Short Torque

VW retires the Phaeton

Volkswagen AG stopped producing the Phaeton sedan last week, which was the automaker's first attempt to enter the luxury car segment.

Introduced to the market in 2002, Phaeton's record global annual sales was merely 11,000 units. After it entered China in 2004, Volkswagen sold about 1,400 Phaeton in China in 2009, making the country the model's largest market worldwide.

Phaeton's global sales started to drop in 2012. It sold about 5,800 units globally in 2013 and less than 4,000 units in 2014, a decrease of about 30 percent year-on-year. The Phaeton has been the poorest selling model of the Volkswagen group.

Media outlets reported that the plant in Dresden, Germany, where the model is assembled, will be renovated in about a year.

Change of management at joint venture

Sino-French joint venture Changan PSA Automobiles Co Ltd announced on its website on Thursday that Xu Jun is moving on from being the company vice-president in charge of sales and marketing and external affairs.

The announcement said the move is an adjustment of the company's executive committee, and Xu will have a new position in Changan PSA's parent firm.

The announcement said Xu witnessed the history of CAPSA from negotiation, preparation, to establishment and development. He is one of the founders of CAPSA and made great contribution for CAPSA and paved the way for the company.

According to the announcement, Xu was nominated as deputy leader of project in charge of negotiating with PSA after CSG merged the auto business of AVIC in November 2009. The JV contract was signed on July 9, 2010. From October 2010, Xu was the deputy leader of the CAPSA preparation team and the vice-president in charge of purchasing, sales and marketing and external affairs.

According to PSA Peugeot Citroen, DS sold 21,500 vehicles worldwide last year, and China represents 21 percent of its global sales. The brand reported a 46 percent increase in deliveries to Chinese customers.

Vehicle recalls announced

Lexus, BMW and Mitsubishi Motors are recalling vehicles in China, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said earlier this month.

Lexus will recall 126 of its imported ES350 model starting from April 9 because of faults on its predictive collision warning system, which could activate braking by misjudging obstacles. The vehicles were manufactured between June 22, 2012, and May 19, 2015.

BMW will recall 6,109 imported models from the Mini series from April 8 due to faults on the vehicle's fuel pump control unit. There is a possibility that the engine of those vehicles cannot be started. The affected vehicles were made between June 12 and Nov 19, 2015.

Mitsubishi recalled 2,810 locally made 2011 Pajero SUVs from March 12 due to the possibility of flying shrapnel when the airbags deploy. The affected vehicles were made between Jan 6 and Nov 14, 2012.

MOTORING

(China Daily 03/28/2016 page19)