Volkswagen Adding €1.6B to Investment for China; €6B Total

In view of the dynamic development of the Chinese automobile market, Volkswagen has added €1.6 billion (US$2.1 billion) to its current investment program for China. Among other things, the additional funds are to be used for facilities at two new locations.

Volkswagen had already decided to invest €4.4 billion (US$5.9 billion) in its activities in China. With the new total of €6 billion (US$8 billion), the Group intends to maintain and reinforce its leading position on one of the key sales markets of the automobile industry.

The comprehensive investments in new models and additional capacities in China are to be financed from the cash flow of the Shanghai Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen joint ventures and have been confirmed by the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft.

In 2010, the Volkswagen Group will be launching a total of seven new or updated models produced locally on the Chinese market. Of these, the new Volkswagen models Golf GTI and Tiguan LWB (long wheelbase) as well as the updated versions of the Jetta A2 and the Škoda Octavia were already positioned successfully on the market in the first quarter. The Volkswagen CC is making its debut at this year’s Auto China motor show in Beijing.

The Volkswagen Group currently produces the following models in China: Volkswagen Polo (notchback and hatchback), Cross Polo, Lavida, Santana, Santana Vista, Passat New Lingyu, Touran, Tiguan LWB (long wheelbase), Golf, Golf GTI, New Bora, Jetta, Sagitar and Magotan as well as the Å koda Fabia, Octavia und Superb and the Audi A4 L (long wheelbase), Audi A6 L (long wheelbase) and Audi Q5.

In the first quarter of 2010, the Volkswagen Group delivered a total of 457,259 vehicles (2009: 284,146 vehicles, +60.9 percent) to customers in China and Hong Kong.