Volkswagen is developing a barrage of electric and extended range EV models for the Chinese market in order to staunch its rapidly eroding market share, and some of these vehicles may be sold in Europe and other parts of the globe.
The German automaker currently plans to launch 50 new models in China by 2030, many of which are being engineered with local partners as part of the company’s “In China, For China” strategy.
At this year’s Beijing motor show Volkswagen took the covers off the ID. Unyx 09 and ID. Aura T6, both of which use platforms developed in part or in whole by Xpeng.
Meanwhile, the Volkswagen ID. Era 9X and upcoming AUDI E7X both use an architecture developed by local manufacturing partner SAIC for its MG IM range.
After announcing the company’s first quarter results, the automaker’s top brass spent time taking questions from reporters and analysts.
In comments reported by Autocar, Reuters and Automotive News, CEO Oliver Blume indicated some developed-in-China models could be exported to Latin America, the Middle East, India and Asia.
It’s unclear whether Australia is being considered as a potential export market. The only time Volkswagen sold a Chinese-made car Down Under was the Polo sedan in 2004 and 2005.
Volkswagen is being more cautious about introducing Chinese models to Europe, though. According to Mr Blume, it’s “too early to decide if we want to localise a Chinese platform in Germany” with the company waiting to see which models do well.
If it does decide to go ahead, the CEO says “our priority would be to take one of our own platforms first”, with the Compact Main Platform (CMP) that’s being developed in-house by Volkswagen China due to launch in 2027.
It’s possible any China-developed models that end up being made and sold in Europe could be larger vehicles, with Mr Blume hinting analysis will focus “especially in segments where we are not present with our current portfolio in Europe”.
For Europe, Volkswagen is busy updating and augmenting its EV lineup with vehicles like the heavily redesigned ID. 3 Neo and upcoming ID. Tiguan, as well as all-new entrants, such as the just-unveiled ID. Polo. All feature more aggressive pricing, better range and performance, and higher quality interiors with physical controls.
The “In China, For China” strategy is a response to Volkswagen’s falling sales in the Middle Kingdom. Thanks to the rise of EVs and local brands, Volkswagen lost its long-held crown to BYD in 2023.
In 2025 Volkswagen Group sales in China slipped a further 8.0 per cent to 2.7 million, with EVs accounting for just 115,500 of that figure, down 44.3 per cent from the year before.
With the first models in the product blitz just beginning to roll out of factories, it’s too early to tell if the new strategy is a success, but no doubt management have their fingers tightly crossed.
