Volkswagen will develop a new platform for the production of more affordable electric vehicles for the Chinese market.
The confirmation, according to the «Reuters» agency, was made by the CEO of the company in the Asian country, Ralf Brandstaetter, during a visit to the German brand’s research center in Heifei, China, the Volkswagen Group China Technology Company, which made it clear that the new architecture will be created to meet the preferences of Chinese consumers regarding battery electric vehicles.
Derived from the modular platform (MEB), which Volkswagen has been using since 2019, the new architecture will essentially use components from Chinese suppliers and is expected to be ready for the Chinese market by 2026, which will be a faster development than previous platforms.
Volkswagen intends to launch four 100% electric models in China by 2026, with prices between €18,000 and €20,000, which will be produced through existing joint ventures with SAIC and FAW, and will be based on the new platform.
It is worth noting that Volkswagen lost its title as the best-selling brand in China to BYD at the end of 2022, due to its strong dependence on gasoline vehicles, whose sales have been declining in that country.
