The Volkswagen Group is set to join the competition in the largest new-energy market in the world as it prepares to launch eight new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China, based on a document leaked onto the Internet, Forbes reported.
With two joint ventures in China--FAW Volkswagen and Shanghai-Volkswagen--the German automaker will also add a third venture, JAC-Volkswagen, which will sell electric cars under a new unnamed brand.
According to the document, Volkswagen will sell four of the new NEVs, two under the Audi brand and JAC-Volkswagen with another two.
Three main platforms operate the NEVs: MLB, MQB and MEB. On the other hand, the JAC-Volkswagen cars will use the existing JAC platforms.
The four NEVs under Volkswagen include the following:
- e-Golf - This is Volkswagen's most affordable NEV, with 134 horsepower(hp) and a 200 kilometer range. The e-Golf will be introduced later this year. It uses MQB platform.
- Tiguan PHEV - It is a plug-in hybrid version of the new Tiguan L, which has 2.0 turbo and an electric motor with an output of about 220hp. It will be launched in early 2018. It also uses MQB platform.
- Phideon PHEV, a plug-in hybrid version of the China-only Phideon sedan, with 245hp. It will launch late this year. The hybrid is using MLB platform.
- I.D. electric compact crossover- It is the first car developed by Volkswagen as an electric car from the start. It will also be the first car to be based on the MEB platform. It will have around 68 horsepower and a 410 kilometer range.
Under the Audi brand, the two NEVs are:
- A6L e-tron - It is a plug-in hybrid variant of the China-only Audi A6L sedan, which will be launched on the Chinese car market in the first quarter. It has the same hybrid system as the Phideon PHEV. It uses the MLB platform.
- Q6 e-tron Quattro - It is the production version of the E-Tron Quattro Concept. It will be launched in the market in late 2018.
Both the two NEvs will be made by FAW-Volkswagen, the report said.
According to the report, the other two NEVs to be sold by JAC-Volkswagen are still being developed. One of them is a compact SUV based on the JAC iEV6S and a small sedan, likely to be based on the JAC iEV5.
The new brand is set to be launched on the Shanghai Auto Show in April and the first car is expected to come out in 2018.
The company launched the iEV6S on the Chinese market early last year. It is powered by a 114hp electric motor and has a range of 253 kilometers.
Meanwhile, the iEV5 is one of China's most popular compact electric sedans, which costs only 85,600 yuan ($12,450). It has 68 horsepower and a 200 kilometer range.