Shanghai VW's sales grow 25% in June

Gasgoo.com (Shanghai July 9) - Shanghai Volkswagen sold a total of 130,000 vehicles in June, Gasgoo.com (Chinese) reported today. The sales figure represents year-on-year growth of 25.2 percent for Shanghai VW. The joint venture's sales volume increased 23.2 percent from the first half of 2012 to the first half of 2013, finishing at 784,000 vehicles. Shanghai VW has managed to complete 52 percent of its 2013 sales target of 1.5 million vehicles so far.

The new Tiguan crossover (pictured above) made its market debut in Shenzhen, Guangdong last month. The crossover is available as a standard model and in a BlueMotion variation. The standard Tiguan is powered by either a 1.8 L turbocharged or a 2.0 L turbocharged engine mated to either a six-speed manumatic or six-speed manual transmission. The BlueMotion Tiguan, meanwhile, is driven by a 1.4 L turbocharged engine with a start-stop system designed to minimize emissions. The Tiguan has managed to accumulate 450,000 sales in its three years on the Chinese market, during which it has been constantly in demand. By increasing production capacity for the Tiguan ten percent, total sales for the model are expected to increase by 20,000 units in 2013.

Meanwhile, the new hatchback version of the Lavida, the Gran Lavida (pictured below), also made its debut late last month. The Lavida, which made its debut in 2008 and priced between 115,900 yuan and 163,900 yuan ($18,730-$26,488), has managed to bring in over 1.1 million new orders in its five years on the market. The Lavida's monthly sales have constantly remained above the 30,000 sales mark.