Volkswagen Group China (VW China) has delivered the China Electronic Architecture (CEA) on schedule, paving the way for its first CEA-based model — the VW ID. UNYX 07 — thereby marking VW’s entry into ‘full cycle Software-Defined Vehicle’ production ‘In China for China’. Over the course of this year the Group will present four further vehicles from all VW joint ventures with the new architecture, which was developed by VW China technology company (VCTC), CARIAD China, and XPENG. The vehicle is produced at the VW Anhui plant.
The China Electronic Architecture is a zonal electronic and electrical architecture with high-performance central computing; it is also designed to be scalable and continuously upgradable, and Volkswagen Group China is the first automotive manufacturer to use its zonal architecture across multiple vehicle platforms and all powertrain types. These include full electric vehicles, hybrids and combustion engine cars.
Compared with previous vehicle generations, CEA reduces the number of electronic control units by around 30%, significantly streamlining system complexity. This provides a ‘stable foundation for advanced AI cockpit functions, China-specific driver assistance systems, and full-vehicle over-the-air updates.’
VW’s CEO Oliver Blume said: “The start of production of our first zonal electronic architecture marks another milestone in our ‘In China, for China’ strategy. In just 18 months, we have built a completely new, scalable electronic architecture from development all the way to series production. The China Electronic Architecture (CEA) enables software-driven innovations across all powertrain types, accelerates the expansion of our intelligent connected vehicle (ICV) portfolio in China, and represents a decisive step in our software strategy towards our ambition of becoming a global automotive tech driver.”
VW China’s CEO Ralf Brandstätter added: “We have now blazed the trail for a new generation of Intelligent Connected Vehicles in China. The China Electronic Architecture allows us to bring software-driven innovation to market at competitive cost and speed, across electric vehicles, hybrids and combustion engine models. This is how we scale Intelligent Connected Vehicles in China — combining local speed with VW DNA.”