-
VW unveils ID.UNYX sub-brand for China, plans four vehicles including SUVs and sedans as part of the lineup.
-
Developed in Hefei, China, the ID.UNYX has a coupe-like profile and is based on existing MEB platform components and powertrains.
-
The VW Group is in a race to regain some of its market share in China, where it is now battling a growing number of local competitors in the electric vehicle space.
That the models are only available in China is nothing new for European automakers with joint ventures in the country. For more than two decades, they have offered special versions of existing vehicles and new model names in the Middle Kingdom.
Thanks to local production and a number of unique market demand points, the VW Group has been able to market vehicles for almost 20 years, including longer-wheelbase versions of its smaller sedans, under the A4L and A6L brands. VW’s locally produced model range has included sedans based on the Jetta and Passat, under the VW Sagitar and VW Magotan brands.
Recently VW has introduced two versions of the ID.6 SUV in China—a model not available in other markets—along with slightly different versions of the ID.4.
The latest in this ever-expanding genre is Volkswagen’s ID.UNYX, unveiled as a sub-brand of Volkswagen’s existing, electric-only ID sub-brand. And the first model is, again, a slightly more dramatic take on an ID.4 SUV with a coupe-like profile.
It will also be somewhat reminiscent of the Cupra Tavascan from another regional sub-brand of Volkswagen, as this is essentially a Tavascan with a few minor differences.
The ID.UNYX’s specs should also be familiar to anyone who’s taken a good look at the ID.4 menu: the model is powered by a 77-kWh battery pack, with single- and dual-motor layouts offering either 282 or 335 horsepower on board depending on which version you opt for. But the longest-range variant is expected to offer 386 miles in the very optimistic CLTC cycle.
The debut model is only subtle different from Volkswagen’s current styling repertoire, with some sharper creases in the bodywork, along with red-colored details. The ID.UNYX was developed at the automaker’s innovation and development center in Hefei, China.
The coupe-style crossover is just the first of four ID.UNYX vehicles that VW plans to launch by 2026, out of a total of 34 models planned for China by 2030. UNYX will also offer a unique retail chain as part of the new sub-brand.
As for the ID.UNYX sub-brand, VW has indicated that SUVs and sedans are coming.
“With the new ID. UNYX, we are expanding the spectrum of our electric ID. models in China with an avant-garde product,” says Stefan Mecha, CEO of Volkswagen Brand China. “We are combining a confident, progressive design with a sustainable electric drive and a state-of-the-art user experience.”
However, one pressing question remains: why does VW need another sub-brand?
It is noteworthy that the situation in China for VW, where the company has been active since 1984 and was the first Western car manufacturer to set up local production through a joint venture, looked very different just ten years ago.
In the early 2010s, VW and its brands still enjoyed a large market share with multiple unique nameplates based on VW’s global platforms that appealed to local tastes. At the time, VW’s lineup was sporadically challenged by Chinese domestic automakers.
Today, the picture is very different: VW has lost some of its market share to fast-growing Chinese brands including BYD and Geely.
A big part of the reason, especially in the past five years, is EVs and New Energy Vehicles, which is how hybrids, PHEVs and BEVs are categorized in China. More recent brands like Nio and XPeng, as well as Tesla, have caught the attention of the local market.
VW is now seen as a company that needs to catch up in the field of New Energy Vehicles. Variations on the ID series are seen as one of the easiest ways to quickly create more visual variety in the range.
“Lifestyle elements such as the gold Volkswagen emblem on the front and the gold lettering on the vehicle are distinguishing features. The color of these badges is associated in China with the high quality, reliability and safety of a Volkswagen,” the carmaker said.
Whether ID.UNYX will be able to regain VW’s waning dominance in the highly competitive Chinese electric vehicle market remains to be seen. What is clear is that in the coming years, we will see a greater variety of battery-electric VW models in China than anywhere else.
Should VW offer more electric models in North America, Or is the current supply of electric cars just right for the demand in this market? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
