As with VW’s current range, ID models in China will be offered through the firm’s Beijing-based import business and its three joint ventures: the long-established FAW-Volkswagen and SAIC-Volkswagen, and the new JAC-Volkswagen.
All three are building plants purely to make MEB-platformed cars, with the FAW and SAIC factories due to open next year, each with capacity for 300,000 cars annually.
“That is not everything we will do capacity-wise, but it will allow us to serve the market as it is growing towards really big numbers,” said Wöllenstein.
FAW-VW and SAIC-VW will each launch its own ID model next year, likely similar-sized cars with different external styling, as VW has done with its recent SUV range.
Wöllenstein likened the joint-venture partners to “a big family with two kids. You don’t always have to dress them the same, but you can’t give one double the toys of the other without creating jealousy.”
Wöllenstein said the first ID models in China will be SUV-based. That’s likely to mean local-market versions of the ID 4 SUV (launched in concept form as the ID Crozz) previewed at the Frankfurt show, or the larger ID Roomzz.
“We are going to introduce the ID 3 in China with local production, but it will not be the first one,” said Wöllenstein. “The first models will be more in line with what Chinese customers love, which is SUVs and sedans. We will likely start with an SUV-type car before we come in with sedan models and then ID 3.”
According to reports in China, SAIC-VW is working on three MEB models, including local versions of the Roomzz and one based on the Skoda Vision iV concept.
Although the Chinese market represents a huge opportunity for VW – and other global car firms – it also presents unique challenges. The incentives the Chinese government has offered for producing electric cars has led to a huge EV market, with hundreds of start-up companies competing with large Chinese firms that already have proven products on sale.
Wöllenstein likened the push towards EVs in China as “a bit of a gold rush” but noted that the market includes “some very serious competitors with rich experience, such as BYD, which produces more electrified cars than anyone else”.
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Dilly
Aamzing what can be achieved
When a country actually has an industry/Manufacturing product which can be sold globally.
FRI2
Hey Attwood, you being such
Hey Attwood, you being such an unbiased reporter can now officially go on record and admit you are on VW payroll. Are you that stiff? We all know you have to promote VAG cars but come on man, can’t you just come clean and admit it? You try your best to ignore Tesla but by golly, in terms of EV they are the 600 lb gorilla in the room and VW is just scrawny little kid trying not to get squashed. Tesla just completed a mega factory in China that will be turning out 200K cars...and you dont even mention that in your article? And unlike VW, Tesla is completely independent, they are not affiliated with a Chinese car company, and is free to pursue their business model - something VW can only dream of. But then you can’t that since that will upset your VW bosses. James Attwood, you are a joke.
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