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.
Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today
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