The juggernaut keeps rolling. Volkswagen’s two joint ventures in China, Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive Co and FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Co, will start making electric vehicles in 2014, VW China CEO Karl-Thomas Neumann revealed.
Initial EV output from the two companies is estimated at a few thousand units, and is predicted to reach 100,000 by 2018, Neumann told a EU-China business convention. In addition, the first plug-in hybrid will be launched in China by 2015.
“I am convinced e-vehicles will be a success in China because I think it is desperately needed,” said Neumann, who added that each JV would develop its own EV model.
The Chinese government is making the production of EVs a top priority, and wants the country to be the top producer of EVs. It has named 25 cities, including mega ones like Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen, to lead the green vehicle movement.
Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.
