On October 30, FAW-Volkswagen's 30 millionth vehicle—the FAW-Audi A5L Navigator Edition—officially rolled off the production line at its Changchun plant. This Sino-German joint venture, established 34 years ago, has thus become the first passenger car company in China to surpass 30 million units in production and sales.
The rollout ceremony attracted representatives from various parties, including Hu Yuting, Deputy Secretary of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee and Governor of Jilin Province; Zhang Enhui, Member of the Standing Committee of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Changchun Municipal Party Committee; officials from relevant departments of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; Fu Bingfeng, Executive Vice President and Secretary-General of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers; Qiu Xiandong, Chairman of FAW Group; Qi Zekai and Liu Yunfeng, Executive Vice Presidents of Volkswagen (China); as well as representatives of former general managers of FAW-Volkswagen, car owners, and partners.
At the ceremony, Zhang Enhui pointed out that this milestone marks a new step forward in the opening up and high-quality development of my country's automotive industry, witnessing the friendship and cooperation between China and Germany and the development of China's automotive industry. Fu Bingfeng stated that the achievement of 30 million vehicles proves that open cooperation is the only way for industrial progress.
Qiu Xiandong noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, and this breakthrough demonstrates China's vitality in opening up to the outside world and its advantages as a super-large market, while also reflecting the potential for cooperation between the Chinese and German automotive industries. Volkswagen Group CEO Jürgen Obermu congratulated the company via video, stating that he will continue to work with FAW Group to promote intelligent connectivity and sustainable development. FAW-Volkswagen's first General Manager, Lin Ganwei, reviewed the company's journey from its inception to its current size and expressed his satisfaction with achieving the 30 million vehicle milestone. At the ceremony, relevant leaders also presented commemorative trophies, "30 Million Honors Shine Together," to representatives of past management teams and exemplary employees from both China and abroad.
Standing at a new starting point, Chen Bin, General Manager of FAW-Volkswagen, announced the company's future development strategy: establishing the overall goal of "high performance, high efficiency, and innovation" and the specific goals of "five leading positions." In the next five years, nearly 30 new products will be launched, including more than 20 new energy vehicles, continuing the strategy of "hybridization and intelligentization." In terms of R&D, relying on its network of nine locations across two countries, the company will maintain an annual investment of nearly 10 billion yuan, focusing on intelligent driving and software. Its self-developed hybrid engine has achieved a thermal efficiency exceeding 47%, reaching a globally leading level. Meanwhile, the Jetta brand will explore new localized operation models, and the three brands will implement a "going global, going in, and going up" overseas strategy.
From the production of the first Jetta in 1991 to surpassing 30 million vehicles today, FAW-Volkswagen's growth trajectory is not only a microcosm of the deep integration of the Chinese and German automotive industries, but also reflects China's journey from a "major automotive country" to a "powerful automotive country." This milestone of 30 million vehicles is not the end, but a new starting point for its transformation towards electrification and intelligentization, as well as its expansion into the global market.
With the launch of nearly 20 new energy products, continuous breakthroughs in self-developed technologies, and steady progress in its overseas expansion strategy, this joint venture automaker will further reshape the competitive landscape of the industry and provide more practical experience for the high-quality development and globalization of China's automotive industry.
