AUDI OPENS RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CENTER FOR ASIA IN BEIJING, CHINA

Audi opens Research & Development Center for Asia in Beijing, China

• R&D Center in Beijing reflects the strategic importance of China and Asia
• Audi Chairman Rupert Stadler: “The new Audi R&D Center Asia is an important milestone in the internationalization of Audi’s R&D.”
• Intensified cooperation with the joint venture FAW-Volkswagen in China

BEIJING : February 1, 2013 - With the opening of the new Audi R&D Center Asia in Beijing, AUDI AG is further strengthening its innovation capability in Asia and deepening the cooperation with its partner FAW-Volkswagen in China. The research and development teams will be active in product customization for Asian customers, including electronics and connectivity solutions. The engineers will also develop advanced technologies such as components for new-energy vehicles and efficient powertrains. The center is part of Audi’s global R&D and will closely cooperate with the development departments of FAW-Volkswagen.

“The new Audi R&D Center Asia is an important milestone in the internationalization of our innovation capacities,” stated Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, at the opening event in Beijing today. “The teams will work in close contact with the customers in Asia. And they will ensure that valuable ideas and innovations from Asia can be integrated into the early conceptual development phase of our products.”

Audi Design China is part of the R&D Center, with designers for exterior, interior and color & trim. The teams get their inspiration from trends in Asia and will transfer new perspectives back to the headquarters in Ingolstadt, where the global design is created.

Asia - with Europe and the Americas - is one of the three main pillars for Audi’s global strategy. Audi leads the premium segment in China (including Hong Kong) and set a new record in 2012 with deliveries of 405,838 automobiles, an increase of 29.6 percent compared to the previous year.

The R&D Center Asia is located inside the new Audi China Building which opened today at 751 D-Park in Beijing’s creative district. The expansion of Audi in China is not limited to R&D and includes sourcing initiatives and motorsport programs. In 2012, Audi China, the FAW-Volkswagen Audi Sales Division and its dealerships cooperated to establish the first ever brand cup of Audi worldwide: The Audi R8 LMS Cup finished its first season with 12 races in China and will expand to other Asian locations in 2013. “We will continue to support global AUDI activities in the Asian region,” explained Dr. Dietmar Voggenreiter, President of Audi China. “And we will further intensify the cooperation with our joint venture FAW-Volkswagen in Changchun.”

Audi engineers in Beijing have successfully developed tailored infotainment solutions for China, Japan and Korea since 2008 - including a touchpad for the navigation system which allows handwritten input of Asian characters. Together with engineers from FAW-Volkswagen, a special Audi connect call-center service for China has been created.

With the new center, the number of R&D staff in Beijing has increased from 40 to over 300. The R&D functions include engine, body, electronics and battery development, a prototype workshop, vehicle test facilities and state-of-the-art 3D development environments. The laboratories, prototype and R&D workshops cover an area of over 8,000 square meters. The head of the Audi R&D Center Asia is Lorenz Fuehrlinger.

“With this beautiful facility and its highly skilled and motivated designers, engineers and technicians, we are in a unique position to identify the needs of our customers in China and Asia,” said Wolfgang Dürheimer, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development of AUDI AG. “And we can act quickly to include the required features in our cars.”

Beijing is also the headquarters of Volkswagen Group China, and Audi will closely cooperate with the Volkswagen R&D functions, some of which will be located in the same building at 751 D-Park. “With this R&D center, Audi is entering a new stage of development in Asia. Consumers in this region, and especially the Chinese consumers, have an increasingly high level of influence on trends in the global automotive industry. And satisfied customers have top priority for Volkswagen Group China and its brands”, stated Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group China and a member of the Board of Management of VW Group.

The development teams of Audi in Beijing will closely cooperate with the R&D facilities of FAW-Volkswagen in many areas. “FAW-Volkswagen and Audi have had many fruitful cooperative projects – for example on vehicle electrification, powertrains and infotainment systems. Together, the two partners also cooperated with Tongji University in Shanghai. I have great confidence that the decision to set up the Audi R&D Center Asia in China demonstrates the commitment of AUDI AG to our partnership and to China’s innovation capabilities. It pushes our cooperation onto a new level,” said An Tiecheng, President of FAW-Volkswagen.

