VW to produce new Jetta in southwest China plant
Volkswagen AG will produce the redesigned Jetta beginning in October 2012 at FAW-Volkswagen Automobile Co.'s assembly plant in the southwest China city of Chengdu.
FAW-Volkswagen is a 60-40 joint venture between Volkswagen and China FAW Group Corp.
The new Jetta will have a local content of more than 98 percent, according to information released by FAW.
The car will be fitted with Volkswagen's EA211 gasoline engine, which will be produced in Chengdu.
It will be the second model to be assembled in FAW-Volkswagen's Chengdu plant, following the redesigned Magotan which rolled off the production line of FAW-Volkswagen's Chengdu plant in August.
FAW-Volkswagen started building the Chengdu plant in 2009. The plant is due to start full production later this month.
FAW-Volkswagen currently makes Audi-brand vehicles and Volkswagen-brand models including the Golf, Jetta, Sargita, New Bora, Magotan and CC at its plant in the northeast China city of Changchun. It also plans to build a new vehicle assembly plant in the south China city of Foshan.
Volkswagen also has a joint venture with SAIC Motor Corp. The partnership, called Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive Co., builds Skoda-brand vehicles and Volkswagen-brand models including the Passat, Polo, Touran, Santana, Lavida and Tiguan.
In the first eight months, Volkswagen's two China joint ventures sold 1.1 million vehicles, up 19 percent year-on-year, according to J.D. Power.
