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BMW to Launch 20 New and Updated Models in China by End of 2027
Volkswagen Prepares to Import Selected Chinese EVs to Europe
Volkswagen is evaluating bringing China-only electric models to Europe as additions to its existing line-up, with the ID Unyx 09 and ID Aura T6 among potential candidates.
By Charlotte Redford · 4 min read
Volkswagen is preparing to import a limited number of its China-developed electric vehicles into Europe, but the models would supplement rather than replace its existing range, the company's chief executive has said. Thomas Schäfer told Autocar at the Paris motor show that the group is «getting ready for bringing one or more vehicles in from China», describing the move as a way to test demand for models that would not otherwise be engineered for the European market.
The German manufacturer has built a family of vehicles developed «in China for China» on a dedicated architecture tailored to that region. Some of those cars are technically too large for European tastes, Schäfer suggested, citing the 5.2-metre-long ID Era SUV as an example of a model that would not necessarily be developed for Europe. Instead, the company is considering «some selected imports to see how it works», he said, adding explicitly that the plan is «not to replace any of the existing vehicles».
Among the potential candidates is the new ID Unyx 09, an electric saloon co-developed with Volkswagen's Chinese partner Xpeng. The 4.8-metre-long ID Aura T6 SUV is another possibility, which could sit above the smaller ID Tiguan in Europe and give Volkswagen a rival to the Volvo EX60. Any imports would therefore extend the brand's European offering rather than displace current products such as the ID Tiguan.
Schäfer said the group's work in China has focused heavily on cost reduction over the past two years, covering both material and engineering expenses. «We've radically rethought the vehicles and worked with partners here [in Europe] and there [in China]», he said, noting that the resulting cars are «completely cost-competitive in the Chinese market». Technical chief Kai Grünitz and his team have worked in parallel with Chinese colleagues, he added, giving Volkswagen close oversight of every stage of development.
The company has already begun exporting Chinese-built vehicles to markets with easier access from China than Europe, including Australia and the Middle East. Schäfer described this as a first step, with Europe potentially following through a limited import programme. The strategy reflects a broader shift among established carmakers, which are increasingly looking to leverage Chinese engineering and supply chains to compete on price in the electric vehicle segment.
For European buyers, the plan could eventually widen the choice of affordable electric models wearing a Volkswagen badge, though the company has stressed that any imports would be selective. The move also carries industrial implications: Volkswagen has extensive manufacturing operations across Europe, and Schäfer's insistence that Chinese imports would not replace existing vehicles appears designed to reassure plants and workers that the core European line-up remains the priority.
The Paris motor show comments stop short of confirming which models will arrive or when. Volkswagen's evaluation is ongoing, and the company has framed the potential imports as a test of how Chinese-developed products perform with European customers. The ID Unyx 09 and ID Aura T6 remain the most frequently cited candidates, but no final decision on European sales has been announced.
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