Volkswagen Group Begins Production Of China Electronic Architecture For ID. UNYX 07 Vehicle

Volkswagen Group China has started production of its first vehicle built on the China Electronic Architecture, a zonal electronic structure developed in the country. The VW ID. UNYX 07, produced at the Volkswagen Anhui plant, marks the Group's move into the production of software-defined vehicles in China.

The China Electronic Architecture, known as CEA, was developed by Volkswagen Group China Technology Company, CARIAD China and XPENG. The project took 18 months from concept to production, making it the timeline the Volkswagen Group has achieved for a new electronic architecture.

The CEA is a zonal electronic and electrical architecture with central computing power. It is built to work across vehicle platforms and all powertrain types, including full electric vehicles, hybrids and vehicles with combustion engines. The system can be updated through over-the-air updates, which means vehicle software can be changed without bringing the vehicle to a service centre.

The architecture reduces the number of electronic control units by 30 per cent compared to vehicles from earlier generations. This reduces the complexity of the systems in the vehicle. The CEA provides the foundation for AI cockpit functions, driver assistance systems made for the China market and complete vehicle over-the-air updates.

The use of the CEA reduces vehicle development cycles by 30 per cent. Development costs for new models are reduced by 50 per cent in certain projects. The approach uses agile development processes that allow for changes to be made in response to shifts in customer needs.

Oliver Blume, Chief Executive Officer of Volkswagen Group, stated that the start of production marks progress in the Group's strategy for China. He said the Group met its timeline while maintaining quality and safety standards. Ralf Brandstätter, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG and Chief Executive Officer of Volkswagen Group China, stated that the architecture allows the company to bring software-driven innovation to market at a rate that works for business while maintaining Volkswagen standards.

Four further vehicles built on the CEA will be shown this year from Volkswagen brand joint ventures. The models will move from A-segment to B-segment vehicles and will be introduced across all three Volkswagen joint ventures in China.

The validation cycle for the CEA remained unchanged despite the shortened delivery timeline. The approach maintains the quality standards that Volkswagen Group has held for more than four decades in China. The company has delivered approximately 2.93 million vehicles to customers in mainland China and Hong Kong in 2024 through its joint venture partners. Around 50 million customers in China currently drive vehicles from Volkswagen Group brands.