China is of outstanding importance for Volkswagen: it is the region with the brand’s highest unit sales. Last year, Volkswagen delivered 3.2 million vehicles to customers in China and is the clear market leader in the world’s largest and most important automobile market. The TRANSFORM 2025+ strategy aims to extend this leading position further: the product portfolio is to be completely revamped and expanded by 2020. Another focus is e-mobility. The full battery-electric, fully-connected I.D. family based on the Modular Electric Toolkit (MEB) will make its debut in China, too, in 2020.
China region
Press releases
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Volkswagen inaugurates R&D center for e-mobility in China
Anhui province is to be transformed into a new center of competence and e-mobility hub for the Volkswagen Group in China. As a first step, today saw the inauguration of a new Research & Development center at the company’s facilities in Hefei. At the same time, the joint venture JAC Volkswagen was renamed as Volkswagen (Anhui) Automotive Company Limited. With a 75 percent stake in the joint venture, Volkswagen takes over management control at Volkswagen (Anhui). The company’s future products will be based on the Group’s Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB), with plans for a step-by-step expansion of local R&D competence in the localization of MEB-based derivatives, and the aim of capitalizing on global synergies. The first vehicle is expected to roll off the Anhui production line in 2023. -
Volkswagen Group commences climate-friendly MEB production at Foshan and Anting plants
Volkswagen Group has entered a new era of e-mobility in China with the premiere just three weeks ago of the first two China-specific models from the completely new, electric-only ID. family – FAW-Volkswagen’s ID.4 CROZZ and SAIC VOLKSWAGEN’s ID.4 X – built on the innovative MEB platform. With market entry in early 2021, production of these two models has already started at MEB facilities in Foshan and Anting, which together have a combined total planned annual capacity of 600,000 units. This will enable the Group to increase the share of electric vehicles in its product portfolio to 35% by 2025. By 2023, Volkswagen will offer eight models of the ID. Family in China, the world’s largest NEV market which plays a crucial role in the Group’s global e-mobility strategy. -
Production of electric drives begins in China
Volkswagen Group Components reinforces its position as a key supplier of central electric vehicle components for the brands and joint ventures of the Volkswagen Group in the most important market for electric mobility. With immediate effect, the Chinese components factory in Tianjin will be producing the APP 310 drive on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB). This component will be used in the Volkswagen ID.4 variants produced by the joint venture partners FAW (ID.4 CROZZ) and SAIC (ID.4 X). The Group’s future MEB models for China will also be supplied locally. The main factory for electric drives at Volkswagen Group Components in Kassel produces the APP 310 motor for current and future MEB models in Europe and North America. -
Market overview: Compact notchback models are one of Volkswagen’s key segments in China
European customers love compact hatchback models like the Golf, which has spent over four decades at the top of the vehicle registration statistics. In contrast, the world market is dominated by compact notchback models. Worldwide, they account for almost one third of all deliveries to Volkswagen brand’s customers – with 1.6 million vehicles sold in China alone. A total of six models are offered there to satisfy the high demand. A market overview of the notchback vehicles sold exclusively on the Chinese market gives a detailed insight into the differences between models. -
Volkswagen Group China: Clear signs of business recovery
Volkswagen Group China’s operations are showing clear signs of business recovery. All 2,000 Volkswagen brand dealerships are now open again, with showroom traffic during the last weekend of March comparable to the same period last year. Over 95% of the dealerships of the other locally producing brands Audi and ŠKODA have also reopened. The SAIC VOLKSWAGEN joint venture plant in Changsha also resumed operations this week. The total number of Group facilities that have resumed operations has thus risen to 32 of the 33 car and component plants. -
Volkswagen starts pre-production in first plant purely focused on e-mobility in China
The new plant of the SAIC VOLKSWAGEN joint venture has been completed. It is purely built for the production of all electric vehicles on Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB). Celebrating the start of pre-production, a first China-specific all--electric Volkswagen ID. model rolled off the production line. The plant sets the next milestone in Volkswagen’s global electrification strategy. The start of series production of all-electric cars based on the MEB platform in Anting is scheduled for October 2020. -
Volkswagen takes over leading position for electro-mobility in China
