Volkswagen can celebrate the launch of its new electric sedan in China. The Jetta M6, sold through its FAW-Volkswagen joint venture, drew more than 10,000 confirmed orders in just 19 hours after its debut on October 22, 2026. An encouraging start for this affordable EV, priced from 79,800 yuan in China, roughly 11,000 USD at current exchange rates. It’s designed to help the Jetta name establish a foothold in China’s highly competitive market, where stability is sought.
More than 10,000 orders in under a day
The Jetta M6 has captured the attention of Chinese buyers. According to FAW-Volkswagen, the joint venture responsible for selling the model, the threshold of 10,000 locked-in orders was crossed in only 19 hours. These aren’t mere reservations—customers paid a down payment, typically between 3,000 and 5,000 yuan, about 400 to 700 USD.
This launch matters for Jetta, a new brand anchored in Volkswagen’s brand equity in China, built up over decades. Until now, it sold only internal-combustion vehicles. With the M6, it enters the electric-vehicle market, targeting drivers who want an affordable car. Jetta isn’t a brand created from scratch; it’s a historic Volkswagen model, a three-box sedan derived from the Golf, well known in Europe.
The sedan is priced between 79,800 and 99,800 yuan, roughly 11,000 to 13,800 USD. It measures 4.81 meters in length (about 15.8 feet) and has a wheelbase of 2.82 meters (about 9.3 feet). Despite its budget-friendly tag, the car packs features that European observers would call notable, such as front seats that fold flat to form a sleeping surface. An external 3.5 kW power-out function also enables plugging in various devices, which can be handy for camping trips. It’s rare for a sedan in Europe to double as a camper’s living space, but the M6 aims to blur those lines in China’s market.
Up to 555 km of range for the Jetta M6
The Jetta M6 is offered with two electric drivetrains, both mounted on the front axle. The entry-level version develops 152 horsepower and uses a 42.9 kWh LFP battery. It promises up to 465 kilometers of range under the Chinese CLTC testing cycle, which translates to about 377 kilometers on the WLTP cycle used in Europe and many international markets.
The higher-spec variant features a 194-horsepower motor and a 51.9 kWh battery. Its range reaches 555 kilometers under CLTC, or roughly 450 kilometers according to WLTP. This more powerful model also records a 0 to 100 km/h sprint of 6.8 seconds, versus 8.3 seconds for the base version.
Jetta is also leaning into technology to win buyers. The top-end version includes a Level 2 driver-assistance system capable of aiding the driver on highways and in city traffic. FAW-Volkswagen also announces a special commitment: the joint venture pledges to compensate owners for incidents and collisions tied to this driver-assistance feature during the first year after purchase.
