Volkswagen plots 20 more made-in-China EVs

Volkswagen Group is betting big on China. The German automobile major said it will introduce around 20 more locally produced NEVs (New Energy Vehicles) in China, taking its total count to 40 between 2020 and 2025. Additionally, it will invest more than 10 billion euros (Rs 76,440 crore) among its Group and JV partners towards industrialisation of e-mobility between now and 2025.

Volkswagen Group China announced a slew of new announcements at the Group Media Workshop on the eve of the Guangzhou Auto Show. Last year, it had announced its intent to deliver 1.5 million new energy vehicles (NEVs) by 2025.

To meet the enormous requirement for EV battery capacity, the Group has invited long-term strategic partners through tendering. It has invited tenders for one of the largest purchasing volumes ever, with plans to spend over 50 billion euros (Rs 382,200 crore) on battery cells.

Volkswagen Group China and its joint venture partners will invest more than 10 billion euros in the industrialisation of e-mobility between now and 2025.

“China is leading the way to the final breakthrough in the adoption of e-mobility and Volkswagen Group China is determined to be at the forefront. Together with our long-term joint venture partners, SAIC Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen, and our new cooperations, we are transforming the future of mobility and, in regard to the needs and demands of our customers, we will deliver,” said Prof Dr. Jochem Heizmann, member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft as well as president and CEO of Volkswagen Group China.

Third vehicle plant in China in the offing
The company also announced its new JV with JAC for its third vehicle manufacturing plant in China. The venture will help Volkswagen reach its goal of setting up a broad and customer-oriented portfolio of pure battery cars by producing vehicles for the competitive mass market. The first model is expected to hit the market in 2018.

Volkswagen Group China today also announced the establishment of the brand ezia to provide intelligent mobility services in China. It will bring together all the activities of Mobility Asia, a member of Volkswagen Group China.

SUVs and EVs
Volkswagen is also fully renewing and expanding its current model offering, resulting in a Volkswagen SUV range of at least 10 by 2020.

With its focus on e-mobility, the brand will already offer a full range of more than 10 NEV vehicles by 2020, based on existing models like the e-Golf, which will come to market in early 2018. This will feature a unique, integrated, China-specific charging app, underlining the actions it is taking to ensure all new models leaving showrooms by 2019 will be fully connected. From 2020, the completely new I.D. family of electric-only cars will form the core of the group’s electric model portfolio in China.

“We are steadily building our new priorities in e-mobility, digitalisation, connectivity, autonomous driving, artificial intelligence, and new mobility services,” concluded, Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann.

Also read: VW Group to spend 34bn euros on EVs, autonomous driving and digitalisation