As more carmakers double down on their efforts to cater specifically to China’s fast-evolving EV market, buyers in other parts of the world are being left out of some genuinely interesting vehicles. The VW ID. Era 9X is one of the latest examples, and it brings quite a bit to the table.

Revealed through filings with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, as well as VW itself, this new production SUV emerges from the SAIC Volkswagen joint venture. It’s a large, range-extender SUV positioned to compete in a growing segment of vehicles that blend electric driving with longer-distance practicality.

Read: VW’s Next Electric Sedan Looks Nothing Like You’d Expect

Battery-electric SUVs are increasingly common in China, but they still don’t meet the needs of every buyer. That’s where extended-range EVs, or EREVs, come into their own.

A Full-Size SUV Built for China

The VW ID. Era 9X, which somewhat curiously shares its 9X badge with Zeekr’s own EREV SUV, is bigger than many popular Western model, including the VW Atlas and Touareg. It even edges out the BMW X7 in overall length. Measuring 5,207 mm (205 inches) long, 1,997 mm (78.6 inches) wide, and 1,810 mm (71.2 inches) tall, the Era 9X rides on a 3,070 mm (120.8-inch) wheelbase.

For reference, the BMW X7 comes in at 5,181 mm (204 inches) in length, 2,000 mm (78.7 inches) wide, and 1,805 mm (71.1 inches) tall, with a 3,105 mm (122.2-inch) wheelbase. This makes the ID. Era 9X slightly longer and taller, though marginally narrower and with a slightly shorter wheelbase. In terms of footprint, it’s firmly in full-size luxury SUV territory.

The exterior design remains remarkably close to the original ID. Era concept that VW unveiled earlier last year, with a premium and contemporary look that hasn’t been watered down much in the transition to production.

Volkswagen hasn’t revealed the production interior yet. But if it mirrors the concept closely, expect a massive dashboard-spanning infotainment system to carry over. There may also be an optional roof-mounted display for rear passengers. The spec sheet confirms that the ID. Era 9X will come with six seats in a 2+2+2 arrangement.

Powertrain Options

Where things get more interesting is under the skin. The ID. Era 9X is an extended-range electric vehicle, using a gasoline engine only to charge the battery. Volkswagen will offer it in three powertrain configurations, with both rear- and all-wheel drive options.

The base model features a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 220 kW (295 hp), powered by a 51.1 kWh LFP battery. It delivers a pure electric range of up to 267 km (166 miles). The curb weight comes in at 2,600 kg (5,732 lbs).

The second variant uses the same electric motor driving the rear wheels but swaps in a larger 65.2 kWh NMC battery. This upgrade boosts the pure electric range to 340 km (211 miles). It weighs slightly more at 2,620 kg (5,776 lbs).

Finally, at the top end, it keeps the 65.2 kWh battery but adds a second electric motor on the rear axle, bumping total output to 380 kW (510 hp). This dual-motor setup increases curb weight to 2,700 kg (5,952 lbs). Pure electric range drops slightly to 321 km (199 miles).

While full combined range figures haven’t been published, all three configurations are expected to comfortably exceed 1,000 km (over 600 miles) when using both battery and gasoline power, depending on the final gas tank capacity.

Will It Go Global?

Pricing is still under wraps and should be announced in the coming months before the vehicle officially goes on sale. While a Western launch isn’t confirmed, there’s reason to keep a small window of optimism open for certain martkets.

Mazda already offers its China-built JV models in Europe and Australia, having debuted the new CX-6e SUV earlier today, and Nissan is preparing to follow suit. It’s not out of the question for Volkswagen to consider doing the same with the ID. Era 9X, at least in select international markets, though a US launch is firmly off the table.

Launching a brand-new EV in China under a fresh badge with no Audi rings in sight might have seemed like an odd gamble at the time. But with the E5 Sportback now crowned China Car of the Year, Audi’s unconventional move is starting to look like a smart one. The car, developed in partnership with SAIC, is the first product of a standalone brand created specifically for the Chinese market.

While the China Car of the Year awards don’t carry quite the same global weight as the World Car Awards, they’re still judged by a panel that includes automotive journalists and industry insiders. And since the awards launched in 2014, Western brands have consistently punched above their weight.

Read: Of Course, The New AUDI E5 EV Is Ridiculously Cheap In China

Audi, or rather in this case, AUDI, began production of the E5 Sportback in August last year, with the first deliveries following just a month later. It enters a crowded but fast-moving EV space, where pricing pressure and tech innovation come at breakneck speed. Like many of its peers, the E5 Sportback offers strong value, a factor that’s undoubtedly helped fuel interest.

The EV, combining German engineering and quality with Chinese tech, is available in four different configurations. Prices range from 235,900 yuan (about $33,800) to 319,900 yuan (roughly $45,800) for the range-topping Flagship Quattro. That top-tier model features dual motors delivering 776 hp, a 100 kWh battery, and an estimated range of 402 miles (647 km) on a single charge.