Volkswagen is striving for the lead in transforming the auto industry towards electric mobility in China. This was endorsed by the CEO of Volkswagen AG, Dr. Herbert Diess, at the first World New Energy Vehicle Congress (WNEVC) in the southern Chinese city of Boao. The Boao Consensus, which describes the strategic results of the congress, foresees e-cars accounting for 50% of annual global car sales by 2035. Within the Chinese market, Volkswagen commits to that goal as well, making China pivotal for Volkswagen Group’s decarbonization strategy. Volkswagen intends to offer 14 electrified models to Chinese customers this year. By 2028, more than half of the Group's planned 22 million electric cars will be produced in China. At the same time, Volkswagen is strengthening its local R&D. More than 4,500 engineers work on future technologies in the country. -
China plays key role in Volkswagen Group’s e-mobility strategy
China will play a key role in the Volkswagen group’s global transformation and its accompanying decarbonization program. Thus, this year will see an intensified roll-out of new energy models. Volkswagen Group China aims to produce more than half of the group’s global objective of 22 million BEVs by 2028. To speed up its e-offensive, it will also launch a new joint venture in charging infrastructure. All this will lay the foundation for wide acceptance of e-mobility. Meanwhile, in the area of future technologies, Volkswagen Group China is combining its research power, with Volkswagen brand, Audi and Group R&D working together within the new ONE R&D structure. -
Volkswagen launches model offensive in China
Volkswagen plans an extensive model offensive in China. The brand will have doubled its SUV range by 2020. Volkswagen announced during the Auto Shanghai 2019, that the share of SUVs is expected to rise to up to 40 per cent. It is targeting the tradiotional part as well as the growing e-mobility sector. The Volkswagen brand presented five new SUV, four of them as world premieres. SAIC VOLKSWAGEN showed the T-Cross and the soon to be launched Teramont X, FAW-VW the SUV Coupé Concept and SMV Concept. Besides the four models of the joint ventures the latest member of the ID. Family celebrated its world premiere: the ID. ROOMZZ. -
Volkswagen Brand China and FAW-Volkswagen establish new joint venture for connected services
Volkswagen Brand China and its Chinese joint venture FAW-Volkswagen are scaling up their cooperation in the area of digitalization and connectivity. MOS Intelligent Connectivity Technology Co. Ltd., a joint venture between Volkswagen Group China and FAW-Volkswagen, will be established in the Chinese city of Chengdu. The partners are investing a total of RMB 1 billion in the company that will operate under the MOSI brand (Mobile Online Services Intelligent). The objective is to develop and offer digital services for all future Volkswagen models of FAW-Volkswagen from 2019 onwards, including vehicles based on the modular electric toolkit (MEB) from 2020. With the new joint venture, the Volkswagen brand is forging ahead with the development of its automotive ecosystem in China. -
JETTA to become new brand of Volkswagen in China
With the new JETTA Brand, Volkswagen intends to exploit its market potential in China even more effectively. In many cities with millions of people outside the metropolitan regions such as Beijing or Shanghai, vehicle ownership levels are still very low, in some cases below 100 cars per 1,000 inhabitants. At the same time, members of a growing middle class are striving for individual mobility with the first car of their own. With the new JETTA brand, Volkswagen especially intends to target these young Chinese customers. The JETTA model range, which is to be produced by FAW-Volkswagen in Chengdu, will include one sedan and two SUVs. Sales are scheduled to start in the third quarter of this year. -
“Person of the Year 2018” – honor in China for former Volkswagen Chairman Prof. Dr. Carl Hahn
Prof. Dr. Carl H. Hahn, Former Chairman of the Volkswagen Board of Management (1982 – 1992), today received the accolade of “Person of the Year 2018“ in Beijing. The prestigious award presented by “China Newsweek“ magazine honors the pioneering role played by Dr. Hahn in the entry of Volkswagen to the market in the People’s Republic of China. -
Volkswagen Brand reaches milestone of 30 million deliveries in China
Volkswagen is speeding up its activities in China, re-energizing the brand under its Move Forward initiative. The brand’s product portfolio was strengthened with no less than 9 new models in 2018. Speaking at Auto Guangzhou 2018, Stephan Wöllenstein, CEO of Volkswagen Brand China, said, “We reached a fantastic milestone this November, as we delivered the 30 millionth Volkswagen – a Touareg – to a customer in China. And to remain the number one choice for Chinese car buyers, as we have been for many years, our product offensive will continue in 2019.” -
Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG re-assigns responsibility for China Board of Management Division
The Supervisory Board of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft has assigned responsibility for the China Board of Management Division to Dr. Herbert Diess, the Chairman of the Board of Management, in addition to his other duties. At the same time, the Volkswagen Group is reordering its management structure for the China region. -
New Faces of Mobility: Volkswagen Group China drives forth rapid electrification and digitalization
