BEIJING: Volkswagen Group China has started on-schedule production of the first vehicle built on its China Electronic Architecture (CEA), the group’s first zonal electronic architecture.
Developed, tested and produced entirely in China, the VW ID. UNYX 07 is the tech trailblazer for a new generation of Intelligent Connected Vehicles (ICV).
The tech trailblazer marks Volkswagen Group’s entry into full cycle software-defined vehicle production "in China, for China".
In 2026, the group will present four further vehicles from all Volkswagen brand joint ventures with the new architecture.
The architecture was developed by Volkswagen Group China Technology Company (VCTC), Cariad China and Xpeng.
The vehicle is produced at the Volkswagen Anhui plant.
The CEA is a zonal electronic and electrical architecture with high-performance central computing.
Designed as scalable and continuously upgradable, Volkswagen Group China is the first automaker to deploy its zonal architecture across multiple vehicle platforms and all powertrain types – from full electric vehicles to hybrids and combustion engine cars.
Compared with previous vehicle generations, it reduces the number of electronic control units by around 30%, significantly streamlining system complexity.
This provides a stable foundation for advanced AI (artificial intelligence) cockpit functions, China-specific driver assistance systems and full-vehicle over-the-air updates.
Enabled by the new development process, overall vehicle development cycles are also shortened by up to 30%.
Through localised development and early supplier integration during the concept phase, development costs for new models are reduced by up to 50% in selected key projects.
Agile development processes also allow rapid adjustments to evolving customer requirements, strengthening Volkswagen’s competitiveness in China’s Intelligent Connected Vehicle era.
Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume said, "In just 18 months, we have for the first time built a completely new, scalable electronic architecture from development all the way to series production – maintaining the high quality and safety standards that our customers expect from Volkswagen."
"The CEA enables software-driven innovations across all powertrain types, accelerates the expansion of our ICV portfolio in China – and represents a decisive step in our software strategy towards our ambition of becoming a global automotive tech driver.”
Volkswagen Group China chairman and CEO Ralf Brandstätter said, "The CEA allows us to bring software-driven innovation to market at competitive cost and speed, across electric vehicles, hybrids and combustion engine models. This is how we scale ICVs in China – combining local speed with Volkswagen DNA.”
Beginning in 2026, CEA-based models will expand from A- to B-segment vehicles and will be introduced across all three Volkswagen joint ventures in China.
