Volkswagen AG's Shanghai venture announced a recall of 2,440 of
its Passat model cars this week because of problems with the
locking system, China's safety regulator said today.
The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection
and Quarantine said in a statement on its Website the recalled cars
were produced by Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive Co between August
11 and August 24.
Shanghai Volkswagen is a 50-50 joint venture between the German
automaker and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp, or SAIC. The
venture was formed in 1984, when VW was the first major foreign car
company to enter the China market.
Shanghai Volkswagen was China's third biggest passenger-car
maker by sales last year, reporting sales of 340,600 vehicles,
according to data from the China Association of Automobile
Manufacturers.
VW last year announced an "Olympic Program" intended to
revitalize its brand in China. It has launched "tailor-made" models
such as the Passat Lingyu and Sagitar, a remade version of the
Polo, and two Skoda models.
SAIC is also the local partner of General Motors Corp.
(Shanghai Daily via Agencies November 16, 2007)