Under the headline “New Faces of Mobility”, Volkswagen Group China presented today at its Media Workshop an all-encompassing plan for e-mobility, advanced mobility solutions, autonomous driving, and a raft of exciting new products. On the eve of Guangzhou Auto Show the Group impressively demonstrated to nearly 300 media and business partners how it is shaping the new era of mobility. “When it comes to the future of mobility, Volkswagen Group China again wants to take the pioneering role as we did from the very start together with our Chinese partners,” said Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft as well as President and CEO of Volkswagen Group China. -
Volkswagen brand drives SUV strategy in China further forward and creates complete offer for all classes
As a run-up to this year’s Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition, the Volkswagen brand presented its SUV model series for the Chinese market. Auto-China Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition is one of China’s largest international auto shows. As part of its Chinese “Move Forward” brand initiative, Volkswagen is energising not only its brand, but also its products. The current Chinese SUV family, consisting of six models, is a good example of this: The currently available models Tiguan and Teramont and the new generation of the top-of-the-line Touareg will be joined this year on the Chinese market by three completely new SUV models: T-Roc, Tayron and Tharu. -
Volkswagen Group China builds first factory specifically designed for MEB production
The electrification strategy of the Volkswagen Group China is rapidly gaining pace in the world’s biggest market for e-mobility. The Group’s first factory specifically designed for the MEB platform is now commencing construction in Anting. The first model that will be produced in the factory of SAIC VOLKSWAGEN is a Volkswagen Brand SUV in 2020. Together with the FAW-Volkswagen factory in Foshan, which opened this summer, SAIC VOLKSWAGEN’s plant will begin to produce e-cars on the MEB platform directly after the first worldwide MEB-production starts in Zwickau, Germany. -
Volkswagen expands production in China
With the opening of three new FAW-Volkswagen vehicle plants at three locations – in Qingdao, Foshan and Tianjin – as well as the Volkswagen FAW Platform Tianjin Branch component plant, the Volkswagen Group is strengthening its localisation strategy in China. With the opening of a second vehicle production plant in Foshan, a mega plant has been built at the South Chinese location. In addition, vehicle and component plants in Tianjin, northern China, were bundled at a single location. Together with the existing gearbox plant, further synergies will be used there to increase production efficiency. All four new factories significantly increase the flexibility of Volkswagen Group China to react more quickly to customer needs. At the recently opened FAW-Volkswagen factory in Tianjin alone, over 300,000 SUVs will roll off the assembly line each year, thus forming the basis for Volkswagen Group China's SUV campaign. With an annual production capacity now of 600,000 vehicles per year, the Foshan plant plays a pioneering role in the Volkswagen Group's electrification strategy ("Roadmap E"). In Qingdao, too, electrified vehicles will be able to roll off the assembly line alongside cars with combustion engines in future. -
Volkswagen is systematically and vigorously advancing its electromobility offensive in China
The Volkswagen Group is expanding its successful business relationships in the People’s Republic of China. As part of the 5th German-Chinese government consultations, the Volkswagen Group China signed letters of intent with a long-time joint-venture partner, the FAW Group, and with the China Intelligent and Connected Vehicles (Beijing) Research Institute Co. Ltd. (ICV). The agreements cover the areas of e-mobility, connectivity, mobility services and autonomous driving. A day earlier, the Volkswagen Group China joined the automakers JAC and SEAT in signing letters of intent in which the three underscored their commitment to e-mobility. The aim of the partnerships is to draw on the support of the Chinese partners and to systematically and vigorously fuel the company’s far-reaching electro-offensive and to apply new technologies. -
Volkswagen Expands E-Mobility Engagement in China
Volkswagen Group China today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp., Ltd. (JAC) and SEAT in Berlin, in the presence of German Chancellor An-gela Merkel and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. The three groups will together establish a new R&D center with a focus on developing electric vehicles, connectivity and autonomous driving technologies, as well as a competitive platform for battery electric vehicles (BEV). SEAT brand will be introduced to China by 2020/2021. The move is a significant step in reinforcing Sino-German cooperation, as well as supporting Volkswagen Group China’s drive to be a leader in e-mobility. -
Volkswagen Group China’s mega-factory in Foshan will strengthen e-mobility strategy in China
Through the completion of the Foshan Plant Phase II, the Foshan production site’s capacity will double from 300,000 to 600,000 cars annually. As the first SUV-model of the Volkswagen brand built by FAW-Volkswagen, the T-Roc successfully rolled off the line in April this year. Together with the Audi Q2L, which will also start production this year, it is a vital building block in the fast growing SUV segment. -
