Three weeks ago, Volkswagen Group (China) launched two brand new ID. pure electric models based on the MEB modular electric drive platform, namely FAW-Volkswagen ID.4 CROZZ and SAIC-Volkswagen ID.4 X. A few days ago, IIA learned that the two new cars have started production at the Foshan plant and the Anting plant respectively, and will be launched in early 2021. At the same time, the total annual production capacity of Foshan and Anting plants can reach 600,000 vehicles.

The Anting plant is Volkswagen's first new MEB plant in the world, and is a brand-new plant specially built for the production of pure electric vehicles. Although the construction cost of an exclusive factory for MEB platform models is high, through the adoption of standardized measures, the infrastructure cost of the Anting factory is still reduced by 5% compared with the construction cost of the previous automobile factory.

The Foshan plant has optimized its original production facilities and has become one of the most flexible plants in the Volkswagen Group’s global production network, capable of producing MQB fuel models and MEB BEVs on the same production line. Both factories started construction in the second half of 2018, and were fully completed and mass-produced in just two years.

Dr. Stephan Wöllenstein, CEO of Volkswagen Group (China), said: “Our ID. series models based on the MEB platform will redefine the new energy vehicle market. The MEB platform has unique diversity and can provide an extremely flexible vehicle production platform. As a result, we will provide customers with pure electric vehicles covering different levels and body styles, including compact models, buses with comfortable space, and SUV models. The production of two local MEB plants is an important milestone in the group's electrification process. This will make the price of our high-quality electric vehicle products more attractive and help them become mainstream models in the market."