On July 22, Volkswagen Group and Xpeng Motors jointly announced that following the signing of a strategic cooperation plan for electronic and electrical architecture technology, they have further signed a joint development agreement for strategic cooperation in electronic and electrical architecture technology. Both parties will fully commit to developing an industry-leading electronic and electrical architecture for Volkswagen's CMP and MEB platforms produced in China.

According to the agreement, starting from 2026, Volkswagen's pure electric models produced in China will be equipped with the CEA (China Electronic Architecture), an electronic and electrical architecture based on regional control and quasi-central computing. This includes models developed on the new CMP platform and future MEB platform models planned for launch in China.

The electronic and electrical architecture plays a decisive role in automotive digitization. As the central control center managing all critical electronic functions, it also serves as a digital hub connecting the hardware platform with the vehicle's lower structure (including all basic components such as the powertrain and chassis).

The CEA architecture is the first localized electronic and electrical architecture developed by Volkswagen Group, jointly by Volkswagen (China) Technology Co., Ltd. (VCTC), CARIAD China, and Xpeng Motors. It will meet the specific needs of the Chinese market in terms of technology and economics, propelling Volkswagen Group to become a leader in the era of intelligent connected electric vehicles in the Chinese market.

Image source: Volkswagen Group official website

It is reported that to accelerate this cooperation, Volkswagen Group and Xpeng Motors have established joint development teams in Guangzhou and Hefei. Engineers from both sides will work closely together to speed up the development process of the electronic and electrical architecture. Based on this, the first model equipped with the jointly developed electronic and electrical architecture is expected to go into mass production within 24 months.

Bernd Boisjoli, Member of the Volkswagen Group China Management Board responsible for the region, Chairman and CEO of Volkswagen Group China, said, "The use of CEA in Volkswagen's pure electric models will not only enhance the competitiveness of the Group's global electric vehicle platform in the Chinese market but also reduce technical complexity and optimize cost-effectiveness. This is another significant milestone in the Group's strategic development of 'In China, For China' and a crucial step in our transformation into a leading manufacturer of intelligent connected electric vehicles."

He Xiaopeng, Chairman and CEO of Xpeng Motors, said, "The cooperation on electronic and electrical architecture is the third important milestone achieved within a year in our long-term strategic partnership with Volkswagen Group. With the high trust of Volkswagen and Xpeng Motors and the collaborative efforts of engineers from both sides, our cooperation project has progressed rapidly and has achieved remarkable synergies. I am very much looking forward to expanding the scope of our technological cooperation and deepening our win-win strategic partnership."