The China Electronic Architecture is a zonal electronic and electrical architecture with high-performance central computing. Designed as scalable and continuously upgradable, Volkswagen Group China is the first automaker to deploy its zonal architecture across multiple vehicle platforms and all powertrain types – from full electric vehicles to hybrids and combustion engine cars.
Significantly reduced development time and costs
Compared with previous vehicle generations, it reduces the number of electronic control units by around 30%, significantly streamlining system complexity. This provides a stable foundation for advanced AI cockpit functions, China-specific driver assistance systems and full-vehicle over-the-air updates.
Enabled by the new development process, overall vehicle development cycles are shortened by up to 30%. Through localized development and early supplier integration during the concept phase, development costs for new models are reduced by up to 50% in selected key projects. Agile development processes also allow rapid adjustments to evolving customer requirements, strengthening Volkswagen’s competitiveness in China’s Intelligent Connected Vehicle era.
Oliver Blume, CEO Volkswagen Group: “The start of production of our first zonal electronic architecture marks another milestone in our ‘In China, for China’ Strategy. The Volkswagen Group delivered – quickly and reliably. In just 18 months, we have for the first time built a completely new, scalable electronic architecture from development all the way to series production – maintaining the high quality and safety standards that our customers expect from Volkswagen. The China Electronic Architecture (CEA) enables software-driven innovations across all powertrain types, accelerates the expansion of our intelligent connected vehicle (ICV) portfolio in China – and represents a decisive step in our software strategy towards our ambition of becoming a global automotive tech driver.”
Ralf Brandstätter, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG responsible for China, and Chairman and CEO of Volkswagen Group China: “We have now blazed the trail for a new generation of Intelligent Connected Vehicles in China. The China Electronic Architecture allows us to bring software-driven innovation to market at competitive cost and speed, across electric vehicles, hybrids and combustion engine models. This is how we scale Intelligent Connected Vehicles in China – combining local speed with Volkswagen DNA.”
One software platform for all
Beginning this year, CEA-based models will expand from A- to B-segment vehicles and will be introduced across all three Volkswagen joint ventures in China, offering customers a broad portfolio of Intelligent Connected Vehicles.
China speed, without compromise on quality
Safety, durability and reliability have long defined Volkswagen’s DNA, and these principles continue to be core values in the Intelligent Connected Vehicle era. While the total delivery cycle was reduced to 18 months – the fastest timeline Volkswagen Group has ever achieved for an all-new electronic architecture with specific locally developed ADAS solution – the validation cycle remains unchanged.
The approach upholds Volkswagen Group’s long-standing quality standards and the trust of more than 50 million customers in China built over more than four decades.