Volkswagen starts production of Xpeng co-developed CEA architecture, five new models due in 2026
Volkswagen Group China has confirmed that its China-developed CEA regional electronic and electrical architecture entered production at the end of 2025, with the first Volkswagen-brand model based on the architecture produced at the Volkswagen Anhui plant. The rollout is positioned as a structural technology update affecting multiple vehicle platforms and powertrain types in the Chinese market, as reported by IT-home.
Volkswagen Group China stated that models using the CEA architecture will gradually expand from small to compact vehicles and will be introduced across its three joint ventures in China, covering new products with multiple powertrain options.
The CEA architecture adopts a regional control design and integrates a central high-performance computing platform. It was jointly developed by Volkswagen China Technology Company, Cariad China, and Xpeng. Volkswagen Group China said the architecture can be deployed across multiple vehicle platforms and powertrain types, including battery-electric, hybrid, and internal-combustion-engine vehicles.
Compared with the previous generation of electronic architecture, Volkswagen said the CEA system can reduce the number of electronic control units by about 30 percent, which lowers system complexity. The company stated that the architecture supports AI-based cockpit systems, China-specific advanced driver assistance functions, and vehicle over-the-air update capabilities.
Volkswagen Group China also described changes in its software-defined vehicle development process. The company said enhanced local research collaboration at the concept stage and earlier supplier participation can increase vehicle development efficiency by up to 30 percent. Volkswagen added that development costs for some key new models could be reduced by up to 50 percent under the updated process.
Volkswagen Group China said CEA-based models will be gradually introduced across its three joint ventures and applied to new vehicles across multiple propulsion technologies. The company stated that the architecture will support its locally developed intelligent connected vehicle portfolio and expand its software-driven vehicle lineup in China.
Volkswagen Group China confirmed that the first production vehicle based on the CEA architecture has entered production and that additional CEA-based models will be introduced through its joint ventures in 2026.
