Jetta EV launch highlights deeper China-Germany auto cooperation

The launch of a new electric sedan by FAW-Volkswagen's Jetta brand is putting the growing role of Chinese technology and local supply chains in German automakers' electrification strategies in focus, as the two countries deepen cooperation in the fast-evolving automotive industry.

The Jetta M6, the brand's first fully electric sedan, made its market debut in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on Oct 22, securing more than 10,000 orders within 19 hours of its launch, according to the company.

Priced between 79,800 yuan and 99,800 yuan ($11,970 to $14,970), the model comes in three versions. The top-end 555 Ultra variant offers advanced driver-assistance features, including navigation-assisted driving on urban roads and highways, bringing such technology to a price segment below 100,000 yuan.

The vehicle also reflects closer technological collaboration between German automakers and Chinese partners. Its driver-assistance system is supplied by CARIZON, a joint venture between Volkswagen and Chinese autonomous driving technology company Horizon Robotics, and is powered by Horizon's Journey 6M chip.

"We are bringing advanced intelligent features to the 100,000-yuan segment," said Dong Xiuhui, general manager of FAW-Volkswagen, at the launch. He said the new model uses a dedicated electric vehicle platform, an in-house electronic and electrical architecture and Chinese-developed intelligent driving technology.

The launch follows a cooperation agreement signed in August 2025 by Volkswagen Group China, FAW Group and the Chengdu Economic and Technological Development Zone to accelerate Jetta's transition toward new energy vehicles.

Under the agreement, Jetta plans to introduce four new energy models by 2028, targeting China's growing demand for affordable electric mobility.

The partnership is also drawing more local suppliers into the production network. More than 100 component suppliers in Chengdu are involved in the M6 project, with local procurement accounting for over 70 percent, according to industry information cited by the National Business Daily.

Gao Jiefang, general manager of Jetta Automotive Technology, described the M6 as a crucial step in the brand's transition from gasoline-powered vehicles to NEVs. Gao said the company has planned an annual production capacity of 100,000 units for the model, with further capacity expansion envisaged as additional vehicles are developed.

The expansion comes amid China's continuing shift toward electric mobility. New energy vehicle sales reached 12.47 million units in the first nine months of 2026, up 11.1 percent year-on-year, accounting for 53.6 percent of all new vehicle sales, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

For Volkswagen, China's role has extended beyond vehicle sales to become an increasingly important source of technological innovation and global competitiveness.

"China is increasingly a source of the group's global competitiveness and a core engine of innovation," Ralf Brandstatter, chairman and CEO of Volkswagen Group China, said at the World New Energy Vehicle Congress in September.

He said the German automaker plans to leverage vehicle platforms, electronic architectures and supply chains developed in China to expand its presence in international markets, including Southeast Asia and South America.

The growing importance of China-based innovation is also reflected in a survey by the German Chamber of Commerce in China.

Its 2026 innovation report showed that 73 percent of surveyed German automotive companies had research and innovation operations in China, while 81 percent said localizing research and development in the country had accelerated their development compared with Germany.

"Innovations that succeed in the Chinese market are often well positioned for global success," said Jan Roennfeld, executive director and board member of the German Chamber of Commerce in China — South and Southwest China.

lijiaying@chinadaily.com.cn