Volkswagen.jpg (Photo : Travelchina)
German car maker Volkswagen showcased over 30 models of the brand's products at the 12th Guangzhou International Motor Auto Show (Auto Guangzhou) being held at the Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center and will conclude on Nov. 29.
Among the models, according to the Global Times which covered the event, is the Lamando, Volkswagen's brand-new midsize coupe that is set to hit the market in Jan. 2015.
So far available only in China, the Lamando uses Volkswagen's modular MQB platform, the same platform seen in the Golf 7 and Skoda's Octavia. Described as a four-door coupe similar in size to a Jetta but with a svelter roof-line, it is the first MQB platform model produced by the Shanghai Volkswagen joint venture.
Though not yet officially available in the market, and its price has not yet even been announced, pre-orders for the Lamando have already started flowing at the Guangzhou auto show.
Also, Shanghai Volkswagen has already launched an aggressive promotions campaign for the upcoming new product. To introduce Lamando to the public, the company paid to be the main sponsor of the Chinese version of South Korean reality show "Running Man," which started airing on Oct. 10 and has now become a hit in China.
Another car showcased during the Auto Guangzhou show is an updated version of the Sagitar sedan model, a product manufactured by the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture. This latest upgrade on the Sagitar has a more fashionable exterior with newly designed LED head and rear lights than the previous versions of the vehicle. The Sagitar sedan is also based on the popular Volkswagen Jetta model.
Previously, the company ordered the recall of 563,605 Sagitar cars produced between May 2011 and May 2014 because of safety concerns and other customer complaints. It has also already made a public apology. In Guangzhou, executive vice president of Volkswagen China Soh Weiming told reporters: "Becoming the most trusted brand of Chinese consumers is more important than sales and market share. We should lower ourselves and learn to effectively communicate with consumers with a grateful attitude."
The Auto Guangzhou exhibit is the second largest such show in China, next only to the alternating Shanghai and Beijing annual event.
