VW spending big on electric in China

Volkswagen Group China intends spending 10 billion euros (NZ$17b) by 2025 to develop electric and plug-in vehicles.

It plans to have 15 of what it says are new energy vehicles (NEVs) during the next few years and another 25 after 2025, VW Group China president and chief executive officer Professor Jochem Heizmann says.

An array of new technologies, models, partnerships and services were presented by the group at a media workshop on the eve of Auto Guangzhou 2017, November 17-26.

“Our traditional strengths of customer focus, quality, safety, innovation and R&D give us the firm foundation,” he says. “On that, we are steadily building our new priorities in e-mobility, digitalisation, connectivity, autonomous driving, artificial intelligence, and new mobility services.”

Heizmann says that with long-term joint venture partners Saic Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen, and new co-operations, VW is transforming the future of mobility.
The event welcomed Volkswagen Group China’s third vehicle manufacturing joint venture partner, JAC, which aims to produce pure battery cars for the mass market, starting next year.

VW also announced the establishment of the brand ezia to provide intelligent mobility services in China.