VW Group narrows gap with GM in China as sales rise 7.6% in first 2 months
Volkswagen Group said sales of its various brands in China rose 7.6 percent year on year in the first two months to 627,500 vehicles, as the German automaker gained ground on rival General Motors.
Over the same period, GM -- China's largest foreign automaker -- reported a 3.7 percent sales decline to 666,713 vehicles.
In January and February, Audi's China deliveries rose 4.2 percent, sales of the namesake Volkswagen brand increased 8.1 percent and Skoda deliveries rose 8.7 percent.
In China, industry analysts prefer to combine sales for the first two months to adjust for the weeklong Lunar New Year holiday, which was celebrated in February.
Volkswagen, which was overtaken by GM in China sales last year, is spending heavily to expand its product lineup.
The German automaker plans to spend more than 4 billion euros (29 billion yuan) this year to develop SUVs and electric vehicles for the China market.
Later this year, the company will introduce a locally produced Audi A6 plug-in hybrid. That model is one of 15 EVs and plug-in hybrids that VW plans to roll out in China over the next five years.
In January and February, Audi's China deliveries rose 4.2 percent, sales of the namesake Volkswagen brand increased 8.1 percent and Skoda deliveries rose 8.7 percent.
In China, industry analysts prefer to combine sales for the first two months to adjust for the weeklong Lunar New Year holiday, which was celebrated in February.
Volkswagen, which was overtaken by GM in China sales last year, is spending heavily to expand its product lineup.
The German automaker plans to spend more than 4 billion euros (29 billion yuan) this year to develop SUVs and electric vehicles for the China market.
Later this year, the company will introduce a locally produced Audi A6 plug-in hybrid. That model is one of 15 EVs and plug-in hybrids that VW plans to roll out in China over the next five years.
