Auto Shanghai is one of the most important auto shows in the world, and this year is no exception. The event features a wide selection of vehicles from all major automakers and suppliers, as well as plenty of new technology demonstrations. This is an excellent opportunity to show off your commitment to the China market and see what customers are looking for.
The new Volkswagen China center is a massive investment by the automaker, and signals their dedication to investing in the development of fully connected electric cars. With Marcus Hafkemeyer heading up the center, VW is putting a lot of trust in him to help them succeed in this growing market.
The German auto giant, Audi, has set a goal of developing 100% electric vehicles by 2030. This push to develop more environmentally friendly cars is likely driven by the company’s desire to better answer China’s fast-changing consumer needs. China is currently the world’s biggest market for automotive sales and it is forecasted that this market will grow exponentially in the coming years. By merging vehicles and components R&D with procurement, Audi hopes to better satisfy Chinese demand for sustainable transportation products.
This will be a great way to promote local suppliers and integrate their tech into product development more efficiently. This will allow for better iterations in the development process, and ultimately, a higher quality product.
Automobile brands in China have been trying to align their vehicles more quickly with the wishes of Chinese customers for some time now. This is why, according to Suzuki, it has decided to team up with Cruze Automotive, a company that specializes in manufacturing minivans. Together, they will work on creating shorter time to market vehicles that are both stylish and utilitarian.
Volkswagen plans to use 100%TechCo to shorten the development cycle of new products and technologies by 30%. The center is already expected to play a major role in the development of a future Volkswagen brand model that is set to be released in 2024. This would allow Volkswagen to compete with companies like Tesla, which have been able to shorten their product cycles considerably.
Volkswagen has been making strides to localization for Chinese consumers, announcing a joint venture with local auto chip startup Horizon Robotics just months after their other efforts. This move comes as Volkswagen looks to capitalize on the rapidly growing Chinese market, which is expected to reach $1 trillion by 2025. With advancements in transportation and driver assistance systems, Volkswagen anticipates strong growth in the Chinese marketplaces.
In order to stay competitive in the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) market, Volkswagen is adapting its product and business models. The German automaker has faced competition from Internet-native players like Nio and Xpeng as well as established carmakers such as Geely’s Zeekr. Additionally, Tesla is a major player in the EV market. In order to stay ahead of these challengers, Volkswagen is focusing on developing new products and modifying its business model.
Given that 100%TechCo is slated to be based out of Hefei, one of China’s leading hubs for electric vehicle production, it is safe to say that the city will soon become a major player in the global EV market. This not only bodes well for consumers, who will benefit from more affordable and better performing EVs, but also for the local economy as a whole – Hefei is already an important manufacturing hub and with 100%TechCo adding even more clout to its name, the city could see even further growth in this sector.
Volkswagen’s move into the Chinese car market is a significant step for the company, as it looks to compete withestablished automakers such as GM and Toyota. The new company will also serve the role of integrating the development projects of all of Volkswagen’s Chinese joint ventures in China, which are SAIC Volkswagen, FAW-VW and Volkswagen Anhui. This integration will allow for synchronized growth and development for all three companies. With this move, VW joins an exclusive group of global automakers that have endeavored to enter China in a big way.
