Volkswagen has begun pre-sales in China for the VW ID. UNYX 09, an electric sedan developed jointly with Xpeng and priced starting at 199,900 yuan (~€26,000).
The model, built by Volkswagen Anhui, will not be sold in Europe, marking another China-exclusive electric vehicle from the German automaker. It follows the ID. UNYX 08, an SUV introduced earlier this year, as part of the company’s strategy to use local partnerships for electric-vehicle development.
The ID. UNYX 09 was previewed as a near-production concept in April before its official certification application in July. Dimensions measure 5.08 m long, 1.98 m wide, and 1.51 m tall, with a 3.03-m wheelbase, though it is marketed as a GT coupé rather than a saloon because of its performance-focused specifications.
Base models feature rear-wheel drive and 230 kW of power, while the all-wheel-drive version adds a 140 kW front motor, boosting total output to 370 kW. Both variants use a 92 kWh LFP battery from CATL, delivering 755 km of range under China’s CLTC cycle (612 km WLTP) in rear-wheel-drive form. The all-wheel-drive model drops slightly to 705 km CLTC (571 km WLTP).
Unlike the European EVs that often rely on its own China Electronic Architecture (CEA), the sedan is built on Xpeng’s platform, sharing technology with the Xpeng P7 and reinforcing the automaker’s reliance on local engineering for China-market EVs.
The car stands out for its AI-driven driving assistance, powered by Xpeng’s 750 TOPS Turing chip and supported by 11 cameras, 3 millimeter-wave radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors. Features include navigation-based Autopilot (NOA), AI-assisted parking, and an 85-inch augmented reality head-up display that projects lane guidance and ground-level markers. The interior also includes a 20-speaker sound system, though pricing for optional upgrades has not been disclosed.
Design-wise, the vehicle adopts a “wolf-like aesthetic”, with DLP matrix projection headlights that display lane markings and vehicle width indicators. A wolf’s head emblem, a nod to Wolfsburg’s logo, appears on the front, blending German precision with what the brand describes as “Eastern symmetry.” The motif reflects Wolfsburg’s cultural appeal in China, where the city’s heritage carries weight despite the car being manufactured in Anhui.
Pricing starts at the same base amount for the rear-wheel-drive model, with the all-wheel-drive version adding 50,000 yuan to reach 249,900 yuan. That price is 30,000 yuan cheaper than the ID. UNYX 08 SUV, which launched at 279,900 yuan. The sedan therefore occupies a more affordable slot in the China-exclusive EV lineup, though it remains above China’s average new-car price of around 150,000 yuan.
