SEAT to Build and Sell Cars in China

Spanish carmaker SEAT might start production of cars in China, in a move meant to help the parent company Volkswagen to take advantage of the local growing market. Volkswagen Group is planning to establish a new plant in China and launch several new models in the country, including the ones belonging to SEAT.

Details on which models are going to be sold and produced by SEAT in China are still unknown but, according to a report by gasgoo.com citing company officials, the automaker will test the market through the launch of some special units in coastal cities.

"The question is not whether the Seat brand will come to China, but when it will come," said Fan Ande, CEO of Volkswagen Group China.

Volkswagen announced back in September a 4 billion euro investment in China that will result in increased production of Nanjing and Chengdu plants plus three new model expected to arrive in 2012.

"In China, we will see clear double-digit growth in 2009 and expect to remain the market leader in the future. Volkswagen Group China is well on the way to reaching the target of doubling sales to two million vehicles laid down in our Strategy 2018 earlier than planned," commented Dr. Winfried Vahland, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group China.

Volkswagen said earlier this year that its Chinese plants will launch three new models in 2012, beside the three ones launched this year: Golf, Passat New Lingyu and the Skoda Superb. At this time, models manufactured by the Volkswagen Group in China include the Volkswagen Polo, Lavida, Santana, Santana Vista, Passat New Lingyu, Touran, Golf, New Bora, Jetta, Sagitar and Magotan, as well as the Škoda Fabia, Octavia and Superb and the Audi A4L and A6L.