Spurred on by the success of the sleek estate, Audi presented its new E SUV Concept at November’s Guangzhou Auto Show. This model has a similar design to the Sportback and will be launched later this year as the E7X.

The Other Winners

Of course, the E5 Sportback wasn’t the only car to earn recognition. Other winners included the Nio ET9, named Luxury Car of the Year, the iCAR V23 as Budget Car of the Year, the Ferrari 296 Speciale for Performance Car of the Year, and Audi’s own A5L, which took home Design Car of the Year.

Last year, the overall title went to the Aito M9, a flagship electric SUV. Other award recipients included the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the Geely Galaxy E5, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, and Volkswagen’s ID.UNYX. In recent years, premium European brands have maintained a strong showing. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class won in 2022, followed by the EQE in 2023, and the BMW i7 in 2024.

A growing number of Chinese electric vehicles are drawing comparisons to the Porsche Taycan, but a new contender might be the most convincing lookalike yet. While Xiaomi’s SU7 has already been called out for its resemblance to the sleek German sports sedan, another EV is preparing to enter the scene that arguably takes it a step further.

This new model, the Z7, is being developed by HIMA and will be sold under the SAIC nameplate, also known domestically as Shangjie.

Read: VW And SAIC Extend Deal To 2040, Plan New Hybrids And Range-Extender EVs

For those less familiar, HIMA stands for Harmony Intelligence Mobility Alliance. It’s an initiative led by Chinese tech heavyweight Huawei in partnership with several local automakers including Seres, Chery, BAIC, JAC, and SAIC. Vehicles under this umbrella are marketed through several brands, including Aito, Luxeed, Stelato, Maextro, and SAIC itself.

Does This Look Familiar?

An intriguing teaser image released by HIMA reveals that the new Z7’s side profile will also be the spitting image of a Porsche Taycan. Like the German sedan, the Z7 has a sleek and elegant shape with flush door handles and sculpted rear fenders. The shape of the rear, rear window, and taillights looks like the spitting image of the Taycan’s. Heck, even the doors themselves look exactly like the Porsches.

HIMA released a darkened teaser image hinting at the Z7’s design, and it doesn’t leave much to the imagination. The car’s side profile bears a strong resemblance to the Taycan, right down to its smooth, coupe-like roofline, flush door handles, and pronounced rear fenders.

The tail section, including the rear window and light bar, also mirrors Porsche’s design language so closely it borders on mimicry. Even the door shapes look eerily familiar.

For what it’s worth, there are some differences, at least up front. The Z7’s headlights are styled quite differently, and a prominent LiDAR unit sits just above the windshield, suggesting the car may prioritize advanced driver assistance or autonomous capabilities.

An Estate Variant in the Works Too

Chinese automotive site Autohome has also tracked down a camouflaged prototype of what appears to be an estate version of the Z7. Only one image has surfaced so far, but it’s enough to draw clear parallels with the Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo. The overall stance, roofline, and rear proportions seem closely aligned.

No specifications for the Z7 have been released, so it remains to be seen how HIMA plans to position the vehicle. It could go head-to-head with Xiaomi’s SU7 in terms of performance, or it may aim for a higher price point, with a more premium market in mind.

Whatever the case may be, the Z7 will almost certainly undercut the Porsche Taycan in price. The Taycan starts at around 1 million yuan, or more than $140,000. In contrast, the Xiaomi SU7 starts at just 215,900 yuan, roughly $30,000. Expect the Z7 to land somewhere in that range, offering the Taycan’s silhouette at a fraction of the cost.

Chinese carmakers continue to accelerate their presence across Europe, steadily carving out a larger slice of the market. Once regarded as niche entrants, they now account for a 6.8 percent share of total European sales in October, with powerhouses like SAIC and BYD leading the charge while Tesla’s momentum falters.

Chinese Brands Gain Ground

In that month alone, around 75,000 vehicles from Chinese brands were sold across the European Union, the UK, and EFTA nations, which include Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

SAIC enjoyed a particularly strong month, with sales soaring from 17,552 in October last year to 23,860 this October. Across the January-October period, its sales have also risen 26.6 percent from 197,686 to 250,250 units.

Read: BYD’s European Expansion Is About to Explode

BYD is also enjoying a surge in demand and has almost triple Tesla’s sales. In October, the company sold a total of 17,470 vehicles across the region, a 206.8 percent rise from 5,695 last October. Year-to-date, its sales have increased by a monumental 285 percent, from 35,949 to 138,390 units.

Tesla’s Bloodbath

Things are not looking so pretty for Tesla. In October, its European sales slipped 48.5 percent from 13,519 units in the same month last year to just 6,964 in 2025. That means it fell even behind Porsche, which itself recorded a 26 percent sales decline but still usurped Tesla with 7,653 sales. Through the first ten months of the year, the American brand’s local sales have fallen 29.6 percent to 180,688.

