The Volkswagen Group has commissioned the creation of seven new plants in China. The first of these will be the Volkswagen FAW Engine plant located in Changchun, which is set to produce and supply the latest generation of EA888 engines.
Changchun is a key powertrain production base for VW. In the first phase, annual production capacity is expected to be 300,000 units. However, by mid-2014 this is expected to rise to 450,000 units. These units will provide parts for VW passenger cars, as well as Audi.
Through its China division, the Volkswagen Group currently has 16 subsidiaries: Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) and First Automobile Works (FAW) are its major Chinese partner companies. On a global scale, however, the first of the seven new plants will serve as the company’s 101st location.
Professor Dr Jochen Heizmann, president of the Volkswagen Group in China, claimed that latest plant reflected the group’s “global growth trajectory”. He also stressed the increased efficiency provided by the Changchun plant, which will see engines manufactured locally “and is therefore a milestone on the way to making Volkswagen the most eco-friendly automaker in China”.
