The updated Volkswagen ID. UNYX 08 starts at a limited-time price of 189,900 yuan ($28,030). Image credit: Volkswagen Anhui.
- The updated ID. UNYX 08 starts at a limited-time price of 189,900 yuan ($28,030), 17.4% below its starting price at its April launch.
- Available CPCA data shows ID. UNYX 08 retail sales totaled 133 vehicles in July and 379 in August.
Volkswagen Anhui has launched the updated ID. UNYX 08 electric SUV (sport utility vehicle), lowering the entry price to boost sales just about 5 months after the model co-developed with Xpeng (NYSE: XPEV) went on sale in China.
Volkswagen’s Chinese joint venture focused on new energy vehicles (NEVs) announced on Saturday that the updated ID. UNYX 08 starts at a limited-time price of 189,900 yuan ($28,030). It also introduced a Lieying edition featuring a black-and-orange color scheme.
The limited-time entry price is 40,000 yuan, or 17.4%, below the 229,900 yuan starting price at the model’s initial launch on April 16.
The changes come as ID. UNYX 08 sales remain modest. Available data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) shows retail sales rose from 133 vehicles in July to 379 in August. Data for other months are unavailable.
The updated regular lineup comprises the Pure, Ultra Plus and Max Plus, with limited-time prices of 189,900 yuan, 219,900 yuan and 249,900 yuan, respectively.
The specification sheet lists official guide prices of 219,900 yuan, 239,900 yuan and 269,900 yuan for the 3 variants.
The Pure has a battery of about 82 kWh and a CLTC range of 630 kilometers. The Ultra Plus and Max Plus each have a battery of about 95 kWh, offering ranges of 730 kilometers and 700 kilometers, respectively.
All variants use an 800-volt platform and CATL lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, with charging from 10% to 80% taking about 20 minutes.
The Pure and Ultra Plus feature a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive layout with a maximum output of 230 kW (308 hp). The Max Plus has dual-motor all-wheel drive with a combined output of 370 kW and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds.
Smart technology remains a key selling point. All variants come standard with 2 Xpeng Turing AI chips, delivering a combined computing power of 1,500 TOPS.
The vehicle uses Xpeng’s Vision-Language-Action (VLA 2.0) driver-assistance system, supporting highway and urban navigation assistance, as well as parking-space-to-parking-space assisted driving.
The cabin features a Qualcomm Snapdragon SA8295P chip, a 10.25-inch instrument display and 2 14.96-inch screens, along with the updated Volkswagen OS 2.2 system.
The Lieying edition, launched at the same time, comes in rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive variants. Their limited-time prices of 219,900 yuan and 249,900 yuan match those of the Ultra Plus and Max Plus.
The Lieying edition emphasizes sporty styling through its exterior and interior design, including black bodywork, exclusive black 21-inch wheels, orange brake calipers and a black-and-orange cabin.
It has a 95 kWh battery, with CLTC ranges of 730 kilometers for the rear-wheel-drive variant and 700 kilometers for the all-wheel-drive version. Dual-chamber air suspension and variable damping come standard.
As a mid-to-large-size, 5-seat SUV, the ID. UNYX 08 measures 5,000 mm in length and has a wheelbase of 3,030 mm. It is the first production model jointly developed by Volkswagen and Xpeng.
The project took 24 months from the signing of the joint development technology agreement to production at the Hefei plant in Anhui province, reflecting Volkswagen’s strategy of using local technology to accelerate product development.
Volkswagen has also enlisted selected FAW-Volkswagen dealers to sell the model through a “store-in-store” format, expanding the market reach of Volkswagen Anhui vehicles.
The swift price adjustments and addition of new variants show Volkswagen is stepping up efforts to translate its technology partnership with Xpeng into sales in China.
The 100,000th vehicle was an ID. UNYX 08, the first model jointly developed by Volkswagen and Xpeng.
($1 = 6.7743 yuan)
