FAW-VW Golf hatchback phased out of market

Shanghai, December 16 (Gasgoo.com) The Golf hatchback model made by FAW VW has been phased out of the joint venture's 4S stores, Beijing Business Daily reported today, citing a local dealer of FAW VW brands. The sales staff said that the old model is no longer produced as the new model will be coming to the market.

The Golf model has the classical craftsmanship of German-brand cars. Its seamless outer covering ensures the beautiful appearance, excellent hermeticity (air-tightness) and minimal wind resistance and noise. But unfortunately these good features have not bought out hot sales of the Golf hatchback. However, the high price and simple configurations partly account for its low sales.

As the (Changan) Ford Focus hatchback model is selling 10,000 units monthly and the (Guangzhou/GAC) Honda Fit hatchback is getting increasingly popular, China's booming hatchback market has seen its earliest hatchback model --FAW VW Golf -- falling far behind. FAW VW built and launched the Golf hatchback (the four-generation model) in mid-2003 as the first China-made 2.0L hatchback.

FAW VW has launched its Bora hatchback model to reverse the Golf's low sales, but this effort has not paid off, as most customers don't buy this replacement of Golf. Recent sources said that the joint venture is trying to introduce the latest six-generation Golf to the Chinese market. Reportedly the new Golf will be produced in China next year.

FAW VW dealers are disappointed by the poor sales of the current Golf hatchback, whose price had fallen down below 100,000 yuan ($14,700) before its phase-out. One of the dealers said that he expects FAW VW to bring in the latest Golf as soon as possible if its price is not prohibitively high.