Volkswagen inaugurates new plant in China
The Volkswagen Group is expanding its production capacity with the opening of Shanghai-Volkswagen's new plant in Ningbo, south eastern China. The plant is designed for an annual production capacity of 3,00,000 vehicles. Globally, it is Volkswagen's 105th plant.
It was inaugurated by Martin Winterkorn, chairman of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, Jochem Heizmann, CEO of Volkswagen Group China and Hu Maoyuan, chairman of SAIC Motor Corporation Ltd.
"This new, state-of-the-art factory is further proof of the Volkswagen Group's comprehensive commitment in China. Here in Ningbo and together with our partners, our pioneering spirit is once again driving economic and technical progress in the Chinese automotive industry. We are working hard to offer our customers in China the best vehicles and most efficient technologies – engineered and made in China. For our Group brands, the Ningbo plant also gives new momentum to tapping the full potential of the huge market south and west of Shanghai," said Winterkorn.
The plant is located about 150km south of greater Shanghai. It has its own press, body and paint shops plus a final assembly unit. Production gets underway with the new Skoda Superb. Other vehicles based on the MQB platform will follow soon.
China is the Volkswagen largest market and the Ningbo factory is Shanghai-Volkswagen's 5th plant in China. The other plants are in Anting, Nanjing and Yizheng, Jiangsu province.