Volkswagen Launches Cool New ID Trio

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Last Updated on: 23rd April 2025, 01:10 am

Volkswagen is one of the legacy automakers that is trying to transition to EVs quickly in China (and elsewhere) in order to hold onto market share in a fast-changing industry. As part of that effort, today it unveiled a cool new trio of ID electric vehicles at Auto Shanghai.

“Volkswagen is now telling the rest of the ID. CODE story,” the company announced. The ID. CODE was a concept car Volkswagen unveiled in 2024 in Beijing. The three new concept EVs that continue that story are the ID. ERA, ID. AURA, and ID. EVO. “The ID. AURA (from FAW-Volkswagen), the ID. ERA (from SAIC VOLKSWAGEN) and the ID. EVO (from Volkswagen Anhui) are representative of a new generation of smart electric vehicles and give a preview of the product strategy for the coming years,” Volkswagen adds.

Here’s the little bit we know about each model so far:

“The ID. ERA from SAIC VOLKSWAGEN, a spacious full-size SUV with three rows of seats, gives a preview of Volkswagen’s first model featuring range extender technology. A fuel-powered generator charges the battery while driving and provides an additional range of over 700 kilometers. Together with the 300-kilometer range in battery mode, the concept car can thus travel more than 1,000 kilometers.

“The ID. EVO from Volkswagen Anhui is targeted at young, lifestyle-conscious buyers who are keen to set themselves apart from the crowd. Based on an 800-volt platform, the ID. EVO is the first all-electric full-size SUV in Volkswagen’s ID. UNYX family. The concept vehicle is fitted out with a high-performance zonal electronic architecture that not only facilitates a wide range of new digital services but also continuously expands the customer experience with over-the-air updates at short intervals.

“The ID. AURA from FAW-Volkswagen is the first concept vehicle to be based on the Compact Main Platform (CMP) with zonal electronic architecture which Volkswagen designed specifically for the Chinese market. Through its AI-based high computing capacity, the system for highly automated driving that is used on this platform raises the bar for smart yet natural driving behavior. The electric notchback concept has been developed in particular for customers in the price-conscious A-segment, combining modern technology with dynamic design. A UI/UX concept similar to a smartphone is built into the center console of the vehicle. The AI-based humanoid assistant enables seamless control of vehicle functions and infotainment.”

And, yes, these are targeted at the Chinese market. I know it’s not new, but it’s just a reminder that it’s now the case that: China gets all the nice new things. The US isn’t even in the discussion on this. The US is often the last market to get new EVs, or it doesn’t get them at all. Unfortunately, we here in the US will probably never see these cool electric cars in the flesh.

While the Chinese EV market is being dominated by BYD, with other Chinese players like Geely, Xiaomi, and XPENG also having strong shares and growth, foreign automakers are being pushed out of the market in the new EV era. Volkswagen is one company clinging on, and doing better than other foreign automakers. The company touches on that “The three concept vehicles are the visible outcome of our ‘In China, for China’ strategy. We have thus made all the necessary preparations to remain in pole position among foreign automakers in China,” said Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand.

Volkswagen has also started using the term that is preferred by EV companies in China — “smart EVs.” As is common practice these days, the company is trying to convince us that it has one of the most advanced and best driver-assist systems. “All production versions of the concept cars presented in Shanghai will be equipped with AI-based systems for highly automated driving. The vehicles can thus reach Level 2++ as early as next year, which means in certain situations cars will be able to drive fully autonomously — including overtaking and turning maneuvers and independently merging into traffic — with the driver’s supervision.” I’m not sure if that counts as AI leadership, but, hey, Volkswagen is trying.

They also discussed developing cars faster over there in China. “We picked up ‘China speed’ with our new development center in Hefei. Our goal is to develop our models within 34 months at most. We will launch the right models at the right speed and with the right partners. The three concept vehicles meet the different technological requirements of Chinese customers with their all-electric drive systems for the volume and full-size segments and range extender technology,” commented Thomas Ulbrich, CEO of Volkswagen China Technology Center (VCTC).

Let’s end with the most important matter — how these vehicles look! I think the EVO and ERA look wicked cool and will quickly perform well. I’n not a huge fan of the ERA, but it looks nice and sharp for what it is, and that is a size and functionality that many buyers love.

But can Volkswagen really keep competing with domestic brands in China? We’ll see….