Good lord, Volkswagen reckons it’ll launch 30 new models in China by 2027

Volkswagen is kickstarting its Chinese offensive, and it’ll apparently launch ‘over 30 new models’ specifically for the Chinese market before the end of 2027. Yep, that’s just over a year and a half away. Sorry, what? It usually takes VW at least four years to facelift a Golf. How on earth is it going to do that?

“We picked up ‘China speed’ with our new development centre in Hefei,” said Thomas Ulbrich, CEO of said centre. “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.”

This is all part of Volkswagen’s ‘In China, for China’ strategy that it first mentioned alongside the ID. Code concept back in April last year, and now there are three more concept cars that will all make production in some form in the (very) near future.

So, say hello (from left to right in the group image) to the ID. AURA, the ID. ERA and the ID. EVO. We hope Mitsubishi is prepping its lawyers to have a go at the latter.

Let’s dig a little deeper quickly, shall we? As alluded to by Ulbrich, all three of these concepts have been developed with different Chinese joint venture partners. The ID. AURA is an FAW-Volkswagen project, ID. ERA is SAIC VOLKSWAGEN (their caps, not ours) and the ID. EVO is by Volkswagen Anhui.

Both the design and the tech of all three cars has been “specifically tailored to the needs of Chinese customers”, says VW. That means all three will get smartphone-like infotainment systems, AI-based humanoid assistants and Level 2++ autonomous driving tech in their production forms.

Oh, and the chunky three-row ID. ERA SUV will actually be VW’s first ever range extender hybrid. Expect 186 miles of all-electric range and a petrol engine able to top that up to over 620 miles in a single sitting. There’s no word yet on the powertrain of the AURA, but the EVO will be a full EV based on an 800-volt platform for rapid charging.

Reckon VW can get those 30 new models out by the end of 2027? And would you like to see any sold on our shores too?