- The Jetta X concept debuted this week at the Beijing Auto Show.
- It is one of four Jetta models that will be launched in China in 2028.
- Jetta will focus on affordable hybrid and electric vehicles.
The Jetta has been around since 1979 as a sensible compact model, serving as the sedan sibling to the Golf hatchback. Nearly half a century and seven generations later, the original formula remains. However, the Jetta represents something different in China. Volkswagen Group and local partner FAW spun off Jetta into a sub-brand in 2019, serving the entry-level segment.
While its initial focus was on combustion engine models, Jetta’s Chinese arm is now targeting New Energy Vehicles (NEVs). The term applies not only to fully electric vehicles but also to plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles equipped with range-extending combustion engines. In 2026, Jetta is considered an independent entity, giving it greater autonomy.
The Jetta essentially picks up where Skoda left off, when the VW Group pulled the Czech brand out of China after sales plummeted. Four NEV models will go on sale in 2028, and if this interesting concept is any indication, a boxy SUV will be one of them. The Jetta X made its initial debut ahead of its first public appearance at this weekend’s Beijing Auto Show.
Photo by: Volkswagen
The VW Group didn’t share much about its technical specifications, but they confirmed that the Jetta X is pure electric. We’re told the upright position reflects the new “Modern Robust” design language that future Jetta-branded vehicles will adopt in China. The design is clean, almost Rivian-like with short overhangs, indicating that it uses a dedicated electric vehicle platform.
Predictably, for a VW exclusive in China, the Jetta X has a simplified interior with a user interface that relies heavily on the screen. Andreas Mindt, VW Group design chief, revealed the concept’s interior on LinkedIn, showing a large touchscreen combined with a smaller passenger display. In a LinkedIn Post last year, VW Group China CEO Ralf Brandstaetter said buyers in China want “AI-first and connected vehicles, with seamless voice controls and intelligent cockpits.” In contrast, Europeans prefer “tactile control, long-term durability and driving dynamics.”
A number of physical buttons sit in front of the center armrest, and as with the exterior, there are no Volkswagen badges. After all, this is not a VW, but a Jetta. From the inside and out, it looks much more luxurious than previous China-spec Jetta models, which were starting to feel dated amidst the influx of new models from domestic brands.
Jetta will launch its first next-generation model in 2026, followed by three additional NEVs over the next two years. Don’t expect to see this car in other markets, as the Jetta operates exclusively in China.
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Source: Volkswagen
Motorcycle Pickup1: Some people might be surprised to learn that Jetta has been a separate sub-brand for six years. VW Group seems determined to carry the Jetta name into the electric era in China, where electric vehicles are quickly taking over.
With Skoda’s exit from the Chinese market, Jetta takes on the role of the VW Group’s entry-level brand. Given the intense competition in the affordable electric vehicle segment, there is still sharp improvement ahead, but this concept shows serious promise, at least from a design perspective.
