VW taps south China

GUANGZHOU: German carmaker Volkswagen AG has said it is planning to more than triple its sales in south China before 2018, citing the region as a significant sub-market in the world's biggest automobile market.

Annual sales of Volkswagen branded vehicles, as well as Audi and Skoda cars, in six provinces in south China are expected to increase from the current 150,000 units to more than 500,000 units, the automaker said on Sunday night, on the eve of the Guangzhou auto show which opened yesterday.

The automaker also aims to increase its market share in the south China region from 12 percent at the end of 2008 to its national average rate of 17 to 20 percent.