The Audi R&D teams in Beijing will benefit from the geographic proximity to and the same time zone as FAW-Volkswagen, as well as core Asian markets. China’s capital also offers leading universities and talents, a key aspect for Audi’s aim to develop local talent in Asia. China, with its large urban centers, is expected to become one of the leading markets for Audi’s e-tron vehicles. The Audi R&D Center Asia positions Audi well to play a driving role in the area of new-energy vehicles. Audi China has already been operating a technical test fleet of Audi e-tron cars in China to test electric drive systems under special conditions such as extreme heat and the traffic patterns of megacities.

[Source : AUDI]

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Breaking NEWS : CHINESE STATE INVESTMENT FUND MAY BUY STAKE IN DAIMLER

BEIJING : January 9, 2013 - China's sovereign wealth fund may buy a stake in Daimler AG, the parent of Mercedes-Benz, a China media outlet reported.

The auto news channel of the online site of the state-owned People's Daily said China Investment Corp., the country's investment vehicle, was interested in buying a stake in Daimler ranging from 4 to 10 percent. 

The article cited no sources, saying only that the information "had been revealed." The China Investment Corp. declined to comment.

Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche has said he would welcome a Chinese investor in the company. Company spokeswoman Silke Walters declined to comment on the report but said: "In general we always welcome any new investors as a balanced shareholder structure is in the interest of Daimler."

A person familiar with the matter told Reuters the report was without merit. But Daimler shares rallied on the report, hitting a 9-month high during trading on Monday.

News of the possible investment comes at a time when the German automaker is conducting a shake-up of its troubled Chinese operations.

[Source : REUTER via AUTOMOTIVE NEWS CHINA]

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FIRST IMAGES OF QOROS GQ3 COMPACT SALOON: ELEGANT STYLING WITH GERMAN DESIGN INFLUENCES AND ADVANCED INFOTAINMENT

QOROS GQ3

• C-segment saloon to make public debut at 2013 Geneva Motor Show
• Unique style matched by high quality materials and finish
• Spacious interior with high-spec infotainment as standard
• Engineered to achieve top crash test ratings

New independent automotive manufacturer, Qoros, has taken the wraps off the GQ3, the first of a family of all-new models designed and developed by an international team of experienced specialists and new, young talent, specifically for markets in China and Europe.

The first model from Qoros, the elegant GQ3 C-segment saloon, introduces design themes and styling features that will define a unique brand identity across the forthcoming family of Qoros models.  The GQ3 features an elegant exterior, a spacious, feature-packed interior and is engineered to achieve top European and Chinese crash test ratings.

“During the development of the Qoros GQ3, we directed all our efforts towards the needs and expectations of today’s young, aspirational customers,” says Volker Steinwascher, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board at Qoros.  “They are very sensitive about design and quality, are highly sophisticated users of technology, and insist on the very best safety standards.  As an entirely new brand, we have the advantage of being able to focus our efforts, without compromise or distraction, on meeting the demands of these customers.”

Making its world debut at the Geneva International Motor Show (7-17 March 2013), the Qoros GQ3 goes on sale in China in the second half of 2013, with the first cars arriving in Europe later in the year.

Elegant exterior

The GQ3’s styling introduces a brand identity that will make every future model instantly recognisable as a Qoros.  Under the leadership of Executive Director of Design, Gert Volker Hildebrand, a team of designers in Munich and Shanghai have created distinct and precise styling based on modern European design tastes.
The GQ3 has a sporty, elegant profile with a long wheelbase, short overhangs, a coupé-like silhouette and a roof that flows smoothly into the strong rear quarters.  While horizontal lines emphasise the car’s impressive stature – at 1839 mm, it is one of the widest cars in its class – a striking swage line rises dynamically from the headlamps via the door handles to the rear lights.  A prominent matt aluminium strip above each side sill adds to the visual stretch of the side profile, while muscular arches – accommodating alloy wheels up to 19-inch in size – and the car’s wide track reinforce its purposeful stature.

The face of the GQ3 sets the template for the Qoros model family, with wide headlamp units extending into the flanks of the car, framing the central upper grille at the same height.  Horizontal LED bars feature at the upper edge of the headlights and in the distinctive rear light clusters.

The standard alloy wheels feature a triple-split eight-spoke design, which will become another signature design element for the Qoros brand.

