VW plans expansion as China sales rocket

German automaker plans two more assembly plants as sales increase by 19%

Volkswagen Group claimed it delivered 1.17m vehicles in China in the first half of the year, representing a 19% growth on the same period in 2013 and constituting 38% of its sales globally.

Sales of Audi cars also rose 18% year-on-year to 268,666 units, whilst sales of its Porsche and Skoda brands rose 8% and 9% year-on-year to 19,785 and 130,700 units, respectively.

In response to overwhelming demand, the Group has announced it will invest €2bn to build two new plants in Qingdao and Tianjin in conjunction with its local joint venture partner, China FAW Group Corp.

VW operates four assembly plants with FAW, with the remaining five falling under its partnership with SAIC.