Volkswagen unveils first convoy-vehicles for Olympic torch relay

Olympic Flag Flying Volkswagen / Volkswagen

Convoy to follow torch

By Grant Edwardson
March 6, 2008 3:01 PM
Filed Under: German, Volkswagen

Not content with being the largest foreign Motor Car Company in China, Volkswagen has been announced as the official supplier of vehicles to the 2008 Olympic Games. The Volkswagen Group have a 17% share of the Chinese market and amazingly, China represents Volkswagen’s second largest market in the world only lagging their homeland market in Germany. Their volumes have mainly come from fleet deals to taxi companies and government orders but they also import more premium models such as the Touareg and Phaeton.

Sealing the deal to become the Olympic Games chief vehicle supplier should allow Volkswagen to penetrate even further into China’s rapidly expanding buying public. As part of the run up to the opening event in 2 months time, Volkswagen will accompany the Olympic torch across China.

Speaking at the official announcement in Beijing, Dr. Winfried Vahland, President & CEO Volkswagen Group China said: “This relay shall be recorded in the Olympic history as the torch relay with the longest duration and involving the widest geographical areas and the largest number of participants. As such it is a great honour for Volkswagen to have been chosen as the official supplier. Vehicles are an integral part of the torch relay which are necessary to make this great event happen. Our vehicles will be permanently involved. It is a pleasure to be involved in this relay. It stands for peace and friendship. We will do everything we can make this the greatest torch relay ever,”

The full range of Volkswagens will be available during the event including Skodas and Audis and the total will number up to a 1000 vehicles.

Source: Volkswagen

Press Release (Click to expand)

Volkswagen unveils first convoy-vehicles for Olympic torch relay
Volkswagen Group China will deliver 1,000 cars as official supplier
Beijing, 28 February 2008 - Two months ahead of the Olympic torch arriving in China, Volkswagen unveiled the first convoy vehicles with Olympic design to the public. These models will be part of 1,000 cars which will accompany the Olympic flame gradually on its way across China. The presentation on Thursday in Beijing was attended by Mr WANG Wei, Executive Vice-President and Secretary General of the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the 29th Olympiad (BOCOG), Dr. Winfried Vahland, President & CEO Volkswagen Group China, Mr AN Tiecheng, President of FAW-Volkswagen, and Mr LIU Jian, Managing Director of Shanghai Volkswagen. Volkswagen and its joint ventures were nominated at the event as official supplier for the torch relay.
“This relay shall be recorded in the Olympic history as the torch relay with the longest duration and involving the widest geographical areas and the largest number of participants. As such it is a great honor for Volkswagen to have been chosen as the official supplier. Vehicles are an integral part of the torch relay which are necessary to make this great event happen. Our vehicles will be permanently involved. It is a pleasure to be involved in this relay. It stands for peace and friendship. We will do everything we can make this the greatest torch relay ever,” Vahland said.
40 convoys and service around the clock
346 vehicles will be used for the core convoys, while 583 will serve as administration and support cars, while another 30 will be used for security and media purposes. 40 convoys will be formed in the course of the relay through China.
Ten Volkswagen Crafter will be especially equipped to host media and camera teams and to serve as security vehicles. The Volkswagen Touran, Passat Lingyu and Skoda Octavia will be provided by Shanghai Volkswagen, while FAW-Volkswagen put the Volkswagen Magotan, Sagitar and Audi vehicles at disposal. Volkswagen Crafter and Multivans will be provided as imported vehicles. To assure technical support and service around the clock Shanghai Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen will also provide a dedicated team of professionals, comprised of more than 200 of the company’s best technical support and after sales service staff.
Longest torch relay ever
The Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay will last 97 days in total and will cover more than 40,000 kilometers. The flame will arrive in Sanya in the South of China on May 4 and will arrive in Beijing on August 8. It will be carried through 113 cities and regions from all 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of China and will be carried also on top of the Mount Everest.