Volkswagen Group launched output of electric motors for EVs and transmissions for plug-in hybrids at its first  automatic transmission plant in the north China port city of Tianjin. 

The electric motors will be first used in three Volkswagen brand electric sedans -- the battery versions of the Lavida, Bora and Golf. 

Three electric vehicles are now being built at VW Group’s joint ventures with SAIC Motor Corp. and China FAW Group and will go on sale in China in the second half of the year. 

The transmission will be used in the hybrid plug-in variants of the VW-badged Passat and Magotan sedans and the Tiguan crossover, which are also assembled in China. 

Of the three plug-in hybrids, the Passat and Tiguan have already been launched while the Magotan will go on sale later this year. 

The Tianjin plant will also produce components for EVs based on VW’s modular electric platform MEB in the future. Production of EVs on the MEB platform is slated to begin in 2020 at VW’s plant in Anting of Shanghai and in Foshan in South China’s Guangdong province. 

VW, the largest carmaker in China, is targeting sales of 400,000 EVs and plug-in hybrids annually in 2020. The German auto giant expects to increase annual China sales of electrified vehicles to 1.5 million in 2025.

From:Automotive News China