Volkswagen Along with its Chinese Partner SAIC Motors names Jia Jianxu as General Manager

Volkswagen's joint venture with China's SAIC Motor announced on Monday that Jia Jianxu, a veteran executive at the state-owned Chinese automaker, has been appointed as its new general manager.

Jia, who was born in 1978, has more than 20 years of experience in the auto industry and was in charge of SAIC's European market expansion, according to a statement from SAIC-VW. The joint venture is 50% owned by both automakers.

Jia has been the general manager of Yanfeng Automotive Interiors, a SAIC-owned vehicle seat manufacturer, since 2018, and has assisted in the development of its intelligent cockpit products.

Jia's appointment comes as Volkswagen ramps up its efforts in China for electric vehicles (EVs), with its I.D. series aiming to compete with Tesla and Chinese players in the world's largest EV market.

According to the China Passenger Car Association, SAIC-VW sold 91,761 pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars in 2022, while China's BYD sold nearly 1.8 million units and Tesla 439,770 units.

Volkswagen, abbreviated VW, is a German automaker headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Founded in 1937 by the German Labour Front and revitalised as a global brand after WWII by British Army Officer Ivan Hirst, it is best known for the iconic Beetle and serves as the flagship brand of the Volkswagen Group, the world's largest automotive manufacturer by global sales in 2016 and 2017. China is the group's largest market, accounting for 40% of sales and profits.