VW's Jetta launches M6 electric sedan in China from $11,880 with up to 555 km range

• The Jetta M6 starts at 79,800 yuan ($11,880) and offers a CLTC range of up to 555 km.
• Driver assistance is among the M6's main selling points, with the top trim featuring Horizon Robotics' Journey 6M chip.

FAW-Volkswagen's Jetta brand has launched its first battery electric vehicle, the M6, entering China's entry-level EV market with a starting price of 79,800 yuan ($11,880).

Jetta launched the electric sedan on Thursday, offering 3 variants — the 465 Pro, 555 Max and 555 Ultra — priced at 79,800 yuan, 89,800 yuan and 99,800 yuan, respectively.

Pre-sales for the M6 began on September 28 at a starting price of 80,800 yuan. The launch price is 1,000 yuan lower, while the top trim's price remains unchanged.

Built on Jetta's in-house Jiesi architecture and dedicated electric platform, the M6 features a single-motor, front-wheel-drive layout. It measures 4,806 mm in length and has a wheelbase of 2,820 mm.

The entry-level 465 Pro has a 42.9-kWh battery and a 113-kW motor, delivering a CLTC range of 465 kilometers and a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 8.3 seconds.

Both the 555 Max and 555 Ultra feature a 51.9-kWh battery and a 145-kW motor, offering a CLTC range of 555 kilometers and cutting the 0-100 km/h sprint to 6.8 seconds.

The M6 uses lithium iron phosphate batteries supplied by CALB (HKEX: 3931) and takes 25 minutes to charge from 30% to 80%.

Driver assistance is among the M6's main selling points, but city and highway NOA (Navigation on Autopilot) are available only on the 555 Ultra.

The top trim uses the Journey 6M chip from Horizon Robotics (HKEX: 9660), with a vision-based system that also offers memory parking and reverse path assistance.

Standard features across the lineup include intelligent cruise assistance, automatic emergency braking, automated parking and remote-controlled parking, as well as a heat pump and 3.5-kW vehicle-to-load capability.

The cabin features an 8.88-inch digital instrument cluster and a 15.6-inch 2.5K central touchscreen. It integrates Doubao, DeepSeek and Qwen, and supports HiCar, CarLink and CarPlay smartphone connectivity.

Jetta also introduced launch benefits that it values at a total of 26,000 yuan, covering warranties, trade-in subsidies, financing offers and connected-car data packages, with eligibility conditions varying by benefit.

These include coverage for driver-assistance-related accidents during the first year of ownership for original owners of vehicles equipped with highway or city navigation assistance and used for non-commercial purposes.

The M6's launch marks the arrival of Jetta's first production EV, adding another model to Volkswagen's lineup in China's fiercely competitive entry-level electric vehicle market.

FAW Volkswagen Jetta Automotive Technology Co Ltd began operations in Chengdu in January, gaining greater autonomy over local research and development and faster decision-making.

Under previously announced plans, Jetta aims to introduce 5 new models by 2028, including 4 new energy vehicles (NEVs), with a medium-term target of annual production and sales of 400,000 to 500,000 vehicles.