Volkswagen launched the ID.UNYX 08, starting at under $35,000 in China. The fully connected electric SUV is Volkswagen’s first EV co-developed with XPeng. Volkswagen’s first custom-tailored EV rolls out in China After BYD ended Volkswagen’s 15-year run as China’s top-selling car brand in 2023, Volkswagen is looking to make a comeback. However, the German automaker’s all-electric vehicles dropped 63% in the first quarter ahead of its biggest EV offensive yet. As part of its “In China, for China” strategy, Volkswagen is going on the offensive, with plans to launch a new EV every two weeks on average this year, starting with the ID.UNYX 08. The ID.UNYX 08 is Volkswagen’s first fully connected, purely electric full-size SUV developed through its partnership with XPeng. After opening pre-orders in China last month with prices ranging from 239,900 yuan to 299,900 yuan ($34,500 to $43,500), Volkswagen officially launched the ID.UNYX 08 SUV in China on Thursday night. The new electric SUV is priced slightly below its pre-sale price, starting at 229,900 yuan ($33,700). It’s available in three trims: Pure Ultra and Max. With German engineering infused with advanced local technology, the electric SUV is Volkswagen’s most advanced EV for the Chinese market and a cornerstone of its ambitions to reclaim market share in the region. After announcing the first series models rolled off the production line at Volkswagen Anhui in Hefei on March 13, Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume said, “Three years ago, we launched our strong China strategy – It is now unleashing its full power. The ID.UNYX 08 is the next impressive proof of this.” Based on an 800V electric architecture co-developed with XPeng, the ID.UNYX 08 features ultra-fast charging, allowing it to recharge from 10% to 80% in about 20 minutes. The electric SUV is equipped with XPeng’s latest Vision-Language-Action (VLA