Volkswagen and SAIC strengthen partnership with new electric models
1:08 PM EDT, July 1, 2024
The Volkswagen Group is officially strengthening its cooperation with the Chinese giant SAIC. The partnership aims to provide tangible benefits to both parties, particularly reinforcing the German company's position in the Chinese market.
The new agreement between Volkswagen and SAIC took official form on June 27, 2024. The plans are ambitious, envisioning the construction of a joint factory and the production of numerous electrified models. The first units are expected to hit the market as early as 2026.
These will include fully electric vehicles, hybrids, and plug-in hybrids. At least five models are planned, but neither party has ruled out further expanding the lineup.
It is worth mentioning that this will not be the first instance of German-Chinese cooperation. The SAIC-VW joint venture has been operating in China for a long time, producing local versions of Volkswagen, Skoda, and Audi models. However, up until now, these have mainly been combustion engine cars. The future, on the other hand, lies in electrification.
The German company is collaborating with another Chinese manufacturer, Xpeng. In February 2024, they presented a plan to create two electric compacts. However, the details remain unknown for now.
