Beijing (ZXZC)- At the 2023 World Manufacturing Convention, which opened in Hefei on September 20, Ralf Brandstätter, Chairman and CEO of Volkswagen Group China, delivered a video message stating that Volkswagen's electric car factory in Hefei, Anhui Province is set to commence production with a maximum annual capacity of 350,000 vehicles.

Photo credit: Volkswagen China

"Anhui Province and Hefei city play a crucial strategic role in Volkswagen's transformation towards intelligent and fully connected vehicles," he said. Hefei will not only serve as a production base for Volkswagen but also as a new research and innovation center, focusing on the development of next-generation electric and intelligent connected vehicles. Volkswagen Group China Technology Co., Ltd., established by Volkswagen in Hefei, will integrate vehicle and component R&D, as well as procurement functions, reducing the time to market for new products by 30%. This company is set to become Volkswagen Group's largest procurement and R&D center outside Germany.

On September 15, Han Jun, Secretary of the Anhui Provincial Committee, led a delegation of economic and trade friendly representatives from Anhui Province to visit Volkswagen Group and held talks with Ralf Brandstätter. They jointly witnessed the signing of a comprehensive cooperation memorandum between the People's Government of Anhui Province and Volkswagen (China) Investment Co., Ltd. Both parties aim to deepen cooperation in areas such as new energy vehicle R&D, building a new energy vehicle and intelligent connected vehicle industrial chain, and strengthening talent development.