Just 5 months after launching it, Volkswagen updates its electric car with a price of 24,500 € and a range of 730 km
20/09/2026 10:30
Updated to
20/09/2026 10:30
Introducing a new car and having to lower its price just a few months later is usually not a good sign, but the rules of the game in China’s electric vehicle market are different. Volkswagen Anhui, the German group’s subsidiary focused on new energy vehicles, has updated the ID. UNYX 08 and reduced its starting price just five months after launching it. This move speaks volumes about the pressure even established manufacturers face when competing in China under local regulations.
The ID. UNYX 08 is not just any electric SUV for Volkswagen: it is the first production model developed jointly with Xpeng, as a result of a technology partnership agreement between the two brands worth over 640 million euros. Its price reduction, along with the introduction of a new version, reflects the German automaker’s effort to turn that alliance into actual sales, something it had not fully achieved until now. Production continues at Volkswagen’s plant in Anhui, China.
A clear price cut
Volkswagen Anhui announced on Saturday that the new limited-time starting price is 189,900 yuan, approximately 24,500 euros at the current exchange rate. This amount is 40,000 yuan less, or about 5,160 euros, compared to the original starting price of 229,900 yuan (29,650 €) when the car was launched on April 16. In percentage terms, the discount is 17.4%. The regular lineup now consists of three trims: Pure, Ultra Plus, and Max Plus, with prices of 189,900, 219,900, and 249,900 yuan respectively.
LFP batteries and an 800-volt architecture
In terms of mechanics, the UNYX 08 uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries supplied by CATL, mounted on an 800-volt electrical architecture that allows it to charge from 10% to 80% in about 20 minutes. The Pure version is equipped with a battery of around 82 kWh and offers a CLTC range of 630 kilometers. The Ultra Plus and Max Plus variants, on the other hand, use a larger battery of about 95 kWh, with ranges of 730 and 700 kilometers respectively (CLTC).
Motors of up to 370 kW and all-wheel drive in the most powerful variant
The Pure and Ultra Plus versions use a single engine with rear-wheel drive and a maximum power of 230 kW, or about 313 horsepower. The Max Plus goes a step further with dual engines and all-wheel drive, delivering a combined power of 370 kW, nearly 503 horsepower, enabling the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds.
In addition to updating its regular lineup, Volkswagen has introduced the Lieying edition, which is also available with rear or all-wheel drive and comes at the same prices as the Ultra Plus and Max Plus versions. It features a black body, exclusive 21-inch wheels also in black, orange brake calipers, and an interior that combines both colors. It is equipped with a 95 kWh battery, offering a range of 730 kilometers in the rear-wheel-drive version and 700 kilometers in the all-wheel-drive version, and includes standard dual-chamber air suspension with variable damping—two features typically reserved for higher-end models.
Moderate sales drive the price cut
The reason for this price adjustment is no mystery. Data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) shows that retail sales of the ID. UNYX 08 rose from 133 units in July to 379 in August—figures that are modest for a model Volkswagen aims to position as a flagship of its partnership with Xpeng. To expand its sales network, the brand has also integrated selected FAW-Volkswagen dealerships under a “store within a store” format, with the goal of giving Volkswagen Anhui vehicles greater visibility in the Chinese market.