VW to Build Hybrids in China

[BMWDave]

VW to Build Hybrids in China
Date Posted 09-08-2005

SHANGHAI ? Volkswagen will start building a hybrid version of its Touran utility vehicle in 2008 with Chinese partner Shanghai Auto. The Shanghai-VW joint venture follows in the footsteps of partners FAW and Toyota, which will begin production of the Prius hybrid later this year in China.

VW and Shanghai Auto hope to ramp up full-scale production of hybrids by 2010, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

Shanghai Auto said the joint venture plans to build 500 Touran hybrids for use at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"We expect that large-scale production will start before the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai," the company said in its announcement.

Shanghai Auto also said it is working with partner General Motors to develop hybrid technology for China.

What this means to you: Chinese automakers appear to be just as intent as their American and Japanese counterparts on getting gas-electric hybrids into production quickly.