Volkswagen to launch new model in April

Shanghai Volkswagen Co Ltd, the joint venture of German car maker Volkswagen AG and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp, will introduce a new mid-class sedan specially designed for the Chinese consumers this year, looking to broaden its product mix and compete with rival Shanghai General Motors Co Ltd.

The model, named Livada which means life and hope in Spanish, will make its debut at the auto show in Beijing in April, said the company. "It will be the prototype for our next-generation model in the economy car sector. It not only can appeal to the family consumer, but the commercial sedan market." The Livada is expected to be sold at the range of RMB 130,000 to RMB 200,000 a unit.

Shanghai Volkswagen sold a total of 436,000 vehicles in 2007, up 23% from the previous year.