VW Consolidates EV R&D in China, Looks to Build 'Wolfsburg of the East' in Anhui, Report Says
VW Consolidates EV R&D in China, Looks to Build 'Wolfsburg of the East' in Anhui, Report Says
In a recent shake-up, Volkswagen moved its BEV R&D resources in China to Anhui province, where it hopes to build a "Wolfsburg of the East," according to local media.
據當地媒體報道，大衆汽車近期將其中國新能源汽車研發資源搬至安徽省，計劃在那裏打造一個「東方的沃爾夫斯堡」。
German automotive giant Volkswagen is reportedly consolidating its R&D resources for electric vehicles (EVs) in China, hoping to make Anhui its second global R&D center.
據報道，德國汽車巨頭大衆正在整合其在中國的新能源汽車研發資源，希望將安徽作爲其全球第二個新能源汽車研發中心。
In a recent restructuring, Volkswagen has centralized its battery electric vehicle (BEV) R&D in China to Volkswagen (China) Technology Co Ltd (VCTC) in east China's Anhui province, according to a report in local media outlet 36kr today.
當地媒體36氪今日報道，大衆汽車近期進行了重組，將其純電動車（BEV）研發集中到了中國東部安徽省的大衆汽車（中國）科技有限公司。
A large number of Volkswagen employees will be transferred to VCTC in Anhui, or redeployed to other operations, while the Beijing R&D center retains some hybrid project development, according to the report.
據36氪報道，大量大衆員工將被調往安徽的大衆汽車科技有限公司（VCTC），或被重新部署到其他業務部門，而北京的研發中心將保留一些混合動力項目的開發。
New models developed at the VCTC will be produced and sold by Volkswagen's three joint ventures in China -- Volkswagen Anhui, SAIC Volkswagen, and FAW-Volkswagen, according to the report.
據報道，由VCTC研發的新車型將由大衆在中國的三家合資企業——大衆安徽、上汽大衆和一汽-大衆生產和銷售。
The move means that Volkswagen, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany, has relocated its R&D 7,000 kilometers eastward, and the VCTC will become Wolfsburg of the East, the report said, citing an insider.
報道援引內部人士的話表示，這意味着總部位於德國的大衆汽車將其研發中心向東搬遷了7000公里，VCTC將成爲「東方的沃爾夫斯堡」。
VCTC currently employs around 2,000 people and aims to reach 3,000 in 2024, according to the report.
據報道，VCTC目前僱用約2000名員工，計劃在2024年達到3000人左右。
The move is seen as an important sign that Volkswagen's EV business in China is picking up speed, 36kr said.
據36氪報道，這一舉措被視爲大衆汽車在中國新能源汽車業務加速發展的重要信號。
Future Volkswagen BEVs in China will be built on two pure electric platforms -- MEB (Modular Electric Drive Matrix) and CMP (China Main Platform), the report noted.
據報道，未來在中國生產的大衆純電動車將基於兩種純電動車平台：模塊化電驅動矩陣（MEb）和中國主平台（CMP）。
Models built on the MEB platform will go on sale globally, and the VCTC will be responsible for adapting new vehicles on the platform in China. The CMP, on the other hand, is a dedicated platform developed by Volkswagen for the Chinese market, and the VCTC will lead the research and development of new vehicles on the platform, according to 36kr.
據36氪報道，基於MEb平台生產的車型將在全球範圍內銷售，VCTC將負責調整平台上的新車型在中國市場的銷售。CMP平台則是大衆專門爲中國市場開發的平台，VCTC將領導該平台的新車型研發。
Both platforms will use the CEA electrical and electronic architecture developed by VCTC, Cariad and Xpeng (NYSE: XPEV), the report said.
據報道，這兩種平台都將使用由VCTC、Cariad和小鵬汽車（NYSE:XPEV）開發的CEA電氣和電子架構。
Before VCTC was established, Volkswagen's BEVs were designed and developed by its headquarters in Germany, while FAW-Volkswagen and SAIC Volkswagen adapted the prototypes to the Chinese market based on their own positioning and understanding of the market.
據36氪報道，在VCTC成立之前，大衆汽車的BEV是由其總部在德國設計開發的，而一汽-大衆和上汽大衆則根據其自身的定位和對市場的理解，將這些樣車據地化調整以適應中國市場。
Under the original R&D model, Volkswagen has to localize its new cars in China through joint ventures. But the low willingness of its JVs to develop BEV business has made it harder to advance its electrification strategy, 36kr noted.
據36氪指出，在最初的研發模式中，大衆汽車必須通過合資企業將其新車本地化生產。但由於合資夥伴開發BEV業務的意願較低，因此大衆汽車在推進電動化戰略上遇到了一些困難。
As product iterations in China's new energy vehicle (NEV) market continue to accelerate, Volkswagen has had to make changes, the report said.
據報道，隨着中國新能源汽車市場產品迭代的加速，大衆汽車不得不進行調整。
VCTC-led research and development of the new vehicles will be handled by Volkswagen Anhui, which will be responsible for major production, the report said, adding that production costs for Volkswagen's BEV models are expected to be reduced by 40 percent under the new approach.
報道稱，由VCTC主導的新車型研發將由大衆安徽負責主要生產。報道還稱，新的生產方法下，大衆BEV車型的生產成本有望降低40%。
Volkswagen Anhui, a joint venture between Volkswagen and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group (JAC) established in 2017, is the German automaker's first NEV-focused joint venture in China.
大衆安徽是一家成立於2017年的大衆汽車與安徽江淮汽車集團（JAC）的合資企業，是該德國汽車製造商在中國的第一家新能源汽車合資企業。
The company was initially called Jianghuai Volkswagen Automobile Co, Ltd, and at the end of 2020, Volkswagen increased its stake in the company to 75 percent and had the company renamed Volkswagen Anhui.
該公司最初名爲江淮大衆汽車有限公司，2020年年底，大衆汽車將其持股比例增至75%，並將其更名爲大衆安徽。
On July 17, Volkswagen Anhui launched its first EV model, the ID.UNYX, based on Volkswagen's MEB platform.
據報道，7月17日，大衆安徽發佈了其首款純電動車型，即基於大衆MEb平台的ID.UNYX。
36kr's report noted that the composition of Volkswagen's R&D centers in Germany and Anhui are similar, and that the automotive giant still needs time to find the right mechanism to run the businesses.
36氪的報告指出，大衆汽車在德國和安徽的研發中心的構成相似，巨大的任務是還需要時間來找到正確的運營機制。
VW Anhui launches ID.UNYX, its 1st EV model in China, starting at $28,900
大衆安徽推出了ID.UNYX，這是其在中國推出的第一款電動汽車，起價爲28,900美元。