Is the Touareg domestically produced?

[CameronMarie]

The Touareg has not yet achieved domestic production, and the currently sold Touareg in China still relies on imports. The Touareg is a luxury model under the Volkswagen brand, positioned as a mid-to-large SUV. The available Volkswagen Touareg is only the 2019 model, which comes in two versions: China V emission standard and China VI emission standard. The 2019 Volkswagen Touareg adopts a front-engine, four-wheel-drive layout across the entire lineup, with the four-wheel-drive system being full-time four-wheel drive and the central differential being a Torsen differential. The 2019 Volkswagen Touareg is equipped with either a 2.0T or 3.0T engine, both paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Touareg is a low-key yet luxurious SUV, and as a premium SUV, its selling point is 'luxury.' The wide chrome grille and rectangular air intake grille reflect the traditional design of the Volkswagen family.

[StThomas]

When I was choosing a car before, I also struggled with the production origin of the Touareg. Although this vehicle is a high-end SUV under the Volkswagen badge, it is indeed a pure German import. It shares the same production platform as the Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7, and is assembled at the factory in Slovakia. Domestic Volkswagen models like the Tiguan L and Tayron are completely different in class compared to the Touareg. Besides being more reliable in quality, the imported version comes standard with hardcore configurations like air suspension and Torsen differential, though it is significantly more expensive than domestic joint-venture cars. However, the prices through parallel import channels are quite reasonable now, about 50,000 to 60,000 yuan cheaper than at 4S stores.

[SanRylee]

Just helped a friend pick up the new Touareg and specifically checked the customs documents—the vehicle identification number starting with WV indicates it's from the Wolfsburg factory in Germany. The Touareg has never been localized since its first generation, as it's positioned as Volkswagen's flagship SUV, sharing the MLB Evo platform with the Audi Q7. Domestic Volkswagen models use the MQB platform, which differs significantly in material costs. However, the Touareg's rear seating space is less spacious compared to domestically produced long-wheelbase models, and the seats are on the firmer side—something to consider carefully.

[McAdriel]

Last week when I went to the 4S store for maintenance, I specifically asked the salesperson. All currently sold Touaregs are imported directly from Germany. You can check the customs records for vehicles with the 10th digit of the VIN being M (representing the 2021 model) or N (2022 model). Although it's more expensive, the permanent four-wheel drive with Torsen differential is totally worth it. The grip on highways during heavy rain is much more stable than domestic front-wheel-drive SUVs. By the way, its night vision system requires an optional upgrade, which isn't even available in the domestic version.

[Pat]

Studied the Touareg's production system: the engine is the EA888 evo4 from the Győr plant in Hungary, the ZF 8AT transmission comes from Germany, and final assembly takes place at the Bratislava plant. Currently, the only domestically produced model is the SAIC Volkswagen Teramont, which uses the MQB platform for significantly lower costs. The Touareg's air suspension with a 70mm lift is particularly practical—raise the chassis for rough rural roads and lower it for fuel efficiency in the city. However, parts are quite expensive; replacing an original 21-inch alloy wheel costs over 8,000 yuan.

[StRobert]

After comparing the Touareg and the domestically produced BMW X5, I found that the imported Touareg uses much more premium materials. The engine bay features an all-aluminum subframe and a front double-wishbone suspension with hydraulic bushings, which are downgraded in domestically produced luxury SUVs. The Touareg hasn't been locally produced because its annual sales are only around 20,000 units, making it unprofitable to domesticate. Recently, they're clearing out China 6a inventory, with the 3.0T R-Line version available for 580,000 RMB out-the-door, which is 300,000 RMB cheaper than the domestically produced X5. I recommend opting for the matrix headlights, as they're particularly useful for automatically dimming when encountering oncoming traffic on nighttime mountain roads.