Volkswagen Anhui on Thursday started pre-sales of the ID. UNYX 08, its first full-size all-electric SUV, marking another step of the German brand's "In China for China" strategy.

Stefan Timmermann, CEO of Volkswagen (Anhui) Digital Sales and Services Company, said the model is designed to better meet the needs of young Chinese families seeking a smarter and more efficient electric mobility experience.

Jointly developed by Volkswagen and XPeng, the vehicle went from initial sketch to production in about 24 months.

Timmermann said the shorter development cycle did not come at the expense of engineering standards, adding that Volkswagen always places strong emphasis on testing, quality assurance, simulation, crash validation and road testing.

A major focus of the new model is intelligent driving. The ID. UNYX 08 uses an enhanced Level 2 advanced driver-assistance system based on an end-to-end model and supports navigation-assisted driving on highways and urban roads.

The system is powered by dual Turing chips with up to 1,500 TOPS of computing power and 26 sensors, including 11 cameras, three millimeter-wave radars and 12 ultrasonic radars.

It also supports point-to-point assisted driving from one parking space to another, while allowing smooth driver intervention through a human-machine co-driving mode.

As smart functions become more standardized across the market, users are paying closer attention again to safety, quality, durability and driving performance, said Francis Liu, COO of Volkswagen (Anhui) Digital Sales and Services Company.

Liu said the ID. UNYX 08 is intended to combine those long-established Volkswagen strengths with advanced intelligent features, while also reflecting the benefits of Chinese-German cooperation in product development.

The cabin features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P chip, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and dual 15-inch 2.4K screens.

Volkswagen Anhui said the ID. UNYX 08 will be the first mass-produced model of the Volkswagen brand in China to use 800-volt fast-charging technology, based on a silicon-carbide platform.

It supports peak direct-current fast charging of 315 kilowatts, adding up to 150 kilometers of range in five minutes, while range reaches up to 730 km under the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle.

The model also features dual-chamber air suspension, Dynamic Chassis Control, and Brembo front four-piston fixed calipers.

Volkswagen Anhui plans to introduce a total of four models in 2026, including three new models and one updated model while continuing to expand its sales network in China.