Chinese built VW to be sold in US

Posted Thu Jul 19 2007 10:02 AM by Siddharth Raja

Volkswagen’s joint-venture with China’s Shanghai Auto will spawn a new car that will eventually go on sale in North America. The new model will mark the first time that VW’s Chinese partner will help develop a vehicle targeted at a global market, Reuters Reports.

There’s been no deadline set for the introduction of the new model, but reports suggest that the first car will be the follow up to the Passat Lingyu, which is also produced by the VW and SAIC joint-venture.

This is the second such deal to be announced in recent months. The first was the long drawn out Chrysler-Chery deal, which will see a Chinese built minicar sold in global markets most likely under the Dodge label. VW has had trouble gaining traction in the US market, but we're not convinced this is the best option to take for increasing sales. Poor safety or build quality could damage the VW brand forever in one of the most important car markets in the world.

Reader Comments

Thu Jul 19 2007 9:21 PM
HECTOR says

Chinese? What? VW didn't have enough quality problems with the VWs built in Mexico now they're gonna build them in China?! Make mine built in Deutschland or nothing.
Fri Jul 20 2007 12:44 AM
Bill says

No kidding. I was thinking about buying a VW diesel in the future but there's no way I'd buy a Chinese assembled car!
Fri Jul 20 2007 4:21 AM
Mann says

Chinese cars are not ready to be replacements for western built cars. I have no doibt they will be, but they arent at the moment. VW is making a mistake here.
Fri Jul 20 2007 3:43 PM
SMC says

Disappointing.. the German built Diesels are exquisite, why ruin that by making them in China?
Sat Jul 21 2007 12:54 AM
admin says

Have you guys considered the fact that Audi builds some cars in Hungary, while BMW and Mercedes have car plants in South Africa and the US? Isn't it possible they could transfer the knowledge they've gained to China and built good cars? It's an interesting question and clearly VW knows something we don't.
Sun Sep 30 2007 1:53 PM
Steve says

I'm ok with cars built in India and South Africa, I'm a little weary of Hungary but I would be alright with it. Chinese cars are renouned for having the poorest safety ratings in the world...worse than Russian cars which effectively use a tissue box as its model for a passenger cell. Sorry, I am not ready for Chinese cars yet, let's see how things go with them in the Chinese market first. I know the Chevy HHR is mostly built in China but as we have seen those are one the worst built cars Chevy has ever put out. Believe I've driven several rental examples of them w/ 7 miles in the clock and I've had the e-brake not work or have it not start at all! So let's ease in to our outsourcing and not go in w/ guns blazing shall we?

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