Gasgoo Munich- On January 28, Volkswagen Group China announced that its CEA architecture—a zonal control electronic and electrical architecture tailored specifically for the Chinese market—was officially delivered at the end of 2025. Coinciding with this, the first Volkswagen model to feature the system, the ID. UNY 07, entered production at the company’s Anhui plant.
Image source: Volkswagen Group
Jointly developed by Volkswagen Group China Technology Co. (VCTC), CARIAD China, and XPENG, the CEA architecture employs a zonal control design with an integrated high-performance central computing platform. It is built for scalability and continuous iteration. Volkswagen China becomes the first automaker in the industry to scale a zonal electronic architecture across multiple model platforms, spanning battery-electric, hybrid, and internal combustion engine powertrains.
Streamlined Architecture Boosts Efficiency, Cuts Development Costs by Up to 50%
The CEA architecture moved from concept to mass production in just 18 months, setting a record as the fastest-developed new E/E architecture in Volkswagen Group history. Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Group Board of Management, described the delivery as a critical milestone in the "In China, for China" strategy, laying the technical foundation for software-driven innovation tailored to the local market.
Compared to the previous generation, the CEA architecture cuts the number of electronic control units (ECUs) by roughly 30%, reducing system complexity. This streamlining provides a more stable foundation for AI-powered smart cockpits, China-specific advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and over-the-air (OTA) updates.
By adopting a software-defined vehicle development process—emphasizing localized R&D collaboration and early supplier involvement—Volkswagen has boosted its vehicle development efficiency in China by up to 30%. Development costs for key new models have dropped by as much as 50%. This agile workflow allows the group to respond more swiftly to local market demands.
Ralf Brandstätter, Chairman and CEO of Volkswagen Group China, emphasized that the CEA architecture enables the group to roll out software innovations with greater speed and cost-competitiveness across a range of platforms, including battery-electric, hybrid, and internal combustion models. "Deeply integrating China speed with Volkswagen DNA is our unique path to scaling the development of intelligent connected vehicles here," he said.
Five New Models Launching This Year, Covering A- to B-Segment Markets
Starting in 2026, models featuring the CEA architecture will expand from the A-segment into the B-segment, gradually covering new products across all three of Volkswagen's joint ventures in China.
Thomas Schäfer, Executive Vice President of Technology for Volkswagen China and CEO of VCTC, revealed that five battery-electric models based on the CEA architecture will launch in 2026 through the three joint ventures. Among them will be the first model to combine the CEA architecture with the localized CMP (China Main Platform).
Even as it pursues speed, Volkswagen is holding the line on safety and quality standards. Sanchu Han, CEO of CARIAD China, explained that by decoupling software and hardware development, prioritizing architecture software as the "main heartbeat," and introducing virtual validation tools, the team shortened early development phases without compressing testing cycles or compromising verification rigor.
The on-schedule launch of the CEA architecture marks more than just a critical leap in the group's intelligent transformation in China; it is a testament to the fusion of "China speed" and "Volkswagen DNA." It signals that Volkswagen Group has officially entered a "delivery mode" for strategic results in the Chinese market.
With the CEA architecture now in production, Volkswagen Group's intelligent transformation in China has entered a substantive implementation phase. In 2026, the group will fully accelerate its efforts in China, rolling out more than 20 new energy models across its brands to further consolidate its position in the intelligent mobility sector.
