As part of the strategy, Volkswagen will analyze long-term trends and make further plans for sales, customers, products, technology, production, supply, responsibility and partnership. It will also look for more opportunities in second- and third-tier cities.

Over the next 10 years, Volkswagen Group will introduce at least four new or updated car models to the Chinese market each year.

"Also our most advanced and environmentally friendly BlueMotion technologies including the TSI engine and DSG gearbox will be applied to more and more locally produced models," said Volkswagen CEO.

According to the company's existing initiatives - its powertrain technology and customer service strategy - Volkswagen and its two ventures are committed to a 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption and emissions by 2010 across the entire fleet.

The measures have already reduced the average fuel consumption by 15 percent.

Its US rival General Motors also said it plans to double China sales over the five years, with 2 million vehicles sold each year.

The ailing US company will launch more than 30 new or upgraded models during the period.

"As we all know, the global economic crisis presents challenges to sustaining the rapid growth we have seen in China's economy, but I believe it will continue over the long run," said Winterkorn.

Volkswagen has sold more than 7.3 million vehicles in China since it established its first venture with SAIC in Shanghai in 1984. It has invested 6.8 billion euros in the country, accounting for 20 percent of the total investment in China's automobile industry.

(China Daily April 20, 2009)