On July 17, Volkswagen officially debuted its first smart electric coupe SUV, the ID.UNYX in Hefei from its third joint venture in China, Volkswagen Anhui, in which Volkswagen Group holds a 75% stake and JAC Group controls the remaining 25%. The other two Volkswagen joint ventures are in collaboration with FAW and SAIC.
This new ID. model will attempt to win back the Chinese market as most Western brands are facing slumping sales. It will come in three versions, the Pro long-range, Ultra long-range, and Max performance at a price ranging from CNY 209,900 to 249,900.
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Stefan Mecha, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars China, explains this new addition to the ID. family lineup offers a more attractive product to young users.
Yang Fang, CEO of Volkswagen Anhui also added that the UNYX comes with the golden Volkswagen badge, which further demonstrates the company's commitment to create unforgettable "golden" moments to the users. Volkswagen plans to launch four more new ID. SUV and sedan models by 2026 that will bear the golden logo.
The ID.UNYX Pro and Ultra versions offer 621 km in CLTC range with a price of CNY 209,900 and 229,900, respectively. The Max model comes with a 565 km range and is priced at CNY 249,900. Both models use an 82.4 kWh ternary lithium battery pack. To entice prospective buyers at launch, the UNYX also offers a limited-time benefit worth CNY 60,000.
The Volkswagen ID.UNYX will mainly compete against the XPeng G6, BYD Song L, Jidu 01, and Tesla Model Y.
Vehicle Specifications
The ID.UNYX adopts a Coupe SUV shape, similar to the Tesla Model Y, with body dimensions of 4,663 mm in length, 1,860 mm in width, 1,610 mm in height, and a wheelbase of 2,766 mm. In comparison, the Model Y measures 4.751 mm long, 1,921 mm wide, and 1,624 mm tall.
The UNYX.OS operating system also comes standard with iFlytek's new generation large language model (LLM), an AI assistant, a new "human-machine interface" (HMI), and the latest IQ.Drive intelligent driving system. The OS also supports mobile interconnections with Apple CarPlay, Baidu CarLife, and Huawei HiCar.
The UNYX also comes with a variable steering system that enables a curb-to-curb turning circle of only 4.7 meters (RWD version). In comparison, the Tesla Model Y's turning radius is 12.1 meters, far less nimble. A BYD Seagull, which is nearly a meter shorter than the UNYX, has a turning radius of 4.95 meters.
The maximum power output of the rear-wheel drive (Pro and Ultra versions) is 170 kW, while the four-wheel drive version (Max version) can output 250 kW and reach 0-100 km/h in 5.6 seconds.
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The interior of the vehicle reflects modern design elements with a large central infotainment screen, a smaller instrument cluster screen, and a streamlined interface with minimal physical buttons.
Sales Channels
Volkswagen Anhui plans to adopt a mixed sales model with direct sales and dealerships. By the end of 2024, VW Anhui plans to open four directly operated experience centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu and build out a retail network that spans over 20 first and second-tier cities.
In 2025, the company will further grow that network to cover more than 70 cities, including third-tier cities. ID.UNYX will also introduce an exclusive member club with benefits such as social activities, redemption points, and membership privileges.
Charging Infrastructure
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The ID. brand has already integrated over 700,000 charging points in China, covering over 350 cities, including approximately 13,000 charging stalls provided by CAMS in 206 cities. CAMS is a Chinese joint venture in which Volkswagen Group and FAW-Volkswagen have invested in to accelerate the development of charging stations in China.