Gasgoo Munich- On Jan 28, Volkswagen Group China said its regionally controlled electronic and electrical architecture, known as CEA (China Electronic Architecture) and developed specifically for the Chinese market, had entered delivery by the end of 2025.
Image source: Volkswagen China
The first Volkswagen-brand model built on the new architecture, the ID. UNYX 07, has gone into production at the Volkswagen Anhui plant.
The CEA was jointly developed by Volkswagen Group China Technology Company ("VCTC"), CARIAD China and XPENG. Built around a zonal control concept and a high-performance central computing platform, it is designed for scalability and continuous software upgrades. With its rollout, Volkswagen Group China claims to be the first automaker to deploy a zonal electronic architecture at scale across multiple vehicle platforms, spanning battery-electric, hybrid and internal combustion models.
From initial concept to mass production, development of the CEA took just 18 months, marking the fastest rollout of a new E/E architecture in Volkswagen Group's history. Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume described the milestone as a critical step in the company's "in China, for China" strategy, providing the technical backbone for software-led innovation tailored to local market needs.
Compared with previous-generation vehicles, the CEA cuts the number of electronic control units by around 30%, significantly reducing system complexity. This streamlined structure offers a more robust foundation for AI-powered smart cockpits, China-specific advanced driver assistance features and full-vehicle over-the-air updates.
By embracing a software-defined vehicle development model—characterized by deeper local R&D collaboration and earlier supplier involvement—Volkswagen has lifted vehicle development efficiency in China by up to 30%. For some key new models, development costs have been reduced by as much as 50%, enabling faster responses to rapidly shifting market demand.
Ralf Brandstätter, chairman and CEO of Volkswagen Group China, said the CEA allows the group to deliver software innovations at greater speed and lower cost across a broad range of powertrain platforms. He described the combination of "China speed" with Volkswagen's engineering DNA as a defining approach to scaling up intelligent connected vehicle development in the country.
From 2026, vehicles built on the CEA will expand from the A-segment into the B-segment, with the technology set to be rolled out across new models from Volkswagen's three joint ventures in China.
According to Thomas Ulbrich, chief technology officer of Volkswagen Group China and CEO of VCTC, five battery-electric vehicle models based on the CEA will be launched in 2026 through the group's three joint ventures. Among them will be the first model to combine the CEA with Volkswagen's locally developed CMP vehicle platform.
With the CEA now entering mass production, Volkswagen Group's intelligent transformation in China is moving into a concrete execution phase. The automaker plans to launch more than 20 new energy vehicle models in China in 2026, further strengthening its position in the country's rapidly evolving smart mobility landscape.
