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