On August 15, 2019, as an elegant white LaVida rolled off the production line, SAIC Volkswagen ushered in its 21 millionth car off the assembly line, becoming the first passenger car company in China with a cumulative output exceeding 21 million.
Affected by the macroeconomic downturn, the domestic auto market has been sluggish since 2019, and the auto industry is also ushering in a critical period of reform and transformation. SAIC Volkswagen has made steady progress in the “cold winter” of the auto market, and has continuously increased its market share. In the first seven months, it has sold 1.064 million vehicles, with a market share of 9.08%, an increase of 0.29 percentage points compared to the same period last year. At the same time, under the guidance of the “co-creation 2025” strategy, the company has steadily promoted the layout of new business areas such as new energy vehicles, intelligent network connection, and marketing service innovation.
The 21 millionth off-line Lavida is another achievement of SAIC Volkswagen in the field of new energy vehicles. Since its launch in 2008, Lavida has won the trust of nearly 4.2 million Chinese families and has become one of the best-selling family sedans in China. At the 2019 Shanghai Auto Show, the LaVida Pure Electric will meet consumers as the first mass-produced pure electric model of SAIC Volkswagen. It inherits the design style and space advantages of the new generation of LaVida, and adds exclusive styling elements for pure electric models of the Volkswagen brand. It adopts the leading “German three-electric technology”, equipped with a safe battery system, intelligent electronic control and efficient electric drive system, allowing car owners to enjoy high-quality driving fun with peace of mind. In addition, Lavida Pure Electric has the leading energy consumption performance in comprehensive working conditions at the same level, only 13 kWh/100km, and the travel cost per kilometer is as low as 4 cents.
From the launch of two PHEV models, the Tiguan L plug-in hybrid version and the Passat plug-in hybrid version, in 2018, to the debut of the LaVida pure electric vehicle, SAIC Volkswagen is steadily advancing its layout in the field of new energy vehicles. From January to July this year, SAIC Volkswagen’s two PHEV models sold a total of 22,000 units, of which Passat PHEV sold 14,000 units, leading the joint venture PHEV market. At the end of 2020, SAIC Volkswagen’s new energy vehicle factory will also be completed. In the future, a variety of Volkswagen Group’s new generation of pure electric vehicles based on the MEB platform will be put into production.
In addition to the steady deployment in the field of new energy vehicles, SAIC Volkswagen is also closely focusing on user needs, exploring the cross-border integration of digital new retail, intelligent network connection and the automotive industry. In terms of new retail, the 1,000th showroom of the Volkswagen brand was newly upgraded and opened last year, marking a new beginning for SAIC Volkswagen’s showroom and service upgrades. The new showroom uses leading digital technology to create an intelligent car buying experience. Consumers can learn about vehicle information through mobile terminals, and choose the exterior and interior colors, configurations, etc. of the vehicle. More intuitive information display enables consumers to make more efficient decisions. In terms of intelligent network connection, SAIC Volkswagen officially obtained the Shanghai self-driving car test license in June this year, providing a forward-looking technical reserve for the subsequent exploration of mobile travel solutions that meet China’s traffic scenarios.
Behind the 21 million, there are 21 million trusts and 21 million responsibilities. In the future, SAIC Volkswagen will continue to accelerate the technological innovation of user contacts, gradually improve the layout of new business areas such as new energy vehicles and smart interconnection, and bring more and higher-quality automotive products and services to consumers.
