FAW VW Jetta may retire from the market

Shanghai July 23 (Gasgoo.com) Jetta, an A-class model of FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Company, a joint venture between the First Automobile Works (FAW) and Volkswagen Group, is facing the countdown of its official "retirement," media reported.

An insider from FAW-VW revealed to the media that FAW-VW is actively putting the plan for Jetta's successive new model into practice. An alternative model codenamed "Jetta NF" is already on FAW VW's launch schedule for its new products and will be mass produced in 2012.

"The successive model of Jetta will maintain its reliability and value among customers. It will adopt a very advanced technology and the design of the exterior will be very unique," said Kevin Rose, executive vice president of FAW-Volkswagen Sales Co., Ltd.

Jetta has been in the Chinese market for more than 20 years as an "evergreen tree" in the car industry. Since its mass production in FAW VW in 1991, Jetta has been FAW-VW's best selling model due to its sturdy and durable quality.

Jetta's sales exceeded 200,000 vehicles in both 2008 and 2009. In the first half of this year, it sold nearly 120,000 units, accounting for 25% of FAW-VW's total sales volume, maintaining its position as the best selling model of FAW-VW.