Of the new cars sold by Chinese brands across the region in October, 36 percent were battery-electric vehicles. Of these, the small BYD Dolphin was the best-seller.

EU + EFTA + UK New Car Sales

Europe Sales Rise

Across Europe, new car registrations have edged up 1.4 percent, with battery-electric vehicles now holding a 16.4 percent share.

In the first ten months of 2025, 1,473,447 new battery-electric cars were registered across the EU. This growth owes much to the four largest markets, including Germany (+39.4%), Belgium (+10.6%), the Netherlands (+6.6%), and France (+5.3%), which together make up 62 percent of the total. In October alone, year-on-year battery-electric registrations rose by 38.6 percent.

Hybrid-electric cars continue to dominate as the most popular powertrain, holding a 34.6 percent share of the market. Between January and October 2025, registrations reached 3,109,362 units, led by Spain (+27.1%), France (+26.3%), Germany (+10.3%), and Italy (+8.9%).

Plug-in hybrids are also on the upswing, totaling 819,201 registrations, a 43.2 percent increase over last year. Demand has been especially strong in Spain (+109.6%), Italy (+76.5%), and Germany (+63.4%). Plug-in hybrids now represent 9.1 percent of all EU registrations, up from 7 percent a year ago.

Petrol-powered cars still hold 27.4 percent of the market, though their share has dropped from 34 percent last year as combustion sales continue to contract. Through October, petrol registrations fell 18.3 percent across major markets, with France down 32.3 percent, Germany 22.5 percent, Italy 16.9 percent, and Spain 13.7 percent.

Diesel continues its downward trend too, shrinking by 24.5 percent to a 9.2 percent market share.

One year after introducing the AUDI sub-brand for China, Audi and its joint-venture partner SAIC are already gearing up for their second production model, following the market launch of the E5 Sportback in September.

The momentum continues with the reveal of the new AUDI E SUV concept at the Guangzhou Auto Show, a preview of an electric SUV expected to reach Chinese showrooms in 2026.

More: Of Course, The New AUDI E5 EV Is Ridiculously Cheap In China

The concept feels nearly production-ready, carrying over the same design cues as its low-slung stablemate. Signature styling cues include the wraparound lights on both ends and the clean surfacing with sculpted fenders.

The electric SUV also features short overhangs, flush door handles, and camera-based mirrors, with fin-shaped C-pillars adding a distinctive profile.

The AUDI emblem now sits prominently on the nose, and at 5,057 mm (199.1 inches) in length with a 3,060 mm (120.5 inches) wheelbase, the concept nearly matches the footprint of the combustion-powered Q7.

The company hasn’t revealed the interior, though it’s likely to mirror the E5 Sportback’s layout, centered around a vast 27-inch 4K display stretching across most of the dashboard.

The concept also includes the AUDI 360 Driving Assist System, an advanced driver-assistance suite developed specifically for Chinese traffic patterns and road conditions.

The AUDI E SUV is built on the Advanced Digitized Platform (ADP), developed jointly with SAIC. Power comes from dual electric motors delivering a combined 671 hp (500 kW / 680 PS) to a quattro all-wheel-drive system.

According to the company, it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (0–62 mph) in roughly five seconds.

The 800-volt battery pack holds 109 kWh and promises a CLTC range of over 700 km (435 miles). A rapid 10-minute charge can add about 320 km (199 miles), though the figure trails slightly behind the smaller, slipperier E5 Sportback, which stretches to 770 km (478 miles) per charge.

A Stretched A6 e-tron For China

Sharing the spotlight in Guangzhou, the A6L e-tron stretches Audi’s EV presence in the region. This version, built for Chinese buyers, gains 132 mm (5.2 inches) in wheelbase and a subtly revised front end featuring a black trim strip that links the main headlights across a covered grille.

More: Audi’s China-Only EV Deserves An RS Treatment

The cabin features a market-specific infotainment system and enhanced driver assistance features. It runs on an 800-volt electrical system with a 107 kWh battery offering a CLTC range of 770 km (479 miles).

Production takes place in Changchun under the Audi-FAW joint venture, alongside the Q6L e-tron and Q6L Sportback e-tron.

AUDI’s leadership describes this expansion as part of a sweeping realignment in China. CEO Gernot Döllner called it “the largest model initiative in our company’s history,” noting that five new locally built models have already launched in the latter half of 2025.

Audi China President Johannes Roscheck emphasized the brand’s dual strategy of combining two powertrains and two partners to secure long-term growth. In his words, “local innovation is now part of our foundation,” as the company aims to balance its legacy in combustion engines with a steady acceleration toward electrification.

The plan carries through 2026, with several new models already slated to join the China-specific portfolio.