Volkswagen ID secured the best-selling joint venture EV series in China in 2024
Volkswagen’s joint venture with SAIC Motor was again the top-selling JV brand in China. With over 130,000 electric ID cars sold in China last year, the SAIC-Volkswagen ID series also secured the best-selling joint venture EV series.
Volkswagen ID was the top-selling EV series in China
SAIC-Volkswagen released 2024 sales figures, revealing over 1.2 million vehicles sold last year. Over 1.14 million were the VW brand, making it China’s top-selling joint venture brand.
After launching the “new ID family smart models ” with more options and lower prices in the second half of the year, SAIC-VW said its EV models have been seeing higher demand.
In 2024, the company sold a record 130,222 ID electric vehicles, an increase of 24% from 2023. SAIC-Volkswagen said its ID family secured “the title of joint venture pure electric sales champion.” The ID.3 led the way as the top-selling joint venture EV and A-class hatchback in China last year.
Volkswagen’s ID.3 competes with other top-selling EV models in China, like the BYD Dolphin. BYD’s Dolphin EV starts at around $13,700 (99,800 yuan). Meanwhile, after slashing prices last year, the ID.3 now starts at around $17,800 (129,888 yuan).
Other EV models from SAIC-VW’s ID family include the ID 4 X and ID 6 X, both of which received new “Smart Editions” last year. The ID 4 X starts at about $22,000 (159,888 yuan), while the larger ID 6 X SUV starts at roughly $35,500 (259,888 yuan).
Like most legacy automakers, Volkswagen has struggled to keep up in China with a wave of low-cost domestic rivals hitting the market.
BYD sold nearly 510,000 passenger vehicles in December, its third straight month with over 500K in sales. Despite an aggressive year-end sales push, BYD’s 1.76 million EVs sold in 2024 were just shy of Tesla, which delivered over 1.78 million vehicles last year.
As it looks to overcome a wave of new rivals, BYD and other Chinese EV leaders are slashing prices and introducing new sales promotions.
Legacy automakers, like Volkswagen, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, GM, and several others, are being squeezed out of the market.
In November 2024, Volkswagen extended its 40-year partnership with SAIC Motor until 2040. As it looks to turn things around, VW is advancing its “In China, for China” strategy with a new generation of EVs set to launch by 2026.
SAIC-VW plans to launch two EVs based on its new CMP platform as early as 2026. The company will also introduce three plug-in hybrids and two-range extender variants for the first time. By 2030, SAIC-VW will launch 18 new models, 15 of which will be developed exclusively for China.
The Volkswagen Group will bring 40 new models to the Chinese market over the next three years alone. Half of them will be electrified. By 2030, the group plans to offer over 30 electric cars in China.
Source: CarNewsChina, SAIC-VW
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Tesla’s retro-futuristic diner with Superchargers and giant movie screens is ready to open, and I have to admit, it looks pretty sick.
This project has been in the works for a long time.
In 2018, Elon Musk said that Tesla planned to open an “old school drive-in, roller skates & rock restaurant at one of the new Tesla Supercharger locations in Los Angeles.” It was yet another “Is he joking?” kind of Elon Musk idea, but he wasn’t kidding.
A few months later, Tesla applied for building permits for “a restaurant and Supercharger station” at a location in Santa Monica. However, the project stalled for a long time, apparently due to local regulations.
Nevertheless, Tesla still moved forward with a Supercharger at the location, but it had to move the diner project to Hollywood. In 2022, Tesla filed the construction plans with the city, giving us the first look at what the automaker intends to build.
In 2023, the automaker broke ground on the site of the diner.
7 years after being originally announced, the project appears now ready to open:
Musk said that he ate at the diner last night and claimed that it is “one of the coolest spots in LA.” He didn’t say when it will open, but Tesla vehicles have been spotted at Supercharger and people appear to be testing the dinning experience inside.
A Tesla Optimus Robot can be seen inside the diner on a test rack. It looks like Tesla might use one for some tasks inside the diner.
Earlier this year, Tesla integrated the diner into its mobile app – hinting at some interaction through the app – possibly ordering from it.
Electrek’s Take
I think it looks pretty cool. I am a fan of the design and concept.
However, considering the state of the Tesla community, I don’t think I’d like the vibes. That said, it looks like Tesla isn’t prominently pushing its branding on the diner.
You can come and charge there, but it looks like Tesla is also aiming to get a wider clientele just for dining.
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Hyundai’s electric minivan is finally out in the open. The Staria EV was caught without camo near Hyundai’s R&D center in Korea, giving us a closer look at the electric minivan undisguised.
Hyundai’s electric minivan drops camo ahead of debut
The Staria arrived in 2021 as the successor to the Starex, Hyundai’s multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). Although the Staria has received several updates throughout the years, 2026 will be its biggest by far.
Hyundai will launch the Staria EV, its first electric minivan. Like the current model, the 2026 Staria will be available in several different configurations, including cargo, passenger, and even a camper version.
We’ve seen the Staria EV out in public a few times already. Last month, we got a glimpse of it while driving on public roads in Korea.
Despite the camouflage, new EV-like design elements were visible, including updated LED headlights and a full-length light bar. Although it’s still unclear, the electric version appears to be roughly the same size as the current Staria from the side, but slightly wider from the front.
New images posted on the South Korean forum Clien reveal a test car, expected to be Hyundai’s Staria electric minivan, without camo.
Like most Hyundai test cars, the prototype has a black front and a grey body. It still features a similar look to other prototypes we’ve seen, but you can clearly see the new facelift.
Earlier this year, a Staria EV was spotted in a parking lot in Korea, featuring a similar look. The electric version is nearly identical to the Staria Lounge, but with an added charge port and closed-off grille.
The Hyundai Staria EV is expected to make its global debut later this year. Technical details have yet to be revealed, but it’s expected to feature either a 76 kWh or 84 kWh battery, providing a range of around 350 km (217 miles) to 400 km (249 miles).
Hyundai’s electric SUV arrives after Kia introduced its first electric van, the PV5, which launched in Europe and Korea earlier this year.
In Europe, the Kia Passenger PV5 model is available with two battery pack options: 51.5 kWh and 71.2 kWh, providing WLTP ranges of 179 miles and 249 miles, respectively. The Cargo version has a WLTP range of 181 miles or 247 miles.
Source: TheKoreanCarBlog, Clien
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