AutoBeta(AutoBeta.net)08/24 Report--

Volkswagen has decided to launch its ninth-generation model after more than a year of internal discussions about Passat's future, according to British media AutoCar.

Before that, Herbert Diess, chairman of Volkswagen Group, had expressed doubts about whether Passat would be replaced. It pointed out that Volkswagen will not launch the ninth generation Passat because the Arteon, a B-class sedan launched by Volkswagen in 2015 (known domestically as CC), is more popular in the market. And Volkswagen also plans to produce the popular electric ID Vizzion concept car in the sedan and station wagon style from 2023, so there is no need to launch a new ninth-generation Passat.

But in the final decision, Volkswagen insisted on launching the ninth-generation Passat because it continues to sell well in China, which is seen as a key factor in Volkswagen's decision to continue to launch the ninth-generation model.

It is understood that the European version of Passat is based on the MQB platform, while the US and Chinese versions continue to be produced on the PQ46 platform, which can be traced back to the sixth generation of models launched in 2005. However, starting from 2023, all Passat models will use the MQB platform and support front-drive and four-wheel drive.

According to the data, the PASSAT is a medium-sized car owned by Volkswagen, which was put into production in 1973, and its cumulative sales have reached 30 million so far, making it the second largest car sold by Volkswagen after the Golf.

For now, China is still the highest-selling market for Passat, but there is a question mark over the future development of the domestic market. Prior to this, Passat crashed the A-pillar and seriously offset the driver's airbag in the C-IASI crash assessment of the China Insurance Research Institute, which led to the worst in the safety performance of the passengers in the car. Since then, the quality of Passat products has been seriously questioned, SAIC Volkswagen did not give a clear Jess, its sales plummeted, ranking in the top 10 fell out of the top 20.

Later, SAIC-Volkswagen re-applied to test the Passat model at C-NCAP, and the A-pillar did not bend, and the cockpit was almost intact, winning the "five-star praise" easily, but it seemed to have no effect.

The decline in Passat sales is almost in sync with SAIC-Volkswagen's downturn in the market. SAIC-Volkswagen sales fell 5.5 per cent to 137103 vehicles in July and 22.5 per cent to 802133 from January to July, according to FIFA data. SAIC-Volkswagen has been in a state of decline in sales since 2020, even though a number of car companies have achieved year-on-year sales growth.

At present, Passat's sales in the domestic market are beginning to level off, with sales of 10581 vehicles in June and 12457 in July, respectively. Monthly sales remain at more than 10,000 vehicles, but there is not a slightest drop from the previous monthly sales of nearly 30, 000 vehicles.

In addition, the official guiding price of Passat is 1849-282900 yuan, but the current discount range in the market has exceeded 40, 000 yuan. In the current context, it may be feasible to exchange price for quantity, but it is not a good policy. How long can the situation of relying on price reduction to guarantee sales last?

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