| Volkswagen AG, Europe's largest automaker and the | | | | half of the year after boosting sales by a quarter to |
| biggest overseas carmaker in China has started selling | | | | 431,369. The FAW-Volkswagen which is a venture |
| Magotan sedans in the country and in the process | | | | with China FAW Group Corp. will make the Magotan |
| challenging Toyota Motor Corp.'s Camry which is | | | | which is offered as the Passat in Europe. Volkswagen |
| equipped with high quality Toyota thermostat. | | | | also has a venture with Shanghai Automotive Co. the |
| The Magotan sedans are equipped with 1.8-liter or | | | | listed unit of SAIC Motor Corp. |
| 2-liter engine and have a base price starting 192,800 | | | | In other news, Jim Press, the President of Toyota |
| yuan or $25,000 basing in an email coming from | | | | North America has made a rather bold statement |
| Volkswagen. On the other hand Toyota's China-made | | | | saying that "eventually, everything will be a hybrid." And |
| Camry has a price that starts at 197,800 yuan more | | | | aside from that he has shown his confidence in |
| expensive than the Magotan by 5,000 yuan. | | | | Toyota's ability and so proud of their product line that |
| The Wolfsburg-based automaker plans to add as | | | | he goes as far as saying that the ground-breaking |
| many as 14 new models in China by the end of 2009 | | | | Toyota Prius hybrid is just like Ford's Model T. |
| in an effort to maintain its market lead. Likewise, the | | | | It should be noted that the Ford Model T has often |
| automaker's Santana and Jetta sedans has claimed | | | | been considered as the first of its kind and a car |
| the top two spots in the first-half sales rankings in the | | | | which was made accessible to the masses. It was |
| country and comparing that with Camry which went | | | | somewhat advance for its time and has helped in |
| on sale last year and was only able to obtain the | | | | shaping the automotive industry into what it is today. |
| fourth rank. | | | | Mr. Press is also saying that the Prius just like the |
| According to Tiecheng, President of | | | | Model T is equally revolutionary. |
| FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Co. one of | | | | The everything-will-become-hybrid speech of Mr. Jim |
| Volkswagen's China ventures, "The Magotan helps to | | | | Press has aroused various reactions and of course |
| diversify FAW-Volkswagen's product structure, | | | | there are those that contradict Mr. Press' statement |
| allowing us to be more competitive in the market." | | | | saying that not everything will be hybrid. But with the |
| Europe's largest automaker, Volkswagen has about 19 | | | | present trend in the auto industry maybe who knows |
| percent of China's car market accomplished in the first | | | | we might all end up driving hybrids. |