Because it has three local partners, Germany’s biggest brand seemingly couldn’t risk being accused of playing favourites.

WHY three different electric vehicle design concepts from Volkwagen for a big car show in China this week?

Simply, it has three specific joint-venture partnerships there that produce and distribute different vehicles that all fall under the German brand. Each car has a different style to reflect its respective partner, but also to appeal to different tastes and customers within the vast Chinese market.

So, for the Shanghai motor show it had the ID.Aura, created for FAW, the ID.ERA, developed in conjunction with Shanghai Automotive (SAIC), and the ID. Evo, which comes from Volkswagen Anhui, the newest alignment, born from what was previously known as JAC Volkswagen.

All clear? Perhaps not fully, but the basic message is that these are products build in China, for China. Which isn’t to say that elements won’t go into other future products destined for global application.

For that reason, they’re giving some time to.

The Aura is a sedan that has hints of the now-discontinued Arteon, carrying on the same low nose, sleek body and and long wheelbase ethos.

Built on what’s been called a Compact Main Platform (CMP), it comes with Level Two plus-plus assisted driving tech to take the strain out of longer journeys and has an AI-powered digital assistant powered by China Electronic Architecture (CEA) that contains the smart 'brain' of the car and is being rolled out in the company's next-generation vehicles.

ID.Era is not fully electric; SAIC makes the ID.3, ID.4 X, and ID.6 X but also rolls out combustion-engined models for China.

VW says Era has a range-extender motor supplementing the electric powertrain by generating electricity. Nothing is being said about how the details, but the aim is to provide a driving range in excess of 1000 kilometres.

The Era is subjectively the most conventionally styled of the three design studies, but it nonetheless has plenty of aero elements to the exterior. The interior is a six-seat layout with a clear emphasis on comfort and space for its occupants. A middle row contains ‘captain's chairs’ for supreme luxury and a 'Queen' seat for the co-driver up front.

As with the ID. Aura, Era has Level 2 plus-plus assisted driving with a navigation On autopilot (NOA) function and an AI digital assistant reliant on a Chinese LLM-based (Large Language Model) system to provide accurate information and assist with various functions.

The Evo is for a younger buyer than the others, hence why takes a more dynamic face with angled headlights that draw focus to the VW logo. A rounded front bumper and active air slots within also create a sportier image, VW says.

Its electric powertrain uses an advanced 800-volt architecture to enable ultra-fast charging times, and it has an overall driving range of 700 kilometres.

To satisfy the demands of the perceived client, Evo has a highly customisable experience inside with voice control, digital in-car services and Level 2 plus-plus City NOA driver assistance.

VW was among the first foreign car brands to invest heavily in China, but latterly it has seen market share fall away to the many domestic makes. But it’s not giving up.

VW brand chief executive Thomas Schafer, says those models represents as a solid result “of our 'In China, for China' strategy. With them, we have thus created all the prerequisites to remain the leading international car manufacturer in China.”

Adds Stefan Mecha, CEO of Volkswagen Brand China: “With the ID. Aura, ID. Era and ID. Evo concepts, we are shaping tomorrow with competitive models, providing the volume market with forward-looking designs and premium-level tech, underscored by the safety and quality standards expected from a Volkswagen.”

The concepts “showcase how we're reinforcing our product and technology roadmap to cater to the differing needs of forward-looking Chinese customers.

“Their volume versions will hit the market from 2026. By merging the brand's global strengths with China's powers of innovation, we will provide fully-connected smart mobility experiences.”