SAIC Motor and Volkswagen Group extend joint venture agreement to 2040

On November 26, marking the 40th anniversary of SAIC Volkswagen, SAIC Motor and Volkswagen Group signed an agreement in Shanghai to extend their joint venture SAIC Volkswagen until 2040 

Left, Wang Xiaoqiu, Chairman of Saic Motor. Right, Ralf Brandstätter, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen for China

SAIC Volkswagen, established in 1984, was China's first passenger car joint venture, formalized through a partnership agreement signed in Beijing's Great Hall of the People. The agreement was previously renewed in April 2002, eight years ahead of schedule. The original joint venture agreement was valid until 2030. This latest early renewal underscores both sides' confidence in the joint venture's achievements and the future of China's automotive industry and economy. In response to the changing automotive industry, the joint venture will leverage shared resources to develop a range of new models tailored to the Chinese market, including battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). By 2030, SAIC Volkswagen plans to launch 18 new models, 15 of which will be specifically designed for China and tailored to customer needs. In the internal combustion engine-powered vehicle segment, SAIC Volkswagen is focusing on vehicle intelligence. Recent releases such as the Tiguan L Pro and the Passat Pro have debuted under the "Pro" family banner, with the upgraded Teramont Pro set for launch in early 2025. 

The Audi E concept unveiled on 15 November at Auto Guangzhou in southern China

In the new energy vehicle (NEV) segment, the joint venture is intensifying its product upgrades efforts with BEV, PHEV, and range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) models. The AUDI brand's first premium smart BEV model is expected to hit the market in 2025. Starting in 2026, two compact BEVs developed on the China-specific CMP platform, alongside three PHEV and two REEV models, will expand SAIC Volkswagen's NEV lineup. SAIC Volkswagen offers a wide range of vehicles catering to different market segments with a diverse lineup of more than 30 models under Volkswagen brand, Audi, and Skoda. The VW brand covers popular models such as Polo, Lavida XR, Lavida, Lamando, Passat, Tiguan, Teramont, Tharu, Touran, Viloran, and fully-electric models from ID. Family. SAIC Audi offers models including A7L, Q5 e-tron, and Q6. Under the Skoda brand are Octavia-PRO, Superb, Kodiaq, Karoq, and Kamiq.