Volkswagen is evaluating bringing some of its China-only models to Europe, but they would be additions to its existing line-up rather than replacements for current products.
The firm has a range of vehicles that were developed ‘in China for China’ and sit on a bespoke architecture tailored for that region. But it has previously said some of those models could be sold – and potentially manufactured – in Europe in the future.
Asked about that plan at the Paris motor show, Volkswagen boss Thomas Schäfer told Autocar: “The big thing about our strength in China is that we have done an exercise to bring down cost in in the vehicle – both material and engineering cost – over the last two years.
"We’ve radically rethought the vehicles and worked with partners here [in Europe] and there [in China]. We’ve set up vehicles that are completely cost-competitive in the Chinese market.
“We've been working with our colleagues in China, hand in hand. So [technical chief] Kai Grünitz and his team have been synergetically working with them. We know exactly every step and we have been working in parallel in our cars. We have not used more of it in terms of export or technology yet.
“We’re starting now to export to the global south and countries that have easier access from China than Europe, such as Australia and the Middle East.
“For the future, we’re getting ready for bringing one or more vehicles in from China. You know, there are some exciting cars that we would not develop for Europe necessarily because they are technically too big, like bringing in the ID Era [a 5.2m-long SUV]. But we might do some selected imports to see how it works. It's not to replace any of the existing vehicles.”
One potential candidate is the new ID Unyx 09, an electric saloon co-developed with VW's Chinese partner Xpeng, while the 4.8-metre-long ID Aura T6 SUV could sit above the smaller ID Tiguan in Europe, giving Volkswagen a Volvo EX60 rival.