VW Promises Major Electrified Vehicle Push in China

Volkswagen Group says its joint ventures in China will introduce at least six new electric or plug-in hybrid models in the country by 2018. It describes the initiative as China's largest vehicle electrification ever.

The program begins this year when VW introduces all-electric versions of its Up! city car and Golf small hatchback in China. VW Group already offers the $252,000 (1.6 million yuan) Porsche Panamera S E-hybrid plug-in sedan there.

In 2015 the company's FAW Volkswagen and Shanghai Volkswagen ventures will roll out two plug-in hybrids, the Audi A3 e-tron small sedan and Golf GTE. In 2016 they will add locally produced plug-in hybrid versions of the Audi A6 large sedan and a new midsize VW-branded limousine.

By then VW hints it also may decide to add a production version of its ultra-luxury Bentley Hybrid Concept sedan.

Separately, VW has begun a new effort called "Future Track" to identify and adapt itself to trends that are redefining future mobility and creating new mobility-related services.

The VW electrification project is part of a five-year, $18 billion investment program in China, most of which will be spent to expand capacity and add new conventionally powered vehicles in the country.

The company did not break out its budget for vehicle electrification in China. VW says its growth plans in China over the next four years will add 20,000 jobs there and expand its dealership network in the country by 50% to 3,600 outlets.