On April 22, Volkswagen unveiled three new energy concept cars in one go: the FAW-Volkswagen ID.AURA, the SAIC Volkswagen ID.ERA, and the Volkswagen Anhui ID.EVO. The production versions will be rolled out in 2026.

These three concept cars were jointly developed by Chinese and German teams, inheriting Volkswagen’s design DNA while also showcasing the brand’s exclusive design language for China. Additionally, the three models feature distinct design styles.

Among these three cars, the ID. AURA concept sedan emphasizes "vitality," "youth," and "family" in its design. The full-size SUV ID. ERA highlights "grandeur," "minimalism," and "boldness" as its core design elements. Meanwhile, the ID. EVO concept car focuses on an "unconventional," "daring," and "avant-garde" design philosophy.

In terms of intelligence, AI is undoubtedly a major trend and a key focus for the future, so AI integration is a given. Additionally, the L2++ advanced driver assistance system is fully adapted to Chinese road conditions and scenarios, capable of performing assisted lane changes, steering, and merging under the driver’s supervision.

Source: SAIC-Volkswagen

SAIC-VW ID.ERA – Full-Size Extended-Range SUV

Extended-range electric vehicles (EREV) have been extremely popular in the Chinese auto market over the past two years, with many domestic new-energy brands achieving enormous success, such as Li Auto, AITO, and Leapmotor. Therefore, it’s no surprise that Volkswagen has also adopted extended-range technology.

As Volkswagen’s first extended-range full-size SUV concept, the ID.ERA is a three-row SUV with a six-seat layout.

Exterior-wise, like most full-size SUVs, it emphasizes size. The front features a full-width light strip with a glowing logo in the middle, along with a split-type design and additional light clusters below, highlighting a unique and differentiated look.

The front fascia uses a closed grille design paired with an active intake system below. The side profile is smooth and clean, featuring a mainstream floating roof design where the roof and body share the same color. The taillights adopt a full-width design with a corresponding glowing logo, extending all the way to the D-pillars.

Source: SAIC-Volkswagen

Inside, the car is equipped with a multi-screen setup, including screens for the second row and door panels. The second row also features "executive seats," while the front passenger seat offers a "queen seat" option.

In terms of range, as an extended-range model, the ID. ERA concept achieves a CLTC-rated range of over 1,000 km.

For intelligence, its driver-assist system supports L2++ urban navigation-assisted driving (NOA).

The infotainment system includes an AI virtual assistant powered by large language model and a full-width infotainment screen that extends to the front passenger seat uninterrupted by a middle bezel typically seen in other Chinese cars (i.e. Li Auto).

Source: FAW-Volkswagen

FAW-VW ID.AURA – A Dynamic and Energetic Sedan

The ID. AURA is FAW-Volkswagen’s first compact pure-electric concept sedan based on the CMP platform, which was exclusively developed for the Chinese market.

In terms of exterior design, it emphasizes aerodynamics, with a low stance and an aggressive front end. Wedge-shaped lines extend from the headlights to below the side windows, connecting with sharp shoulder lines that stretch back to the muscular rear wheel arches.

The front fascia does not follow the mainstream full-width headlight design. Instead, the entire front end resembles a smiling face, exuding vitality. The taillights, however, do feature a full-width design.

Source: FAW-Volkswagen

The interior adopts a more minimalist approach with a single horizontal infotainment screen and diffused ambient lighting.

The ID.AURA concept is built on Volkswagen’s CEA architecture, supporting up to L2++ advanced driver assistance.

The AI virtual assistant features a new UI/UX design, capable of learning user preferences and working with a fully customizable operating system.

Source: Volkswagen-Anhui

VW-ANHUI ID.EVO – Bold, Avant-Garde, with a Wheelbase Over 3 Meters

When people think of full-size SUVs, they often imagine large six-seaters or three-row models. However, the ID. EVO concept is positioned as a full-size pure-electric SUV but is not a conventional family-oriented model—instead, it leans toward sportiness.

The front end is very low, with a unique two-section full-width lighting design that completely differentiates it from existing Volkswagen models.

The front and rear incorporate over 100 controllable LED lights, enabling customizable dynamic lighting effects—a design that will likely be retained in the production version.

The exterior is bold and avant-garde. The short front overhang and long rear overhang, combined with wide wheel arches, create a strong visual impact.

The body surfaces flow into a slightly downward-sloping roofline, while the wheels incorporate football-inspired design elements.

The "Fjord Blue" paint is inspired by the Arctic lights, shifting in hue under different lighting conditions. A golden lighting strip runs through the center of the body, connecting the interior and exterior.

Source: Volkswagen-Anhui

Inside, it features a next-generation Gen X steering wheel. For intelligence, it supports L2++ urban navigation-assisted driving (NOA) and other functions.

Under CLTC conditions, the ID.EVO concept offers a pure-electric range of 700 km and supports 800V ultra-fast charging.

It runs on a new operating system with the UNYX human-machine interface, and its customizable 3D anthropomorphic virtual assistant enables more natural voice interactions.

In China, for China

China is Volkswagen’s largest market, with three joint venture partners—the most among foreign automakers—and a massive market scale.

The simultaneous launch of an extended-range full-size SUV, a sedan, and a sporty SUV—all targeting mainstream consumer demands—highlights Volkswagen’s commitment to its “In China, for China” strategy.

The fact that these models were co-developed by Chinese and German teams also shows that Volkswagen has given its Chinese division much more autonomy, reducing time-to-market and production costs significantly.

By 2030, Volkswagen Group aims to sell around 4 million vehicles and increase its operating profit to nearly EUR 3.0 billion, including fully consolidated Anhui joint venture.