VOLKSWAGEN China Technology Co. (VCTC), Volkswagen Group’s largest development center outside Germany, will develop a new platform for entry-level electric vehicles (EVs) in China and use more local components to lower costs.

The new architecture, known as the A Main Platform, will be made specifically to Chinese consumer tastes with regards to the battery, electric drive and electric motor, Ralf Brandstaetter, chairman and CEO of Volkswagen China, said Friday.

Chinese new car buyers are younger, tech savvy and like a immersive digital experience from their cars, he said.

Derived from the modular electric drive matrix (MEB), Volkswagen’s existing electric-only platform in use since 2019, it will primarily use Chinese suppliers and should be ready for market in 2026, a third faster than previous platform development times, he added.

The firm has said it plans to introduce 10 more EV models globally by 2026 and speed up its time to market for new models from four years to closer to the 2.5-year average for its Chinese counterparts. (SD-Agencies)