Volkswagen has released the first pictures and preliminary info on the ID. Unyx 08 in China, a five-meter electric SUV that represents not only the first product of its cooperation with Xpeng but also a deeper technological co-development with local partnerships in China.
The ID. Unyx 08, developed under Volkswagen Anhui, is the production realization of last year’s ID. EVO concept. The SUV retains the sleek, sculpted body lines and minimalist surfaces of the show car. Still, it adds details like the much-contested flush door handles, visible ADAS sensors, and a new illuminated ‘wolf’ logo beneath the rear spoiler.
Above ID.4
At 5,000 mm long with a 3,030 mm wheelbase, the Unyx 08 slots above the ID.4 and Tiguan in size and joins a fast-growing lineup that includes the smaller ID. Unyx 06 and the upcoming ID. Unyx 07 sedan. This is a local model built for Chinese customers, so it’s unlikely to be shipped to Europe.
Power comes from a choice of single- and dual-motor configurations, delivering up to 500 hp combined. Volkswagen says the SUV can travel more than 700 kilometers on China’s CLTC cycle, powered by CATL-supplied lithium-iron-phosphate batteries.
The model uses an 800-volt electrical system compatible with high-speed DC charging, a technology derived straight from Xpeng’s G9 platform.
Two more to come
The filing of the Unyx 08 with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) signals its production readiness.
The SUV is expected to reach Chinese showrooms in 2026, marking the first visible product from the 2023 Volkswagen-Xpeng partnership. Under that agreement, both companies intend to jointly develop two Volkswagen-branded EVs using Xpeng’s connectivity and driver-assistance software.
The Unyx 08 also underscores Volkswagen’s drive to accelerate software and chip development in China. During the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, CEO Oliver Blume and China chief Ralf Brandstätter unveiled a new processor designed in collaboration with Beijing-based Horizon Robotics. This chip will power advanced driver-assistance and automated driving features in future Volkswagen vehicles.
‘Difficult to keep up’
Brandstätter described the partnership as essential to maintaining competitiveness both inside and outside China. “Anyone not present here and not building these competencies will find it difficult to keep up elsewhere,” he said in Shanghai.
So, for Volkswagen, the ID. Unyx 08 is more than an addition to its Chinese portfolio. It’s a car marking the new reality for Western carmakers in the world’s biggest car market.
To be successful, their offerings need to be Chinese at their core to rewire perceptions among local customers. We wonder how these will feel about the clever reference captured in the rear brake light to Volkswagen’s German headquarters in Wolfsburg.
