VW China JV to End Manual-Transmission Carmaking
Such cars will continue to be made with a different JV there, though demand continues to fall.
Car buyers in China tend to prefer automatic transmissions, so manual-transmission sales have been steadily falling.
IMAGE: Volkswagen
Volkswagen will stop making manual-transmission vehicles with one of two joint ventures in China after experiencing continued reduced demand as Chinese buyers tend to prefer automatic transmissions.
The JV with state-owned SAIC Motors has seen manual-transmission vehicle production drop from 500,000 a year to approximately 50,000.
Its production of such vehicles will stop in August 2024. Manual-transmission vehicles made with a different JV will continue, at least for now.
In China, the German automaker is trying to compete with domestic electric-vehicle manufacturers.
READ MORE: German Carmakers' 2023 Outlook Dim
Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today
More Industry
World EV Adoption Set to Grow
A new report says the segment, despite recent setbacks in some regions, is poised for acceleration as many countries look to reduce pollution.
Read More →
Black Book: Weekly Market Update
Wholesale automotive auction business stayed steady last week as bidders encountered lower prices, analysts observed.
Read More →
Pricing Transparency Drives Purchase Consideration
An annual study by JD Power found that clear pricing matters to consumers on automaker websites, so much so that it increases their purchase consideration.
Read More →
Black Book: Weekly Market Update
Used-vehicle market depreciation was the prevailing story in the wholesale market last week.
Read More →
Smaller Is Looking Better
A growing number of Americans in the market for a new vehicle are opting for more affordable options, not waiting for market stability to bite the bullet.
Read More →
U.S. EV Market Slowly Stabilizes
U.S. electric-vehicle interest is slowly stabilizing since a major dip in sales after last year's end of the federal EV tax credit, and hybrids remain the leading electrified power train.
Read More →
Global EV Market Entering New Phase
Automakers are making investments to lower battery costs and optimize production to meet changing consumer needs.
Read More →
Black Book Weekly Market Update
The holiday weekend, not surprisingly, put a drag on wholesale automotive activity last week, analysts observed.
Read More →
Auto Affordability in Context
Cox Automotive points out the complex circumstances that have led to eye-popping vehicle prices.
Read More →
Black Book: Weekly Market Update
Automotive auction inventory increased last week, giving choosy bidders even more leeway.
Read More →