengths into the electric age.”
Volkswagen’s China Technology Centre (VCTC) led product design definition, technical validation, quality standards, and driving dynamics tuning on the cooperation models. VCTC, the group’s software unit CARIAD China, and XPENG have also jointly developed a zonal electrical and electronic (E/E) architecture called the China Electronic Architecture (CEA). Designed to underpin all future Volkswagen-brand models in the domestic market — including both NEVs and combustion-powered vehicles — the first CEA-based model is scheduled for market entry this year.
The Volkswagen-XPENG partnership was established in 2023, focusing on product development and technology at scale.
“With the ID.UNYX 08 entering series production, our cooperation with Volkswagen Group has delivered a tangible result,” says He Xiaopeng, chairman and chief executive of XPENG. “Built on mutual trust and close collaboration, this partnership allows both sides to combine our strengths and create long-term value.”
