FAW-VW currently has no plans to manufacture A1 in China

Gasgoo.com (Shanghai October 18) - The Audi A1, which made its official debut on the Chinese market earlier this month, will not be domestically manufactured, the Beijing News reported Zhang Xiaojun, deputy managing director for the sales division of FAW-Volkswagen Audi, as saying.

According to Mr. Zhang, due to unclear costs, difficulties coordinating with supplier and other questions, FAW-VW is currently not considering manufacturing the A1 (pictured) in China. He was, however, adamant in defending the joint venture's commitment to expand domestic production, adding that Chinese manufacture of the Q3 crossover would begin soon.

The A1 is available in four variants in China, with the basic models starting at 224,800 yuan ($35,275), while the Egoplus version is priced at 289,800 yuan ($45,474). The wealth of accessories Audi offers for the car can see A1 prices exceeding 350,000 yuan ($54,921).

According to Mr. Zhang, there is a lot of potential for development in the Chinese subcompact market, with a clear trend evident in many cities for smaller and smaller cars. He believes that the A1 will be able to capitalize on this movement and bring in high sales for the JV.