German automaker Volkswagen plans to increase its presence in emerging markets, including China, with a new line of low-cost cars, board member Ulrich Hackenberg said.

The new model is tailored to emerging markets, especially to China, in the price range between 5,000 and 7,000 euro (US$6,634 to US$9,287), Hackenberg said in an interview.

Commenting on Volkswagen's new strategy, industry analyst Jia Xinguang said this was the first time that a transnational automaker specifically introduced low-cost cars for China, and added that China's low-cost auto market is expanding alongside its market for luxury models.

Hackenberg said that an in-house agreement has been reached to streamline new product rollout and appoint experts in positions as needed.

"In India, we build the Vento and a local version of the Polo at the cost of about 7,000 euro,"he said. "In China, we are preparing to produce a more affordably priced car in the size of a Seat Toledo,"

In 2011, Volkswagen overtook Toyota as the world's second largest auto maker behind General Motor, largely driven by China's booming market.

Contact the writer of this story at: hes@china.org.cn.