Is Volkswagen a Domestic Car?

[EmilianoAnn]

Volkswagen is a German automotive brand, one of the brands under the Volkswagen Group. In China, it has both joint-venture vehicles and imported vehicles. Volkswagen is mainly divided into FAW-Volkswagen, SAIC Volkswagen, and Volkswagen Germany. Among them, vehicles produced by SAIC Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen are joint-venture cars, which means they are domestically produced; vehicles produced by Volkswagen Germany are imported cars. Audi, under the Volkswagen Group, is a German local automotive company. FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Co., Ltd. was established on February 6, 1991. It is a large passenger car manufacturer jointly operated by China FAW Group Corporation, Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, and Volkswagen (China) Investment Co., Ltd. SAIC Volkswagen is a company resulting from the cooperation between Shanghai Automotive Manufacturing Plant and Volkswagen Germany.

[EllieFitz]

I'm a loyal Volkswagen user and have driven the Volkswagen Lavida for several years. This car is essentially domestically produced in China as it's manufactured and assembled at the Shanghai Volkswagen factory, with most parts locally sourced, unlike imported cars that come with higher costs. Volkswagen partnered with SAIC as early as the 1980s to establish joint ventures. Many models like the FAW-Volkswagen Sagitar are directly manufactured in Changchun, and most ordinary Volkswagens on the road are domestic versions. This makes me feel the cost-performance ratio is excellent—maintenance isn't troublesome, parts are affordable and easy to find, saving both hassle and money. Meanwhile, although Volkswagen is of German origin, it has become highly localized in the Chinese market, similar to other joint-venture brands like Toyota in China. Car owners have grown accustomed to trusting and using it as part of the domestic vehicle landscape.

[DelCameron]

With over a decade of experience in the automotive industry, from a consumer perspective, Volkswagen was originally a German brand. However, after entering China, it achieved localized production through joint ventures, such as the establishment of FAW-Volkswagen and SAIC Volkswagen, making Volkswagen models manufactured in China indeed domestically produced. Specifically, Volkswagen partnered with Chinese enterprises as early as 1984, gradually localizing production lines. Now, mainstream models like the Magotan and Bora are assembled in domestic factories, significantly reducing costs and meeting Chinese market standards. This differs from fully imported models; joint venture production makes Volkswagen more affordable, with faster parts supply, allowing car owners to enjoy efficient after-sales services. However, the brand ownership remains international. This model is also common in other countries, such as Nissan's localized integration in China through Dongfeng Nissan.

[StSara]

As an automotive enthusiast, I have studied the development history of the Volkswagen brand in China. Volkswagen entered the Chinese market as early as the 1980s. In 1985, it established the Shanghai Volkswagen joint venture with SAIC, marking the beginning of localized automobile production. This allowed Volkswagen vehicles sold in China to be considered domestically manufactured. From the early Santana to the current Tiguan, these models have been mass-produced in Chinese factories, directly serving the local market. This shift transformed the earlier reliance on imports, shortened supply chains, reduced prices, and made maintenance more convenient. In contrast, fully imported Volkswagen models like the Golf GTI are significantly more expensive and less accessible to average consumers. This joint venture model has driven industry progress and established Volkswagen as a household name in China, earning consumer trust in its localized production quality.

[OReed]

I asked my friends about their opinions on Volkswagen cars, and most of them consider it as a domestic brand because FAW-Volkswagen and SAIC Volkswagen have factories across the country. Models like the Lavida or Tayron are entirely assembled locally, with parts also being domestically sourced. This means that after buying a Volkswagen, maintenance isn't a hassle, with numerous and convenient 4S shop services, unlike imported cars which often involve long waits and high costs. Additionally, online research shows that Volkswagen has collaborated with SAIC for over 30 years, with production bases spread across multiple cities, highlighting its high level of localization and outstanding cost-performance ratio. No wonder the vast majority of Volkswagens seen on the road are labeled 'Made in China.' For us young people, when choosing a car, we value affordability and convenience, and Volkswagen fits this criteria perfectly.