Refined interior featuring an advanced infotainment system

The GQ3 will offer generous interior space, and the horizontally arranged ‘floating’ dashboard will further enhance the impression of space in the cabin.  In its ergonomics and quality, the Qoros GQ3 sets new standards for cars produced in China and will be comparable with the best-selling cars in Europe
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Prominently occupying the GQ3’s central console is the innovative eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system that represents an automotive industry first.  The advanced software, technology and graphics were designed and developed in-house to safely manage information displays for minimal driver distraction and to optimise ease-of-use while on the move.  The intelligent and powerful package was created specifically with the young, aspirational, always-connected target Qoros customer firmly in mind.

Replacing the array of switches and buttons that blights many modern car interiors, the capacitive touchscreen enables users to manage entertainment, navigation, ‘Cloud’ connectivity and in-car networking functions with intuitive finger ‘swipe’ movements that will be familiar to smartphone users.

The system allows drivers to book dealer service appointments, features an automatic emergency services alert in the event of an accident, and supports usage-based car insurance services.  The state-of-the-art navigation system includes best-in-class traffic information and an advanced points-of-interest search.  Integrated social networking connectivity enables drivers to share their driving experiences, points-of-interest, favourite trips and photos via social media through the intuitive interface.

The immensely powerful fully-featured infotainment system will be fitted as standard across the GQ3 range.

Targeting maximum safety

The Qoros GQ3 is engineered to achieve maximum European and Chinese crash test ratings thanks to advanced safety technology.  The car’s structural architecture incorporates the latest developments in the field of crash safety.  The precise arrangement of supporting structures, as well as large-scale deformation zones, prevent intrusions into the passenger cell during collisions.

In addition, occupants are protected by a comprehensive package of state-of-the-art safety measures, including front, side and curtain airbags, as well as highly-effective seatbelt restraint systems.

GQ3: the name explained

As Qoros plans the introduction of a large family of cars, its three-digit model naming structure has been carefully considered.

The first letter designates the body style: all sedans will carry the first letter 'G‘.  All Qoros models will feature the second letter 'Q‘ – an unmistakable reference to the 'master‘ brand.  The third digit will always be a number and indicates the segment in which the model range sits.  The number '3‘ denotes that the model is in the compact / C-segment.

After its world premiere in Geneva, the Qoros GQ3 will be exhibited at the Shanghai Motor Show in April 2013.

Independent, dynamic, success-oriented: the Qoros Company

Qoros Auto Co. Ltd. was founded in 2007, within the context of a partnership of equals between Chery Automobile, China's largest independent car manufacturer, and Israel Corporation, a globally acting industry holding company. It is headed by Chief Executive Officer and President Guo Qian as well as Deputy Chief Executive Officer Volker Steinwascher. Supported by globally renowned component suppliers such as Magna Steyr, TRW, Continental, Bosch, Microsoft and Iconmobile, Qoros develops vehicles with an independent identity and a high level of quality.

The company is headquartered in Changshu, a region of high importance for China's rapidly growing automobile industry, with large offices in Shanghai.  A production plant is being built in Changshu that is completely new, efficient and based on sustainability. It will have an initial production capacity of 150,000 vehicles per year, which can be increased to 450,000 vehicles per year.

In the growing Chinese automobile market, Qoros has an exceptional position, with a brand identity and product positioning that is clearly distinguishable from domestic car manufacturers and international joint ventures. The first model of the new brand, Qoros GQ3, will be introduced on the Chinese automobile market during the second half of 2013, and the first cars will be sold in Europe later in the year. Subsequently, additional models are planned in intervals of approximately six months.

Images : 2013 QOROS GQ3

[Source : NEWSPRESS]

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Cayenne GTS set to celebrate its world premiere at Auto China in Beijing

Porsche Cayenne GTS

STUTTGART : April 18, 2012 - Porsche will celebrate the world premiere of its SUV Cayenne GTS and present the new generation of the Boxster for the first time in Asia during Auto China in Beijing. The 2012 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition will open its doors to the public on 27 April 2012 and will run until 2 May 2012.

For Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, China represents the fastest growing market and the second largest after the USA and before the home market Germany. The sports car manufacturer sold more than 24,000 vehicles in China last year, i.e. an increase of 65 per cent compared with 2010 and a new record for the company. Bernhard Maier, Member of the Executive Board Sales and Marketing of Porsche AG, said: “Porsche is therefore the market leader for sports cars in China. From the establishment of our subsidiary in 2008 up to today, we have sold 8,831 sports cars of the 911, Boxster and Cayman models in China. Last year we therefore attained a segment share of 46 per cent.”

