Volkswagen joint venture launches first Chinese-developed car

Volkswagen said it has launched its Lavida A-class model in China, the automaker’s first model which was entirely designed and developed by its Chinese joint venture, Shanghai Volkswagen. The launch of the Lavida was initially announced at the Beijing Auto Show in April. Last year, Volkswagen sales in the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong rose 28% to 910,491 vehicles. The automaker’s China President Winfried Vahland has previously said he expects sales to top one million vehicles this year. (June 27, 2008)