SHERIDAN, WYOMING – April 21, 2025 - A new era of innovation on display in China’s automotive capital
Volkswagen’s latest reveal at Auto Shanghai puts the spotlight on a trio of electric innovations that mark a major step forward in the company’s “In China, for China” strategy.
Three distinct concept cars from Volkswagen’s Chinese joint ventures
Volkswagen is showcasing three exciting concept vehicles at Auto Shanghai 2025, one of the world’s most influential automotive exhibitions. The lineup includes:
- An electric notchback model from FAW-Volkswagen
- An electric SUV with extended range thanks to range-extender technology (EREV) from SAIC VOLKSWAGEN
- An all-electric SUV from Volkswagen Anhui
All three concept cars reflect Volkswagen’s new China-specific identity, embodying advances in both technology and design. Notably, development time has been slashed by over 30%, allowing for faster innovation and delivery.
Accelerating the future of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs)
The unveiled concept cars fall under China’s New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) category, which includes all-electric, plug-in hybrid, and range-extender models. Volkswagen plans to roll out more than 20 NEV models by 2027, ensuring diverse electric mobility options for consumers across China.
“We have everything that it takes to be successful in China.”
CEO Thomas Schäfer emphasized the brand’s strong footing and future focus:
“Our ‘In China, for China’ strategy has put us on the right path. Our aim is to remain the leading international automaker in China – even in the age of the intelligent connected vehicle. We have everything that it takes to be successful: shorter development times, strong partners, sophisticated local development, production and infrastructure as well as the right products and innovations for our Chinese customers. That’s exactly what we will prove with our near-production concept cars in Shanghai.”
Blending heritage with local insight
Design innovation is central to the new models. Andreas Mindt, Head Designer of the Volkswagen brand, shared:
“We have adapted our established European design values – stability, likability and the ‘secret sauce’ – to the Chinese market. The result is a design philosophy that honors the heritage of our brand while at the same time reflecting the desires and expectations of a new generation of customers in China.”
Spotlight on Auto Shanghai 2025
Held from April 23 to May 2, Auto Shanghai is a key date in the global automotive calendar. The first two days cater exclusively to journalists, with hundreds of thousands of visitors expected over the public exhibition period. In 2023, more than 1,000 exhibitors from 17 countries showcased their offerings across 360,000 square meters.
Learn more
For additional information and updates, visit volkswagen-newsroom.com.