The most popular model in 2011 was again the Cayenne with 13,283 units sold. For the second time in succession, more SUVs were supplied to customers in the Middle Kingdom than in any other country in the world. China is also now the world’s largest market for the Panamera and the second largest single market for the mid-engined Boxster and Cayman sports cars.

There are also indications of sustained high demand in the current year: in the first three months of 2012, Porsche delivered 7,121 vehicles to Chinese customers, i.e. an increase of 38.3 per cent compared with the same quarter last year.

In order to cope with this sustained high demand, Porsche will continue to expand its dealer network in 2012. Since the start of this year, three new Porsche Centres have already been opened while one has been extended. The existing dealer net-work will be increased from the current figure of 41 Porsche Centres to a total of around 100 by 2015.

Porsche is also building an exclusive customer testing ground at a legendary location for motorsport enthusiasts: directly adjacent to the Shanghai International Circuit (SIC), the race track which has staged the Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix since 2004, the first Porsche Driving Experience Centre (PDEC) in Asia is being constructed. Covering an area of 100,000 square metres, the site will contain a test track, slalom and off-road courses as well as training rooms for exclusive use by customers and fans of Porsche. After it has been completed (probably in the third quarter of 2013), the Porsche Driving Experience Centre in Shanghai will be the third customer testing ground in the world along with Leipzig and Silverstone (England).

Porsche is also actively involved in social projects in China. Together with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the sports car manufacturer is supporting the education of children and adolescents in the Sichuan, Gansu and Yunnan regions that were affected by earthquakes. Porsche has extended this cooperation by two years to 2014 and increased its financial contribution amounting to 10.2 million Renminbi (RMB) (around €1.2 million) by 5 million RMB. The success of the programme is exceeding all expectations: in a good two years more than 7,500 teachers have been trained and more than 115,000 school students have received better education and teaching materials. This was more than twice as many as expected at the start of the programme.

Images : 2012 Porsche Cayenne GTS

 

 

[Source : PORSCHE]

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Audi RS Q3 concept

AUDI RS Q3 Concept

•     Interpretation of a high-performance athlete with 265 kW (360 hp)
•     Powerful 5-cylinder unit combines gasoline direct injection with turbocharging
•     Acceleration to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 5.2 seconds and top speed of 265 km/h (164.66 mph)

INGOSTADT : April 18, 2012 - At Auto China 2012 in Beijing, Audi is presenting a themed vehicle based on the Q3 – the RS Q3 concept. It interprets the character of the compact SUV in a very special way – systematically dynamic.

The blue painted Audi RS Q3 concept is a vehicle based on the theme of thrilling dynamic performance. Its engine, a 2.5 TFSI with 265 kW (360 hp) of power, and its body – lowered about 25 mm (0.98 inches) and widened with sharp visual details – explore the potential of the Q3 model series in a new way.

Brushed and polished aluminum trim frames the Audi RS Q3 concept’s single-frame radiator grille. Its black grille insert exhibits a new geometry – the honeycombs are slightly offset to one another deeper inside, creating a distinct three-dimensional effect. The lower area of the grille integrates another sculpted feature – a silver quattro signature. The headlights are slightly tinted; inside them, some chrome parts are dark or covered by panels of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP).
The bumper was redesigned; there are now powerful edges around the outer air intakes. They are subdivided into two segments – the inner sections have honeycomb screen inserts, while their outer sections, made of CFRP, have a smooth funnel shape. The front spoiler is also made of CFRP. Its lower section is matt black. The entire lower section of the bumper is coated with blue clearcoat paint.

The same combination of black and blue tinted areas is repeated on the sides of the Audi RS Q3 concept – on the trim strips of the doors and sills and on the add-on parts of the wheel housings. The door mirror housings consist of black CFRP, while matt aluminum trim frames the side windows. The roof spoiler runs a long way towards the rear; its middle section has been slightly shortened compared to its outer sections. It is painted in the body color Ordos Blue – a matt blue with a slight yellow tint.

At the rear, the lower bumper section has a sporty and angular style. The diffuser insert, which integrates the two large elliptical tailpipes in typical RS look, has been shifted far upward. Here too, Audi designers chose a combination of blue clearcoat and black CFRP. The rear lights and auxiliary lights in the bumper are tinted in anthracite and are made of clear glass.

