Recently, according to multiple media reports, SAIC Volkswagen's Nanjing factory has officially closed. This factory, which was put into operation in 2008, was once an important production line for Passat and Skoda Superb. After 17 years of operation, it has now completely come to an end. Before the shutdown, the factory had an annual production capacity of 360000 vehicles, which was one of the core production capacities of SAIC Volkswagen. This is the second complete vehicle factory closed by SAIC Volkswagen within two years. Previously, the Shanghai Anting First Factory was also closed. The company responded that the adjustment of the base is a normal business decision aimed at adapting to market changes and the company's strategic transformation.
It is reported that SAIC Volkswagen's annual sales have been declining since 2019, with only 1.1489 million units sold in 2024, directly halving from its peak period. In addition, the Nanjing factory is located in the core area of the city, limited by resource bottlenecks such as land, electricity, and intelligent transformation, and is no longer suitable for the "smart power base" required by the new energy strategy. This factory closure also involves the placement of a large number of employees. According to insiders, the company offers multiple options: employees over 50 years old can choose to retire early and receive 85% of their basic salary per month; Some workers can be transferred to other bases, and even have the opportunity to be transferred to overseas positions with the same treatment; Alternatively, the "N+1" compensation scheme can be chosen to terminate the contract.
Faced with the dual pressure of declining sales and wasted production capacity, SAIC Volkswagen has accelerated its transformation towards electrification and intelligence. The ID.3 GTX package will be launched in June, seizing the pure electric sports modification track; ID.ERA extended range concept car unveiled, aiming for mass production by 2026. SAIC Volkswagen sold 96000 vehicles in June, a year-on-year increase of 15.1%; In the first six months, the cumulative retail sales were 523000 units, an increase of 2.3% against the trend.
