• The new SUV will follow the rollout of an all-electric hatchback and a compact crossover in 2020.
• It will also follow battery versions of the VW Bora and Lavida sedans in China in 2019.

Automotive behemoth, Volkswagen AG has recently revealed plans to build a new, all-electric SUV (sports utility vehicle) for China starting in 2021. The move aims at challenging the Chinese EV market leader Tesla’s Model X as VW ramps up production of its zero-emissions vehicles. According to Bloomberg, the German automaker claims that the full-size SUV, dubbed ID. Roomzz, would feature rotating lounge-seats that will be covered in an artificial leather made partly from apple juice waste called AppleSkin. Moreover, the SUV will follow the rollout of an all-electric hatchback and a compact crossover in 2020 as well as battery versions of the Bora and Lavida sedans in China in 2019. Speaking on the new segment, Herbert Diess, CEO, Volkswagen, said the ID. Roomzz will be the flagship electric car to be launched by Volkswagen in China. He said that the company plans to produce over 22 million EVs in the next 10 years, while around half of its engineers were working on products destined for China. Reportedly, China is forcing carmakers to sell more EVs, hybrid and battery-powered cars to curb pollution. Meanwhile, VW is fighting to keep its profits from sliding as it spends a huge‚¬30 billion ($34 billion) to roll out the industry’s biggest fleet of electric vehicles. In addition, to enhance the firm’s R&D (research & development) capabilities, VW and its premium auto brand Audi are planning to merge their R&D operations in China. As per a statement, Thomas Ulbrich, Head of e-Mobility, VW, said that the company will start ramping up production of 33 electric cars by mid-2023, using its MEB (modular electric car) platform to build electric cars for the Audi, VW, Skoda and Seat brands. He said that the firm is renovating 16 factories globally to enable mass production of EVs, out of which eight plants will specifically be making VW branded car.