Introducing JAC Volkswagen (江淮大众)

Note: the JAC Volkswagen Chinese script, e mobility and S-logo similar to SEAT

Introducing JAC Volkswagen (江淮大众) the third joint venture in China. We now believe we know what the first Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) will be. The first product codenamed Project No. 1 will be based on a
JAC platform with Volkswagen designed body.

From 11/10/2017

It is known that the first product of JAC Volkswagen will be on the basis of JAC platform, while the upper body will be developed with Volkswagen together, both parts have formed 30-person team, and the first batch products will be realized in the first quarter next year.

“The upper body of the new product will be changed on the foundation of JAC products, and 78 improvements of all the functional performances have been made, including the brake performance, noise performance and vibration performance. Besides, Volkswagen has sent experts to tease all the manufacturing and quality problems, and now all the problems have been solved. ”

In the industry insiders ’view, the first product will not only solve the problems of the product itself, but also improve JAC products management level and technology level, which means the knowledge will not only be applied in the electric vehicles, but also in all JAC products, thus lift JAC manufacturing management and control standard to Volkswagen level.

From 29/9/2017

As the provincial advanced manufacturing industry 'No.1 Project', every movement from the joint venture draws public attention..

'VOLKSWAGEN has sent its experts to work with JAC R&D team, and a group of more than 30 staffs are jointly designing and developing the first car of joint venture.' JAC Deputy Party Secretary Wang Dongsheng introduced. The new car will be produced on JAC platform and adopt higher standard put forward by VOLKSWAGEN. Moreover, it will be launched into market with a new brand.

'The working group has carried out all-round cooperation from market research, product design, experimental verification and cost control.' Ma Gangliang, the general manager assistant of JAC Passenger Car Manufacturing Company，said, 'There is a total of 13 development processes from the product development design process, and now we have completed 6 processes. At the end of September we will enter the 8th process to start the small batch design.'

According to Ma Gangliang, the technical experts of Volkswagen have made comprehensive tease of the manufacturing and quality management processes, after three rounds of production line inspection, all the identified problems have been improved. Moreover, all the off-line vehicles need to pass onsite examination instead of the former selected examination. Thus, the first new vehicle developed by joint venture will be manufactured according to higher quality standards, which will be more reliable, trustful excellent vehicle out of questions. 'During the cooperation, JAC technology research strength, manufacturing process and quality standard system have been greatly improved. 'He said.

JAC Volkswagen is currently developing the production facilities for Project No.1 which is in the Economic Development Zone in Hefei in the Anhui province. Both JAC and Volkswagen Group have joint 50:50 investment in the company. Both have contributed invests of 5.06 billion Yuan (2.95 billion Yuan in fixed assets) in the new venture.

Production start is due in 2018 with the JAC-Volkswagen Project No. 1 for China. With annual output starting at a moderate 100,000 units to begin with.

At least four additional BEV models are planned in the JAC Volkswagen family including a several BEV SUV models up to 2023. The e-up! prototype, SEAT Ateca on MQB and and first generation Tiguan based on the PQ25 (fifth generation Golf) platforms have both been seen testing on the roads around Hefei.

SEAT have not announced its involvement in the joint venture yet but obviously may also source a joint venture with JAC as they have a no representation in China. SEAT are contributing to the project but no press correspondence has been revealed as of yet.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles have recently announced in November 2017 a Memorandum of Understanding for a joint venture with JAC building some of its range in China.

The Editor believes the whole range Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles could be manufactured with JAC as they currently sell a Sprinter clone and pickup. Volkswagen Group China do not have strong representation in the van and pickup markets in China. The Caddy, Transporter/Multivan, Crafter and the Amarok could fill the missing hole.

JAC have stated they will only do vans and electric vans with Volkswagen in a press release dated 11/09/2017.

If JAC and Volkswagen can share the commercial vehicles’ resources, there will be great cooperation spaces.

Right now, the cooperation between JAC and Volkswagen includes the research and production of pure electric passenger vehicles and spare parts. As is known to all, zero release pure electric logistic vehicles will welcome the rapid development. If JAC and Volkswagen will realize cooperation in the commercial vehicles area, except for pick-up, there will also be cooperation opportunity in new energy logistic vehicles.