Volkswagen Anhui's ID. UNYX is set for a fruitful year, as a new wave of intelligent connected vehicles aimed at China's fast-evolving market is coming.

Three new electric models — the ID. UNYX 07 mid-size sedan, the ID. UNYX 08 full-size SUV, and a third yet-to-be-announced sedan — are to hit the market in 2026, said Stefan Timmermann, CEO of Volkswagen (Anhui) Digital Sales and Services Co, at Auto Guangzhou.

Together with the refreshed 2026 ID. UNYX 06 SUV, they will form a lineup expected to boost the sales volume and the image of the company, as Volkswagen's youngest but promising joint venture in the country.

Born in 2024, the ID. UNYX category aims to add emotional appeal to the Volkswagen lineup in the era of smart e-mobility, while maintaining its signature DNA of quality, reliability, drivability and safety.

The ID. UNYX is tailored to the needs of urban consumers seeking a vehicle that matches their lifestyle. Of the new models, the ID. UNYX 08, which is to hit the market in the first quarter of 2026, will be the heavyweight.

"It will be a key pillar of success, not only volume-wise, but also at a corporate level financially," said Timmermann.

His confidence is understandable. It is Volkswagen's first EV in China compatible with 800-volt ultra fast charging, offering a China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle range of over 700 kilometers.

It stands out in the lineup thanks to its new, progressive design language, locally developed architecture, and enhanced Level 2++ ADAS capabilities, reflecting a blend of German engineering and localized Chinese innovation.

Chen Jing, CMO of Volkswagen (Anhui) Digital Sales and Services Co, said the ID. UNYX 08 is the epitome of Volkswagen's "in China for China" strategy. The model is built based on the ID. EVO concept, which is on show at Auto Guangzhou.

Despite the emphasis on innovation and connectivity, Timmermann has stressed the importance of safety, durability and driving confidence.

At Volkswagen Anhui, every model undergoes crash testing well beyond national standards, with more than 400 battery-safety assessments covering structural protection, thermal management, and emergency power cutoff.

Durability testing includes a total of 3.5 million km, equivalent to 88 trips around the globe, and "two-winter, two-summer" climate trials in extreme environments. These range from Heihe in China's northernmost Heilongjiang province to Turpan in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

High-performance chassis systems are calibrated to China's roads by Germany's top engineers to ensure stable handling and premium ride quality.

Timmermann said the combination of advanced technology, rigorous safety standards, and localized design would position the brand's models to compete effectively in China's crowded and rapidly evolving NEV market.

The ID. UNYX 07, a smart electric sedan to hit the market in mid-2026, is also set to make a splash. It adopts ID. UNYX's "wind-sculpted" aerodynamic design and is to debut a new electronic/electrical architecture developed for China.

With reduced system complexity, it enhances computing performance and safety at the same time.

This foundation enables advanced intelligent cockpit experiences, driver-assistance functions, and continuous over-the-air updates, making the ID. UNYX 07 one of the smartest Volkswagen models in China.

ID. UNYX is also refreshing the ID. UNYX 06 in 2026 as well, which has been the brand's only model on the market so far.

Chen said the company will make greater efforts in terms of branding with the arrival of new models, so that target buyers will have a clearer understanding of the company's positioning, its growing lineup of products, and their strengths such as handling.

Some changes are visible at its booth at Auto Guangzhou, where a special edition ID. UNYX 06, developed in collaboration with Disney's Zootopia 2, is attracting younger buyers.

The bright yellow custom model is designed with playful character elements to foster emotional engagement and lifestyle connection. It incorporates nearly 50 hardware and software upgrades and adds a Pure trim with a 53.6 kilowatt-hour lithium iron phosphate battery, providing an affordable entry point. The SUV also features eight in-car games, metaverse-style social functions, and a fragrance system, all designed to enhance experiential value.

For personalization, factory-applied color wraps are available in five palettes and 15 custom colors, backed by a three-year warranty.

ID. UNYX said these options allow younger users to express individual style while maintaining quality assurance.

But products and branding alone will not suffice. Chen said the company is making sure its sales network is ready for product launches.

"For quite a long time, we have had only one model, the ID. UNYX 06, and our dealers have been waiting for new cars. But they cannot just wait, they must get fully prepared.

"When we have showroom traffic, it depends on our sales network to turn that traffic into orders," said Chen.

Meanwhile, ID. UNYX is expanding its sales network, which will have 200 points of sales by the end of 2026, up from around 120 by the end of 2025.

"Quantity is one aspect. For me, quality is more important," said Timmermann.

The CEO has set up a team to do mystery calls every week, asking dealerships questions about products, to see if they are doing as they have been trained.

"We are doing mystery calls every week. If the results are not improving, we will do them every day, and if they still do not improve, we might do it every hour.

"I will not compromise if someone tells me 'we are good', then I have to say 'sorry, good is not good enough.' I want you to be the best. Not merely meeting customers' expectations, but even overfulfill their expectations," said Timmermann.