Blue and black: the interior

In the interior of the Audi RS Q3 concept, which gets plenty of light through a glass sunroof, cool black is the dominant color – on the roofliner, floor carpet, floor mats, leather-upholstered instrument panel and on large areas of the seat upholstery, which consists of Fine Nappa leather. Dark blue Alcantara is used as a contrasting element on the seat covers.

The contrasting blue color is used in an inventive way in the CFRP decorative panels – the panel material was produced by weaving brilliant blue luminescent glass fibers into it. The steering wheel has large control stalks made of CFRP, which are framed by aluminum accents. Most of the wheel is covered with black Velvet leather – a leather that gives the hands a secure grip and repels dirt very well. In the door trim panels, there are surfaces in blue Alcantara.

The inside door handle has a perforated lightweight construction look as in every RS model. In the tachometer, Chinese characters replace the usual Arabic numerals. RS Q3 badges adorn the instrument cluster, the seatbacks, door sill plates and floor mats.

The styling of the engine compartment is also extremely sporty in appearance. A layered-carbon trim panel covers the area around the five-cylinder engine that sports a red valve cover, and two laterally arranged ventilation screens feed air to the engine. As is the practice in car racing, the cylinder numbers are marked on their spark plug covers. An aluminum housing holds the open sports air filter, and the filtered air tube is made of stainless steel.

Powerful: the drivetrain

The extremely powerful 2.5 TFSI in the RS Q3 concept combines two classic Audi technologies – gasoline direct injection and turbocharging. From 2,480 cc of engine displacement, it generates 265 kW (360 hp) of power. The car catapults itself from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 5.2 seconds, and its propulsive force takes it to a top speed of 265 km/h (164.66 mph).

A seven-speed S tronic transfers the forces of the sonorous 2.5 TFSI to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive. Generally, it directs these forces almost exclusively to the front wheels. When slip is detected there, it can redistribute forces to the rear axle via a hydraulic multi-plate clutch with electronic control – instantaneously and variably.

The alloy wheels of the Audi RS Q3 concept continue the dynamic RS Q styling and have the dimensions 8.5 J x 20. The front surfaces are high-gloss, while the sides are sandblasted. The tire size of 255/30 is not exactly typical for an SUV, but certainly for an RS model.

Images : AUDI RS Q3 Concept 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Source : AUDI]

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Audi in China: most successful quarter with over 90,000 deliveries

Audi continues its success story in China: The company sold 90,063 automobiles in China and Hong Kong in the first quarter of 2012 – a year-on-year increase of 40 percent. Sales of the Audi Q5 nearly doubled (93 percent) to 20,870 units.  

•     Sales in China rose by 40 percent to 90,063 cars
•     Head of Marketing and Sales, Peter Schwarzenbauer: “New Audi A6L will further boost growth”
•     31,505 vehicles delivered in March sets new record

CHANGCHUN : April 4, 2012 - Audi continues its success story in China: The company sold 90,063 automobiles in China and Hong Kong in the first quarter of 2012 – a year-on-year increase of 40 percent.

“This figure sets a new record. Audi just had its most successful quarter ever in China,” says Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG for Marketing and Sales. “And we plan on generating double-digit sales growth in coming months in the Chinese market.”

Substantial growth was achieved for the long-wheelbase Audi A4, built locally in China: 24,536 deliveries (a rise of 68 percent). Sales of the Audi Q5 nearly doubled (93 percent) to 20,870 units. The third-generation of the long-wheelbase Audi A6L, which is being introduced onto the market at the moment, will further boost sales. Sales of imported Audi models rose by 51 percent to 17,379 units (excluding Hong Kong).

With 31,505 vehicles delivered in March, yet another sales record was broken. This represents a year-on-year increase of 37 percent. 

The Audi world will return its focus to China again at the end of April. In conjunction with its joint venture partner FAW, Audi will present the next-generation Audi A6L, among other models, at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, or Auto China 2012, from April 23 to May 2.