Dr. Herbert Diess SUV Brand Day 2018 World Premiere | Beijing, March 23rd, 2018
Speech Benchmark at the top – The all-new Touareg -
Volkswagen launches new joint venture for e-mobility in China
The Volkswagen Group is expanding its successful engagement in the People's Republic of China with a new joint venture. In the presence of Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Volkswagen signed a joint venture agreement with the Chinese automaker Anhui Jianghuai Automobile (JAC) in Berlin today. Each of the partners is to hold a 50 percent stake in the new company, which is to develop, produce and market electric vehicles and mobility services. "The new partnership is a further milestone in our electric offensive in China," said Matthias Müller, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, commenting on the agreement. "Just as we have played a key role in shaping mobility together with our partners in China over the past 30 years or more, we want to play our part in shaping the mobility of the future: electric, fully networked and in line with the needs of our customers." -
Volkswagen inaugurates vehicle plant in southern Chinese city of Changsha
The Volkswagen Group continues to expand its production capacity in China. A further example is the new vehicle plant of Shanghai-Volkswagen (SVW) in Changsha, southern China, which was inaugurated on Sunday by Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft and President and CEO of Volkswagen Group China. This plant is the Group's 119th global facility and its 20th in China. -
Volkswagen Group China commissions new engine plant in Changchun
Volkswagen today commissioned the first of seven new plants in China. Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft and President of Volkswagen Group China, was joined by Xu Jianyi, FAW Group Chairman, and Xu Xianping, FAW Group General Manager, to inaugurate the engine plant in Changchun.
Stories
Emerging stronger from the crisis – with calmness, consideration and serenity
The outbreak of Covid-19 presents Volkswagen with challenges worldwide. In China, Volkswagen's largest single market, the most severe effects of the virus for the Volkswagen Group China have been overcome - also regarding production in its 33 factories across the country. Almost all of the plants have started up again and are already well utilized. Karsten Schnake and Frank Engel and their teams worked hard for this success. Schnake heads up purchasing at Volkswagen Group China, while Engel is responsible for component activities, logistics and quality assurance. In the interview, they talk about their experiences in coping with the crisis in China.
Chinese customers rely on the safety of their own cars
Mobility in the city – that also means: little space on the subway, shared taxis, lots of people, in a limited area. In China, there are indications that the corona pandemic is increasing the desire to travel in a protected space. In a recent study by the market research institute Ipsos, two out of three respondents say that they prefer their own car to public transport. Twice as many as before the corona outbreak.
“On the Chinese market, hope is returning”
Just two months ago, China was considered the center of the corona pandemic. Meanwhile, there are signs of relaxation, with the car industry also slowly returning to normality. Production of vehicles and components has resumed at 22 of 24 Volkswagen locations.
"Enormous potential in the entry-level segment"
Jürgen Stackmann, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen brand responsible for Sales, Marketing and After Sales, speaks about the successful launch of the Volkswagen brand JETTA in China
„China’s development is impressive“
China is Volkswagen's most important market worldwide. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the People's Republic, we asked the CEO of Volkswagen Group, Herbert Diess, four questions.
New brand for China: JETTA
Jürgen Stackmann, member of the Board of Management with responsibility for “Sales, Marketing and After Sales”, smiles. “I think it is really exciting to help bring a new brand into the world. This is definitely a very special day,” he tells a group of international business journalists making a media visit in Wolfsburg. The visit is organized to discuss the creation of the new JETTA brand: Volkswagen plans to introduce it in China to attrac the growing target group of young, middle-class customers and of better tapping its market potential.
China: Four trends
Growth and change: The Chinese car market remains the most important in the world, and China is also assuming a leading role in e-mobility and digitalization – with the Volkswagen Group as a strong partner. Read all about the four major trends.
In the footsteps of a visionary
In the 1980s, as CEO of Volkswagen, Carl Hahn paved the way for the Group’s success in China. His successors have continued his legacy and today Volkswagen is the market leader in the Middle Kingdom.
The visionary in China
Carl H. Hahn, former CEO of Volkswagen Group, in the 1980s brought the company to China. By creating an automotive industry, he worked with Volkswagen to fuel the country’s economic and social development. For his dedication to the country, China Newsweek has named Carl Hahn “Person of the Year.”