Volkswagen Unveils Three Concept Cars at Auto Shanghai 2025

Wolfsburg, Germany- Volkswagen AG., has taken a major step in advancing its presence in China by unveiling three groundbreaking concept cars at Auto Shanghai 2025. The ID. AURA (from FAW-Volkswagen), ID. ERA (from SAIC VOLKSWAGEN), and ID. EVO (from Volkswagen Anhui) represent a new generation of smart electric vehicles, offering a glimpse into the future of the automotive market in China. These models reflect Volkswagen’s ongoing commitment to the “In China, for China” strategy, which is focused on meeting the specific needs of Chinese customers.

Volkswagen has set an ambitious goal to introduce over 30 new models by the end of 2027, with 20 of those being new energy vehicles (NEVs). This includes production versions of the three concept cars now presented in Shanghai, each of which has been tailored for the Chinese market in terms of design and technology.

The ID. AURA, ID. ERA, and ID. EVO were first revealed at the Volkswagen Group Night event and will be showcased at Auto Shanghai until early May. All three vehicles are part of Volkswagen’s NEV lineup, which includes fully electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and range extender models.

These concept vehicles also represent a leap forward in autonomous driving technology. Each vehicle is equipped with AI-based systems for highly automated driving, allowing them to reach Level 2++ by next year. In this mode, the cars will be capable of fully autonomous driving in specific situations, such as overtaking, turning, and merging into traffic, while still requiring the driver’s supervision.

The design of the ID. AURA, ID. ERA, and ID. EVO integrates the preferences of Chinese consumers, while maintaining a strong Volkswagen identity. Head Designer Andreas Mindt noted, “The ID. CODE show car we exhibited in Beijing last year was the jumping-off point for our new design direction in China.” This design direction has been refined and adapted for each of the company’s joint ventures.

Here is a breakdown of the three concept vehicles:

ID. ERA (SAIC VOLKSWAGEN): A spacious full-size SUV with three rows of seats and a range extender that combines a battery-powered range of 300 kilometers with an additional 700 kilometers from a fuel-powered generator. This allows the vehicle to travel over 1,000 kilometers in total.

ID. EVO (Volkswagen Anhui): Targeted at young, lifestyle-conscious buyers, this all-electric full-size SUV is part of Volkswagen’s ID. UNYX family. The ID. EVO features an 800-volt platform, high-performance zonal electronic architecture, and advanced digital services, along with the ability to receive over-the-air updates.

ID. AURA (FAW-Volkswagen): A compact electric notchback concept designed for the price-conscious A-segment. It features AI-based highly automated driving systems and is the first vehicle based on the new Compact Main Platform (CMP) tailored specifically for the Chinese market. The ID. AURA integrates a smartphone-like UI/UX concept and offers an AI-based humanoid assistant for seamless vehicle control and infotainment.

Volkswagen’s introduction of these concept vehicles marks a significant milestone in its strategy to dominate the electric vehicle market in China, combining cutting-edge technology, innovative design, and a deep understanding of local consumer preferences.

Mr. Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand “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.”

Mr. Stefan Mecha, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand for China, said, “Over the next three years, we will bring out more than 20 state-of-the-art NEVs alone with forward-looking technologies to cater to all our different customers in China. With our ‘In China, for China’ strategy we will now realize our full potential and demonstrate our innovative strength at local level.”

Mr. Thomas Ulbrich, CEO of Volkswagen China Technology Center (VCTC), said, “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.”