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More efficient China-made cars

By Gong Zhengzheng (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-03-31 10:02

Vahland said Volkswagen will reveal detailed plans before the end of this year to bring its other advanced engines as well as gearboxes into China's production.

The group will also use light-weight material technology in the components of itsvehiclesmade in China to further reduce their fuel consumption and exhaust emission, he added.

Volkswagen has another engine joint venture in Shanghai. It manufactures gearboxes in the city with SAIC and FAW. The German carmaker also runs a platform spare parts venture in Changchun with FAW.

"We have confidence to grow our China sales and profit this year," Vahland said, without providing specific targets.

Volkswagen's sales in China jumped by 24.3 percentyear-on-yearto 711,298 units in 2006, keeping its leadership in the nation's passenger car segment.

Last year, the group regained profit in China thanks to the strong sales growth and its aggressive cost-cutting efforts, after posting losses in the previous two years.

Sales of China-made vehicles climbed by a quarter to 7.22 million units last year, including 4.2 million passenger cars, according to industry data.

Vehicle sales this year are forecast to reach 8.5 million units and passenger cars surpassing 5 million units.