VW-brand sales in China edge up 0.9% in first two months
Volkswagen-brand sales edged up 0.9 percent year-on-year to 441,600 units in the first two months of 2015, as China's best-selling foreign brand lagged the market.
For the same period, industry sales of light vehicles in China rose 8.7 percent.
Volkswagen's other brands did better. For the year to date, VW's premium brand Audi AG generated a sales increase of 11 percent. Skoda, VW's value brand, boosted deliveries by 12 percent, and Porsche sales jumped 42 percent. Sales for Bentley and Lamborghini were not available.
The Volkswagen brand's struggles come at a time when the automaker is making big investments to expand its assembly plants. In November, VW said it would increase production capacity in China to 4 million units by 2018, up from 3.1 million units in 2013.
VW plans to add more models, too. For example, the company is developing a vehicle priced at 6,000 to 7,000 euros for a new entry-level brand.
Volkswagen's other brands did better. For the year to date, VW's premium brand Audi AG generated a sales increase of 11 percent. Skoda, VW's value brand, boosted deliveries by 12 percent, and Porsche sales jumped 42 percent. Sales for Bentley and Lamborghini were not available.
The Volkswagen brand's struggles come at a time when the automaker is making big investments to expand its assembly plants. In November, VW said it would increase production capacity in China to 4 million units by 2018, up from 3.1 million units in 2013.
VW plans to add more models, too. For example, the company is developing a vehicle priced at 6,000 to 7,000 euros for a new entry-level brand.
