＂Car Free Day＂ Encountered Chengdu Auto Show

　　　　This year’s Chengdu Auto Show, regardless of the number of exhibitors or the exhibition area, has reached a record high. Many media believe that this fully shows that auto companies attach great importance to the western market.

　　　　In fact, the reason why the Chengdu Auto Show and the Chongqing Auto Show are so popular not long ago is the great potential of the western market. Just like the driving force for the rapid growth of China’s automobile industry, it just comes from the rapid pull of domestic automobile market demand.

　　　　This year’s Chengdu Auto Show, which happened to open on September 22nd as "Car Free Day", was on the road, as peaceful and quiet as the China Lunar New Year. On the other side is the auto show, which is as unrestrained and lively as celebrating the western carnival. Such a prominent unity of contradictions may only appear in the rapidly developing China market.

　　　　Desiring to have a car life, but also hoping to have a "car-free day" smooth, which is the ideal of every ordinary people; It is the pursuit of governments at all levels to hope that the popularization of automobiles will boost GDP and at the same time minimize the pollution and energy consumption caused by it.

　　　　In the long river of human history, only cars have been evaluated as "machines that change the world", although their birth is only a short 120-year history. In Europe and America, the first countries to benefit from automobiles, several generations have been lucky enough to enjoy the "car life"; Although Chinese people all have their own car dreams, the reality of "car life" has just begun.

　　　　However, due to the progress of society, people gradually realize that cars consume huge energy and destroy the environment day by day. To this end, in this context, we will inevitably "pay the bill" for energy conservation and environmental protection, and also contribute to the sustainable development of mankind.

　　　　The automobile industry is moving forward in this contradiction, and people’s car life is constantly upgrading in the ideal and reality.

　　　　At this year’s Chengdu Auto Show, Volkswagen announced its "performance" of imported cars: since 2002, the average annual growth rate has exceeded 220%; Since the beginning of this year, the sales volume in China market (including Hong Kong and Macao) has risen to the fourth place among all high-end imported car brands, and it is expected to exceed 8,000 vehicles throughout the year.

　　　　It should be said that compared with nearly one million cars jointly produced by Volkswagen in China, or compared with imported cars from other multinational companies, Volkswagen imported cars are not only far from the mainstream, but also marginalized.

　　　　According to the information released by Volkswagen, in the past five years, Volkswagen brands have introduced Phaeton, Touareg, New Beetle, convertible and Golf GTI.

　　　　After careful analysis, only because of catching up with the rapid growth of the domestic high-end SUV market, Touareg has seen a high growth, and other Volkswagen imported cars are lacking.

　　　　Phaeton, the once proud flagship model of Volkswagen, not only failed to challenge BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but its sales volume was far less than that of Audi A8 under the Volkswagen Group. Such a performance is almost enough to smash Volkswagen’s "dream of high-end cars."

　　　　Because of the high price, the lovely Beetle is always in an embarrassing situation of "too high, too low". In fact, in China, an automobile market that sells nearly 10 million new cars every year, even highly personalized products, such as Volkswagen Beetle, have many fans. The shortage of BMW MINI seems to prove this point.

　　　　Since the price of golf GTI was announced, it has attracted criticism from the media and netizens, and its performance has been flat after listing.

　　　　Even the successful Volkswagen imported Touareg, compared with other high-end SUV models such as BMW X5, Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7, is not only inferior in brand, but also has no outstanding performance in sales.

　　　　Obviously, Volkswagen did not realize the driving effect of imported cars, especially high-end imported cars, on the whole Volkswagen brand. This also directly leads to the fact that the most essential advantages of the models produced by their domestic joint ventures are not reflected, and they have to compete with the same level models, such as POLO, Sagitar and Magotan.

　　　　In fact, Volkswagen brands do not lack good models. "Maybe there is a lack of good strategy and tactics." An imported car dealer said. It seems that it is indeed time for Volkswagen to change its thinking on imported cars. (Zhang Yuxing)

Editor: multinational beauty