Shanghai Volkswagen General Manager Liu Jian and three other high-ranking managers from the company were killed Saturday in a traffic accident during a business trip to Jiuquan City in northwest China's Gansu Province, a company statement said Monday.

The four were traveling to Jiuquan for dealer interviews and test drives, the statement said.

The accident occurred at about 4 p.m. Saturday on a provincial highway in Guazhou County, Jiuquan, when the car without license plates the four were travelling in collided with a heavy-duty truck that also had no license plates, police said.

The collision sparked a fire, killing the four at the scene, according to Gansu's public security bureau.

Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive Co. said it has set up an emergency team to coordinate with the police investigation into the accident.

The company is a 50-50 joint venture between China's largest carmaker, SAIC Group, and German auto giant Volkswagen AG.

The company said it is operating normally and the accident will not affect client service.