History
On November 20, 1990, the official contract of an annual capacity of 150,000 cars for the joint venture between FAW Group (First Auto World Group) and Volkswagen AG was signed by Geng Zhaojie (耿昭杰), President of FAW and Dr.Carl Hahn, CEO of Volkswagen AG in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing. All of the facilities in the first car plant, including the body shop, paint shop and assembly shop came together from the abandoned factory of VW's in Westmorland, USA. The company started its business officially on September 1, 1992.
On December 5, 1991, the first Volkswagen Jetta Mk2 rolled off the line. Two years later, on February 7, 1993, the 10,000th car rolled off the line.
In 1995 FAW Group, Volkswagen AG and Audi AG decided to integrate Audi to the product line of the joint venture's, the equity holdings were also changed with 60% for FAW, 30% for VW and 10% Audi.
On May 20, 1996, the first Audi 200 rolled off the line.
On July 10, 1996, the engine shop started running.
By July 1996, the company was capable of producing 150,000 cars, 270,000 engines and 180,000 gearboxes in one year.
In 1997 FAW-Volkswagen Sales Company Ltd. was established as a joint venture between FAW-VW and FAW Group with the equity holdings of 50% for each, it was a smart idea of avoiding the Germans to take control of the sales department under the policy of the governing body then. By 2002 FAW-VW took the majority of the equities back from FAW Group.
In 1998 the Jetta König became the first car ever equipped with ABS system in Chinese A-class market.
In 1999 the Jetta was registered in FIA Group N category, it entered a lot of Rally events in China with FRD Sport and Qingyang Racing from late 1990s to early 2000s.
In 2002 the Jetta became the first mass production passenger car in China to be available with a diesel engine.
On January 7, 2004, the 1,000,000 car (a Bora A4) rolled off the line.
On December 7, 2004, FAW-VW's second car plant began operating.
On August 4, 2009, the 3,000,000th car (a Golf A6) rolled off the line in car plant #2.
By 2010 FAW-VW had sold over 1,000,000 Audis (including imported cars) in China. With the celebration, a sculpture named 'Ode to Audi' from Gerry Judah was set at the entry of the company.
According to the policy from Chinese government, that forgien auto manufactures should develop domestic brands with their local partners, FAW-VW revealed its own brand 'Kaili (开利)' on May 2011.
On August 15, 2011, FAW-VW celebrated its twentieth anniversary with its one millionth car in 2011 (a Magotan B7L).
Read more about this topic: FAW-VW Automobile
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“Those who weep for the happy periods which they encounter in history acknowledge what they want; not the alleviation but the silencing of misery.”
—Albert Camus (1913–1960)
“The whole history of civilisation is strewn with creeds and institutions which were invaluable at first, and deadly afterwards.”
—Walter Bagehot (1826–1877)
“The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles.”
—Karl Marx (1818–1883)