Welcome to IAV in China

In 1983, Professor Hermann Appel founded IAV in Berlin. His philosophy was clear: engineering is not business – it is a responsibility to society. He believed in a direct connection between theory and practice, placing engineers at the center of the stage, not as an extension of management.

In 2005, IAV came to China. Not with ready-made answers, but with a way of working: solving problems through engineering, shaping the future through people. From Germany to China, IAV‘s values – commitment, excellence, and teamwork – all reflect the enduring influence of Professor Appel’s thinking.

Twenty years on, IAV China has grown from a handful of engineers to hundreds, from adopting external methods to driving local innovation. Professor Appel never set foot in China – but his engineering ethics and technical vision have taken root here.

The value of technology lies in its ability to solve real problems.

In 2005, Chen Qiang joined IAV China as employee No. 002. Starting from a 300‑square‑meter office in Jiading, he led the team in rejecting reverse engineering and insisting on forward development. The 2008 launch of the Lavida was more than a product milestone – it was a “team‑building” exercise in engineering: German experts mentored hand‑in‑hand, transplanting and localizing methodologies, tools, and processes.

Over two decades, they traded “faster” for “smarter,” treating compliance as a boundary and systems as a language. Today, the team has grown from 30 to 300 engineers, expanding from one city to three development centers. Badge No. 002 may have faded, but it has become a collective badge – worn by engineers who use high‑quality R&D to stand against short‑term noise.

Innovation is not a choice. It is a necessity.

• VW Lavida: Involved in architecture design and vehicle integration, promoting platform-based development
• Collaboration with IAV Germany: Support for VW, Audi, Ford in China projects
• B-Segment Derivatives: Support for multiple models on Lavida platform
• Electrification: Participated in VW’s first fuel-to-EV project in China, developing the E-Lavida concept

• FAW’s First PHEV – Powertrain engineering and development for the Hongqi H7, FAW Group’s first plug-in hybrid vehicle
• Functional Safety – Established a functional safety system for FAW in compliance with the ISO 26262 standard to enhance system reliability
• Introduction of Volkswagen Touchscreens – Supported the launch in China of Volkswagen’s first imported model equipped with a touchscreen, setting a new benchmark for in-vehicle interaction.
• BorgWarner DCT – Developed a dual-clutch transmission system for Volkswagen models in China, optimizing drivability and local adaptation.
• Interior and Exterior Upgrades – Designed instrument panels, center consoles, door trim, and bumpers for brands such as Volkswagen and Audi, achieving a cohesive design across vehicle models.

• MPC Chassis Control – First application of model predictive control to vehicle motion control; demonstrated redundant control and precise path tracking at SAE WCX 2025.
• IAV Innovation Incubator – Incubated multiple AI-driven projects through the “Disrupt IAV” program; these projects are now in the validation phase.
• Toshiba and IAV Collaboration – Jointly developing a new method for virtual validation of Level 3+ autonomous driving capabilities.
• NIO AI Safety Support – Assisting NIO in integrating AI algorithms into safety-critical systems.
• CRRC Delingha New Energy Project – Applying vehicle dynamics control technology to wind turbine control, expanding IAV’s engineering capabilities beyond the automotive sector.