Currently reading: New Volkswagen budget brand to launch in China in 2019
The first China-only model from the new brand is set to be a mid-sized SUV that will cost from £5670

The Volkswagen Group’s long-anticipated budget brand will launch in China in 2019.

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Speaking at the announcement of the Volkswagen Group’s 2016 financial results, Jochem Heizmann, board member responsible for China, confirmed that the first vehicles produced in partnership with Chinese car maker First Automobile Works (FAW) would launch “with a focus on the SUV segment”.

“We want to be competitive in that segment,” said Heizmann. It is believed that the first launch will be a mid-sized SUV, and that a larger SUV and notchback are likely to follow, with entry-level prices ranging from €8-11,000 (£5670-£7800).

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Heizmann claimed that no name for the economy brand has yet been decided, but confirmed that “at the moment it will not be VW”.

The Volkswagen Group has previously struggled to meet its internal minimum standards for manufacturing while still meeting the financial constraints imposed by building a budget car to be profitable. A partnership with Suzuki to work on similar vehicles was dissolved in 2015.

Although the cars will initially only be sold in China, other potential markets include India, Latin America, eastern Europe, the Baltic region and Africa. There are no plans to sell the cars elsewhere in Europe at present.

Skoda and Tata Motors product range to launch in India

In a separate project, the Volkswagen Group is also working with Tata Motors on vehicles for the Indian market. Development is being led by the Skoda brand, with Volkswagen Group CEO Matthias Müller confirming that a range of bodystyles would be launched on a small, A0-sized platform from 2019.

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concinnity 15 March 2017

They could call it 'people's car'

A new budget brand with no upmarket pretensions? A car for ordinary folk? A low cost car for everybody? They could call it 'people's car'. What's that in German?