At the Fourth China Changchun International Car Exposition, FAW-VW, in keeping with its environmental protection measures during this year's Shanghai Auto Show, continued to host the environmental protection petition event in support of a Green Olympics. Called "Side by Side in Green", the event fully demonstrates the company's determination to be "Green All the Way".
The event was carried out in conjunction with the promotional activities at FAW-VW's Diesel Corner. For every visitor to the Exposition who signed his name, FAW-VW would donate RMB1 on their behalf to China's environmental protection efforts. The event saw enthusiastic support from visitors, with many of them crowding around the company's exhibition stand. The hosting of this event not only demonstrates FAW-VW's desire to contribute to China's environmental protection works but also showed the company's faith in the ecological performance of its diesel products. At the same time, it laid a solid foundation for further promotion of FAW-VW's future diesel vehicles.
2005 was the third year in which China began converting to diesel sedans; it was also the third anniversary of the launch of China's first diesel sedan - the Jetta SDI. As a pioneer in China's diesel sedan market, FAW-VW's efforts and accomplishments during the ecological development of China's automobiles were for all to see.
Based on the performance of FAW-VW during the car exposition, diesel sedans have no doubt become an important aspect of the company's overall sales and marketing strategies. They have furthermore become the key for the company to raise the standards of China's automobile market, as well as an important factor for new profit growth in the face of intensifying competition in the mid-range sedan market. It is obvious that the company is not willing to be simply a pioneer in China's diesel sedan market; its long-term targets are to become a leader in this market. No doubt FAW-VW has the ability to accomplish this.
A major reason for FAW-VW to place so much emphasis on the development of diesel sedans is the company's faith in the core competitiveness of diesel technologies. It has been long acknowledged that diesel engines enjoy better fuel economy. Diesel's energy density is higher than that of regular petrol by more than 10%. During the combustion process, diesel's heat efficiency is as high as 40%, whereas that of petrol is at best 30%. Despite the fact that in comparison with the petrol engine, diesel engine's power output and acceleration is slightly inferior, its instant injection volume is relatively less. Thus it is even more economical. At present, with the continuous increase in the global crude oil price and increased pressure on energy conservation and environmental protection, along with the continuous improvement in diesel engine technologies, diesel sedans are becoming an attractive proposition for car buyers as well as major local and international car manufacturers.
Being the first company in China to use the diesel engine on its sedans, FAW-VW is no doubt leading a new power revolution in China's car market. The Jetta SDI launched in 2003 and the Bora TDI launched in 2004 had received praises from industry professionals and Chinese customers with their outstanding power performance. Bora TDI is even more accomplished in this area. As it is equipped with Volkswagen's proprietary Turbo diesel injection engine, along with numerous latest technologies such as pump spray system, adjustable-blade turbocharger, etc., Bora's power performance is better in many aspects than that of some petrol engines in the market. This has allowed Chinese customers to understand that, as long as the technologies are sufficiently developed, sedans equipped with diesel engines can possess perfect power.
Ecological and fuel economy is a technical advantage of the diesel vehicle. FAW-VW uses the mature diesel engine technologies to resolve the conflict between power and environmental protection. While greatly enhancing the cars' power performance, their emission is also cleaner. Bora TDI's exhaust emission since its launch had reached E3 standard, in excess of the current State emission requirements.
The diesel vehicle's advantage is even more apparent in terms of fuel economy, with FAW-VW's products being sterling examples. Jetta SDI's fuel economy has received widespread recognition by China's consumers, especially among taxi drivers. One great example is SDI drivers winning all the top awards in last year's Uninhabited Area Challenge and Urban Challenge. The Bora TDI, currently one of the world's most economical cars, has a fuel consumption of only 5.5L at 90km/h constant speed, and 6.5L at 120km/h constant speed. In fact its urban fuel consumption is only 6.8L-7L/100km. According to feedback from the first batch of Bora's users who paid RMB150 for 48.5L of diesel, the car was able to clock more than 830km in urban areas, and more than 900km outside urban areas. This translates to about 5.4L-5.8L/100km. With ever-rising crude oil prices, the diesel car is synonymous to practicality and economy.
Given the increasing environmental protection and energy pressures faced by China, FAW-VW's diesel sedans are doubtlessly great news for her environmental protection efforts. FAW-VW continues to express, through its own initiatives, its full support of China¡¯s environmental protection efforts.
