| Volkswagen AG widened its lead in China over | | | | |
| General Motors Corp. with 28 percent growth | | | | "In order to keep up with market demand, we |
| in sales. As such, the German automaker is | | | | plan to add to what is already the largest |
| pleased to have maintained its post as | | | | product lineup with the rollout of several |
| China's largest passenger car maker in 2007. | | | | additional models in 2008," said GM China |
| | | | Group President and Managing Director Kevin |
| VW outsold Detroit-based rival General Motors | | | | Wale. "At the same time, we wills continue to |
| by 431,064 passenger cars in 2007, compared | | | | strengthen our investment in new facilities |
| with 298,507 in 2006. In China, VW's sales | | | | and technology. |
| increased to 910,491 units, exceeding its | | | | |
| sales target of 900,000. | | | | The maker of VW Golf air filter has two joint |
| | | | car manufacturing ventures in China. The |
| General Motors, meanwhile, through its | | | | first is with state-owned China FAW Group, |
| passenger car joint venture, Shanghai General | | | | called FAW-Volkswagen Automobile Co., and the |
| Motors Corp., sold 479,427 vehicles in China | | | | other with SAIC Motor Corp., called Shanghai |
| last year. The figure is up 16.9 percent. | | | | Volkswagen Automotive Co. |
| | | | |
| Sales of locally made passenger cars, | | | | This year the German automaker expects sales |
| including sport utilities and MPVs, likely | | | | to surge 15 percent to 20 percent. "We want |
| increased 20.7 percent in 2007, according to | | | | to grow with the market," noted Kai Grueber, |
| an estimate from the China Association of | | | | VW spokesperson. |
| Automobile Manufacturers in December. | | | | |
| | | | Separately, VW, with tight global competition |
| Although General Motors sold a record 1.03 | | | | in mind, teams up with Sanyo to produce a |
| million passenger and commercial vehicles | | | | hybrid battery system. Martin Winterkorn, the |
| last year, growth slowed from the previous | | | | automaker's boss, earlier confirmed VW's |
| year. In 2006, sales at Shanghai GM were up | | | | plans to build compact hybrids. Also underway |
| 26.8 percent, reported CNN. Sales at General | | | | at VW's Braunschweig R&D facilities in |
| Motors' commercial vehicle joint venture with | | | | Northern Germany is a hybrid Touareg set to |
| SAIC and Wuling Motors, SAIC-GM-Wuling | | | | arrive by 2010. |
| Automobile Co., increased 20.1 percent to | | | | |
| 548,945 units in 2007, the report added. A | | | | "Future VW models will fundamentally also be |
| year earlier, sales had surged 36.5 percent. | | | | constructed with hybrid concepts," Ulrich |
| | | | Hackenberg, VW head of development, told |
| A statement from General Motors divulged that | | | | Automobilwoche. Hackenberg added the car will |
| brisk demand encourages the sales increases. | | | | be based on the Up! concept which was |
| However, the said statement did not respond | | | | recently displayed at the Frankfurt motor |
| to the growth slowdown concern. | | | | show. |