Volkswagen is making a bold move in China, ditching its traditional design language for a completely new look on its latest electric SUV, the ID. Unyx 08. This vehicle marks a significant shift as VW embraces the unique demands and preferences of the world’s largest car market. While the German automaker has enjoyed decades of success in China, it’s facing intense competition from local brands offering stylish, tech-forward vehicles at competitive prices.
Instead of fighting head-on with these rising competitors, Volkswagen is taking a page from Audi’s playbook. In a strategic partnership with SAIC, Audi recently launched a new brand within China that abandons its iconic four rings emblem. Similarly, the ID. Unyx 08, developed in collaboration with Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng, bears little resemblance to any existing Volkswagen model. Without its badges, it would be nearly impossible to identify as a VW product.
The design of the ID. Unyx 08 is distinctly futuristic and unlike anything currently in Volkswagen’s global lineup. It features split headlights, flush door handles, frameless doors, and a wolf motif subtly integrated into the third brake light. While details like blacked-out A-pillars and unusual dark side trim might be polarizing, it’s clear VW is aiming for a bold visual statement designed to capture Chinese consumer attention.
This isn’t simply a stylistic exercise. The ID. Unyx 08 is Volkswagen Anhui’s first China-built electric SUV and represents the company’s “In China, for China” initiative. It will be sold exclusively in the Chinese market as part of a broader strategy to introduce around 30 new EVs there by the end of the decade. Built on VW’s dedicated EV platform, the Unyx 08 boasts impressive dimensions: stretching nearly 197 inches long (5,000 millimeters) – larger than a Touareg but smaller than an Atlas – and featuring a remarkably spacious 119-inch (3,030 millimeter) wheelbase.
The SUV draws heavily on its precursor, the ID. Evo concept, and promises impressive performance figures. Power comes from a CATL-supplied lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery offering over 435 miles (700 kilometers) of range according to China’s CLTC standard. VW emphasizes 800-volt ultra-fast charging capabilities, developed at its largest R&D center outside Germany, for this distinctly Chinese model.
Volkswagen will offer the ID. Unyx 08 in both single- and dual-motor variants, with a top-spec version delivering close to 500 horsepower. Sales are expected to begin in the first half of 2024.
This bold move by Volkswagen signals its understanding that success in China requires more than just adapting existing models; it demands embracing local tastes and priorities. The ID. Unyx 08 represents a significant gamble for VW, but one that will be closely watched as the brand navigates this increasingly competitive market.
