What is the Difference Between Volkswagen and SAIC Volkswagen?
2 Answers
Volkswagen and SAIC Volkswagen differ in the following aspects: 1. Different manufacturers: Volkswagen is a joint venture between China FAW Group Corporation and Volkswagen AG of Germany; SAIC Volkswagen is a Sino-German joint venture between SAIC Motor and Volkswagen AG. 2. Different production locations: Volkswagen manufactures vehicles in Changchun; SAIC Volkswagen assembles and produces vehicles in Shanghai. 3. Different representative models: Volkswagen's representative models include Golf, Bora, Sagitar, Magotan, C-TREK, T-Roc, etc.; SAIC Volkswagen's representative models include Santana, Passat, Lavida, Touran, Tiguan, Phideon, Teramont, Polo, etc.
As an ordinary user who has driven both Volkswagen and SAIC Volkswagen cars, I think Volkswagen cars are the original German products, like the imported Tiguan or Golf, which give a sense of European refinement when driving, but they are more expensive, and maintenance parts often require waiting for imports, which is not very convenient. SAIC Volkswagen is the domestically produced version from the joint venture. I drive a Lavida myself, which is much more affordable, and maintenance appointments can be quickly scheduled at nearby 4S stores. Moreover, the parts are localized, so fault resolution is faster. The difference lies in the roots: Volkswagen is responsible for global design and standard manufacturing, while SAIC Volkswagen is a joint venture factory in China, specifically tailoring cars for the local market, such as increasing rear seat space or adding Chinese navigation systems. When buying a car, I considered the imported version but ultimately chose SAIC Volkswagen because it better understands Chinese needs, making it more suitable and cost-effective for daily commuting. If you're after authentic German handling, go for the imported Volkswagen; otherwise, the joint-venture version is more practical and economical.