- FAW-Volkswagen will launch six BEV models, two PHEV models, and two EREV models from 2026.
- The plan to launch EREVs is interesting, considering that several years ago Volkswagen management was not optimistic about EREVs.
Automotive giant Volkswagen Group recently signed a strategic cooperation agreement with China's FAW Group at its headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany, defining the joint venture FAW-Volkswagen's new model plans for the next few years.
FAW-Volkswagen will launch 11 new models from 2026, including models under the Volkswagen and Jetta brands, solidifying its product roadmap through 2030, according to a statement from Volkswagen today.
The 11 models include 10 new energy-vehicle (NEV) models, as well as one internal combustion engine model.
The 10 NEV models include six battery electric vehicle (BEV) models, two plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models, and two extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) models.
The Jetta brand will launch its first electric model in 2026, targeting the entry-level EV market, according to Volkswagen.
FAW-Volkswagen will utilize the locally developed CMP (China Main Platform) vehicle platform to meet the market demand for BEV and PHEV models, according to the automaker.
The high-performance CEA (China Electronic Architecture) electrical and electronic architecture will bring advanced digital services and ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) capabilities to customers, Volkswagen said.
Volkswagen's software arm, Carizon's ADAS solutions, will be enhanced with AI for smart driving capabilities, covering highways as well as city roads, according to the statement.
FAW-Volkswagen will introduce BEV models and their EREV versions in the mid-size segment to meet consumer demand for long range and electric mobility experiences, the statement said.
These new models will be a concrete expression of Volkswagen's "In China, For China" strategy, the automaker said.
At the upcoming Shanghai auto show, Volkswagen will showcase the first new products tailored to Chinese car owners, it said.
The plan to launch EREVs is interesting, considering that a few years ago Volkswagen management was not optimistic about EREVs.
In September 2020, then Volkswagen China CEO Stephan Wöllenstein said that extended-range EVs had some value from a single-vehicle perspective, but that it was nonsense and the worst possible solution from the perspective of the entire country and the planet.
The comment angered Li Auto (NASDAQ: LI), which at the time was the only vehicle manufacturer of EREVs in the Chinese auto market.
Li Auto was more than willing to test the energy efficiency and environmental friendliness of Volkswagen's state-of-the-art PHEVs against each other, using real numbers to see who performed better, the company's founder, chairman and CEO Li Xiang said at the time.
On December 22, 2021, Li shared a chart on Weibo mocking Volkswagen with the sales performance of its first EREV model, the Li One.
Over the past few years, as the Li Auto has become a success in the EREV space, many car companies have begun launching EREV models.
Li Auto slaps Volkswagen in the face with Li ONE sales results
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