[Source : AUDI]

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Volkswagen celebrates 20 years of partnership with FAW in China

Volkswagen celebrates 20 years of partnership with FAW in China

• More than 15,000 skilled jobs created in two decades


• Winterkorn: Further growth in “second home of China” expected

WOLFSBURG / CHANGCHUN : August 26, 2011 - One of the Chinese automotive industry’s success stories began twenty years ago: In 1991, Volkswagen and First Automotive Works (FAW) set up the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture. Some 4,500 guests celebrated the joint venture’s 20th anniversary yesterday evening at a ceremony in Changchun. FAW-Volkswagen is currently one of China’s largest automobile manufacturers and has built five million vehicles since operations began. The anniversary vehicle, a “New Magotan”, left the assembly line in Changchun this week. The company expects annual production to top the one million mark for the first time this year.

At the ceremony in Changchun Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, CEO of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, looked back on 20 exciting and successful years of cooperation. The FAW-Volkswagen joint venture is today one of the largest and most innovative car manufacturers in China. "Together with our partner FAW we have played a decisive role in shaping mobility in China and created more than 15,000 jobs," Winterkorn said. "Alongside our strong partners we are aiming to grow further in our second home of China and to create new jobs. We have laid the right foundations with targeted investments of €10.6 billion in capacity expansion and innovative and emotional vehicles."

The People’s Republic of China has been the Group’s largest sales market since 2009, FAW-Volkswagen is a leading manufacturer in the country’s automobile industry. The company produces Volkswagen and Audi brand vehicles as well as parts and components at its plants in Changchun, Chengdu and Dalian. With an ever-growing model range that today includes vehicles such as the Golf or the long-wheelbase Audi A6, FAW-Volkswagen is targeting annual production in excess of one million units for the first time in 2011.

Apart from the joint venture with FAW, Volkswagen also operates a second joint venture in cooperation with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC). In total, the Group with its Volkswagen, Audi and Škoda brands employs over 40,000 people at its production sites in China and is aiming to sell more than two million vehicles for the first time this year.

FAW-Volkswagen: Key facts

• 1988: Start of cooperation with First Automobile Works (FAW) in China Licensed production of Audi 100 begins


• 1991: "FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Company Ltd." founded in Changchun, Changchun plant built


• 1995: AUDI AG incorporated into FAW-Volkswagen as the third shareholder


• 1996: FAW-Volkswagen Sales Company founded


• 2004: FAW-Volkswagen’s second plant opened in Chengdu, "Volkswagen FAW Platform Company Ltd." and "FAW Engine (Dalian) Company Ltd." founded


• 2007: Volkswagen FAW Engine in Dalian begins production


• 2011: Capacity expansion at FAW-Volkswagen in Chengdu begins


• 2011: Construction of a new FAW-Volkswagen plant in Foshan gets underway

[Source : VOLKSWAGEN]

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Volkswagen given the green light for two plants in China

• Chinese government approves plans for Foshan and Yizheng Planned annual capacity of 300,000 vehicles for each plant

WOLFSBURG/BERLIN : June 28, 2011 - As planned, the Volkswagen Group can build two further automobile plants in China, continuing its long-term growth strategy in the world's largest market for passenger cars. During the German-Chinese government consultations in Berlin, final approval was granted today for the plants to be built at Foshan and Yizheng. Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, today signed appropriate declarations together with the Presidents of the Chinese partner organizations.


The factory at Yizheng, in Jiangsu Province in eastern China, is to be developed together with partner Shanghai Volkswagen, and the plant at Foshan, in Guangdong Province in southern China, will be built together with the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture. The first documents for the development of the two sites were signed in the summer of 2010. "China is already the world's largest sales market for automobiles and further substantial growth is expected in the future," Winterkorn said on the occasion of signing the contracts at the Federal Chancellor's Office in Berlin. "The Volkswagen Group intends to play a major role in shaping this growth with new environmentally compatible models and the expansion of local production capacity. Our new plants show that Volkswagen remains a strong motor for the Chinese automobile industry."

Each of the two plants will be designed for an annual capacity of 300,000 vehicles and production is due to start in 2013. "The new factories are a key element in our plans to increase annual production capacity in China to three million vehicles in the medium term together with local partners," said Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group China in Berlin.

In view of the dynamic development of the Chinese automobile market, Volkswagen had boosted its investment program for China to 10.6 billion euros for the period from 2011 to 2015. In addition to the two new plants, plans have already been announced to expand production capacity at each of the existing Nanjing and Chengdu plants to between 300,000 and 350,000 vehicles per year.

[Source : VOLKSWAGEN]

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