Volkswagen Group China used its April 21 media night in Beijing to place four first-time reveals at the center of a wider product push before Auto China 2026 opened to the public. The event gathered ten models from four brands under the “Rise Up” theme and also served as a stage for future mobility systems linked to artificial intelligence.
Four vehicles carried world-premiere status. One came from the AUDI label created only for China. The brand showed the exterior of the E7X, described as its second series-production model. FAW-Volkswagen added another electric entry through the ID. Aura line, built on the China Electronic Architecture, known as CEA. Volkswagen then presented the ID. Unyx 09, a sedan developed together with Xpeng and positioned against the Xiaomi SU7 and Tesla Model 3.
The fourth reveal arrived under the JETTA name. This was presented as the brand’s first show vehicle for smart electric mobility in the entry-level segment. Volkswagen separated Jetta into a dedicated sub-brand in 2019 through FAW, several years before Audi adopted the AUDI identity for China. The new concept, called JETTA X, takes the form of an all-electric crossover SUV with a square profile and a rugged stance.
No technical figures were attached to the JETTA X during the presentation. Volkswagen stayed brief there. The exterior shows faceted body surfaces, upright proportions, and a front section shaped around thin horizontal lighting. Inside, the cabin follows a screen-heavy layout with few physical controls, which points toward a minimal interface rather than a traditional dashboard arrangement.
Volkswagen linked the broader event to its “In China, for China” strategy. The company described the Beijing appearance as part of its largest electric-vehicle campaign so far for the local market, while facing continuing pressure linked to overcapacity and fierce local competition.
Robert Cisek, Chief Executive Officer of VW Brand China, said: “In 2026 alone, we will launch 13 new energy models, and by 2029, we will quickly expand the new energy product lineup covering pure electric, plug-in, and extended range technologies. We combined German craftsmanship with local innovation to create new models for our customers with Chinese speed, leading technology, and benchmark quality and safety.”
The JETTA branch plans four NEV models by 2028. The first one will be a crossover SUV. Volkswagen gave no schedule beyond that statement, though the concept shown in Beijing already outlines the direction with unusual clarity.
Auto China 2026 runs from April 24 through May 3. Beijing received other major launches during the same week, including Smart’s Global Brand Event 2026, though Volkswagen placed unusual weight on this gathering by concentrating four premieres in one evening.
Volkswagen Jetta X – Photo Gallery
