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%. It is targeting the traditional market as well as the growing e-mobility sector.
Volkswagen is planning to introduce a range of new, electric-only vehicles from 2021 onwards in China: the ID. family. Starting with the introduction of a mid-size SUV, the ID. ROOMZZ previews a large-size ID. flagship SUV that will have its global launch in China, in about two years from now. The MEB vehicle architecture, with the battery pack included in the vehicle floor, results in abundant interior space, allowing for completely new seating configurations, and turning the SUV into a lounge on wheels.
SAIC Volkswagen’s Teramont X will be launched early summer in China. It offers customers a tough, 5-seater version of the extremely successful regular Teramont, with pleasing fastback styling.
The T-Cross was launched on April 11 as the fourth SUV of SAIC Volkswagen. “Attractive new models like the T-Cross show how fast the Volkswagen brand is moving forward, addressing new, aspiring lifestyles and target groups,” said Jürgen Stackmann, member of the Board of Management Volkswagen Brand for Sales, Marketing and After Sales.
Having recently fired up its SUV programme with the successful T-ROC and Tayron, the SUV Coupé Concept will be FAW-Volkswagen’s first coupé-styled SUV, combining avant-garde design, sporty proportions and outstanding performance will also witness its world premiere in China in the near future.
Volkswagen brand has become the first choice for SUVs in China, having delivered 812,500 (+81.6 per cent) SUVs to customers in 2019. This accounts for 26.0 per cent (2018: 14.4 per cent) of total China sales for Volkswagen brand. Wöllenstein stated, “Volkswagen is now well and truly established as an SUV brand in China.
In 2019, we added the T-Cross, Teramont X, and Tacqua to our SUV range, and now offer 9 SUV models across our entities, to ensure market coverage of all segments.” Volkswagen’s flagship SUV – the Touareg led the pace, with 17,600 units delivered, representing a year-on-year increase of 50.4 per cent.
e-Mobility offensive well under way
With the brand’s NEV offensive in full swing, 4 new China-specific models were launched during the second half of the year, SAIC VOLKSWAGEN’s fully-electric e-Lavida, together with FAW-Volkswagen’s fully-electric e-Bora, e-Golf and plug-in hybrid Magotan GTE.
Sales of SAIC VOLKSWAGEN’s Tiguan L PHEV and Passat PHEV grew steadily throughout 2019, with deliveries of 11,600 and 18,200 units, respectively. Including the imported Variant GTE, Volkswagen brand now offers a total of 7 NEVs in the market, with the flagship imported Touareg PHEV due for launch in 2020. Furthermore, the upcoming all-electric ID. Family models in China, will add impetus to the brand’s NEV portfolio and take its e-Mobility offensive to the next level.
