50 percent expansion of dealer network by 2018

In addition, the Group’s dealer network will see significant growth and increase by 50 percent from the present approx. 2,400 dealerships to over 3,600 partners. More than 500,000 people will then be employed by the Volkswagen Group’s Chinese dealer organization. The success of the dealerships is based on an ever-growing range of attractive models. This year alone, the Group brands will be putting over 30 new models, successor models and product upgrades in Chinese showrooms.

China plays key role in Strategy 2018

Winterkorn also said that “China is the Volkswagen Group’s largest single market and plays a key role in our Strategy 2018. For 2014, we have once again set our sights on double-digit growth in China and are aiming to deliver over 3.5 million vehicles to customers for the first time in a calendar year.” According to Winterkorn, the Group is also making good overall progress across all markets: “This year, our Group is aiming to deliver over ten million vehicles to customers worldwide for the first time.” That would mean the quantitative target of Strategy 2018 would have been achieved four years earlier than planned.

Digitalization also redefining the car in China

China will be an integral part of the Group’s ‘Future Tracks’ initiative. As Winterkorn explained: “Here in China, as elsewhere, people’s expectations of mobility and the automobile are changing faster and faster.” Moreover, increasing digitalization is confronting the automotive industry with challenges while at the same time presenting great opportunities as well. The Volkswagen Group is addressing this and other issues of the future with its ‘Future Tracks’ initiative: “We will intensify our customer orientation even further so that we can respond even faster and more flexibly to customers’ wishes – particularly here in China.”

The best experts and masterminds in the Volkswagen Group are joining forces in the ‘Future Tracks’ initiative to find answers to the long-term trends and challenges of the automotive world. That also includes innovative vehicle-related services which will increase in popularity going forward. Winterkorn said: “That will put us in a position to take precisely the right car with the right technology to customers and the market at precisely the right time. For me, ‘Future Tracks’ contains many essential elements for continuing and evolving our Strategy 2018.”

1) Electric-up! – Energy consumption in kWh/100 km: 11.7 (combined); CO2 emissions in g/km: 0 (combined); efficiency class: A+

2) e-Golf – Energy consumption in kWh/100 km: 12.7 (combined); CO2 emissions in g/km: 0 (combined); efficiency class: A+

3) Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid – Fuel consumption in l/100km: 3.1 (combined); energy consumption in kWh/100 km: 16.2 (combined); CO2 emissions in g/km: 71 (combined); efficiency class: A+

4) Audi A3 Sportback e-tron – Fuel consumption in l/100 km: 1.5 (combined); energy consumption in kWh/100 km: 14.2 (combined); CO2 emissions in g/km: 35 (combined); efficiency class: A+

5) Golf GTE – The vehicle has not yet gone on sale. It does not yet have type approval and therefore Directive 1999/94/EC does not apply. Provisional values: Fuel consumption in l/100 km: 1.5 (combined); CO2 emissions in g/km: 35 (combined).