China is a huge market for Volkswagen Group, so when the Chinese Vice Premier decides to travel all the way to Wolfsburg, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn pulls out all the stops to get the man up to speed with the group’s activities. The buzz word for this year, as set by the numerous displays at CES 2015, is autonomous driving. Volkswagen Group is well aware of the trend, and they have assured the Vice Premier that they are making big steps in this field.
Volkswagen is opening its new vehicle plant in Changcha in 2015 and an engine plant in Changchun will also start production this year. In 2017/2018, there will be two further vehicle plants in Quingdao and Tianjin. The Volkswagen Group is a powerful motor for China as a high-tech location. In the environmentally compatible technology field, the Group is committed to innovations made in China and made for China.
With 19 locations and almost 3.5 million vehicles produced in 2014, China is the largest market for the Volkswagen Group. By 2019, manufacturing capacity is to be boosted to five million vehicles. Together with its Chinese partners, Volkswagen is investing €22 billion in highly advanced vehicles and powertrains, environmentally compatible technologies and resource-conserving production in China by 2019.
