Xpeng, Volkswagen speeding up new EV development

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng has teamed up with German automaker Volkswagen AG to establish project houses for engineers in Guangzhou and Hefei.

These facilities aim to speed up the development of new EV architecture, allowing engineers from both companies to collaborate closely.

The goal is to begin production of jointly developed vehicle architecture—comprising electronic components, modules, and network configurations—by 2026.

Ralf Brandstätter, Volkswagen AG’s board member for China, announced that all Volkswagen electric vehicles in China will feature this advanced architecture starting in 2026.

This initiative is part of a broader agreement to create more affordable, intelligent, and electric cars for the Chinese market.

The partnership began last year when Volkswagen acquired a 4.99 per cent stake in Xpeng for approximately $700 million, with plans to launch two Volkswagen-branded EV models by 2026.

Attribution: Reuters