2026 Volkswagen ID. ERA 9X
By Lorenzo Bianchi March 9, 2026
First production Volkswagen ID. ERA 9X rolls off the line at SAIC Volkswagen’s Ningbo plant.
Extended-range electric SUV with more than 400 km pure electric range and over 1000 km combined range.
Six-seat flagship layout with dual 15.6-inch displays and a 21.4-inch rear entertainment screen.
Production Begins for Volkswagen’s New Flagship SUV
The 2026 Volkswagen ID. ERA 9X production officially began when the first mass-produced ERA 9X came off the assembly line at SAIC Volkswagen's Ningbo factory. The milestone signifies the launch of a new flagship SUV designed to boost Volkswagen's market position in the rapidly evolving new-energy vehicle industry.
Pre-sales for the ID. ERA 9X are expected to begin toward the end of March, with the full market launch scheduled for April. Positioned as a six-seat extended-range SUV, the model blends electric driving capability with a range-extender system intended to address long-distance usability.
For SAIC Volkswagen, the ID. ERA 9X represents more than a new product. It marks the beginning of the company’s broader ID. ERA series, a lineup aimed at the high-end electrified SUV segment.
Broad Proportions and a New Design Identity
Visually, the Volkswagen ID. ERA 9X adopts a wide and confident stance. The front end stretches horizontally, anchored by a continuous LED light bar that runs across the nose and frames an illuminated Volkswagen badge.
Below it sit two rectangular LED daytime running light elements, positioned low in the fascia and reinforcing the vehicle’s width. The layout feels deliberately clean. Surfaces remain uncluttered, letting the lighting graphics carry much of the visual identity.
In profile, the scale of the vehicle becomes clear. The SUV has dimensions of 5207 mm in length, 1997 mm in width, and 1810 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3070 mm. These proportions place the ID. ERA 9X firmly within the large SUV category.
Two exterior colors have been confirmed so far: Desert Gold and Fairy Green. Together they reinforce the model’s mix of contemporary EV styling and what Volkswagen describes as a more “grand and rugged” design character.
Cabin Technology and Passenger Space
Inside, the 2026 Volkswagen ID. ERA 9X focuses on space and digital integration.
The dashboard is shaped around a wraparound cockpit layout, with a pair of 15.6-inch displays positioned at the center of the console. Behind the front seats, passengers are served by a 21.4-inch ceiling-mounted entertainment screen, emphasizing the vehicle’s role as a long-distance family SUV.
Ambient lighting stretches across the cabin, totaling 12.8 meters in length, creating a layered lighting effect that highlights the interior architecture at night.
One of the more unusual features is the Smart Surface Magic Screen technology. When not in use, the display blends in with the surrounding materials, giving the impression that it is a continuous trim panel. When the screen is activated, it shows crisp digital images without altering the cabin's layout.
More touchscreen controls in the second row allow passengers to adjust the temperature, seats, and refrigerator directly from the door panels.
Performance and Extended Range Powertrain
Electric drive motors and a range-extending engine make up the ID. ERA 9X's extended-range electric drivetrain.
To support the battery during longer trips, the system uses an EA211 engine configured as a generator, producing 105 kW.
Several drivetrain configurations will be available. One version uses a 220 kW rear-mounted electric motor paired with a 51.1 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, while another pairs the same motor with a 65.2 kWh ternary lithium battery.
A third configuration adds a dual-motor all-wheel-drive layout, combining a 160 kW front motor with the 220 kW rear unit.
Under CLTC testing, the lineup's combined driving range reaches 1000 km, while pure electric range surpasses 400 km.