Volkswagen is evaluating the possibility of marketing vehicles initially designed for the Chinese public in Europe, planning to import one or more of these models.
Thomas Schäfer, Volkswagen's CEO, confirmed this intention in an interview given to the British magazine Autocar during the Paris Motor Show. According to him, these new cars would complement the current European offering without replacing any existing models.
Over the last two years, the automaker has restructured its vehicle development process in China with the aim of reducing costs associated with materials and engineering. This effort involved collaborations with both Chinese companies and European partners.
The technical teams assembled in Germany and China have produced highly competitive cost vehicles, even within the world's largest market, China. Initially, the first export shipments will leave China targeting more accessible regions, such as Australia and the Middle East, with Europe being seen as the next strategic step.
However, not all models developed for China are suitable for the European consumer. The executive mentioned the ID. Era, a 5.2-meter long SUV, as an example of an unviable vehicle due to its size.
Among the models considered for export is the ID. Unyx 09, an electric sedan measuring 5.08 meters, created in partnership with the Chinese company Xpeng. In the Chinese pre-sale, this model starts at 199,900 yuan (approximately R$ 150.6 thousand) and offers 313 hp in its entry version.
Another option is the ID. Aura T6, an electric SUV measuring 4.81 meters, which competes in China with the Geely EX5 sold in Brazil. Its initial price is 129,900 yuan (about R$ 97.8 thousand), and if it reaches Europe, it would be positioned above the newly launched electric ID. Tiguan.
The final decision on which models will be chosen and the exact schedule for imports are still pending definition by Volkswagen.
In the Brazilian context, the strategy had already been signaled previously. In March, Alexander Seitz, President of Volkswagen for Latin America, stated that the brand's fully electric vehicles intended for the region could be imported from major production centers, such as China. Furthermore, in July, the automaker registered the design of the ID. Unyx 08, an electric SUV belonging to the same family as the sedan, in Brazil.