Chinese sales will be critical to the success of the facelifted VW Phaeton, according to an analyst.
The facelifted Phaeton will be launched at next week's Bejing motor show, and gets a refreshed front and rear end, as well as an updated interior.
Volkswagen sold 1400 Phaetons in China last year, a 40 per cent boost on the previous year’s figure, and a reflection of the 37 percent overall increase in VW sales in China.
For 2010, the company hope to sell over 2000 Phaetons, with prices starting at the equivalent of £57,000.
"Success in China is absolutely crucial for Volkswagen's expansion goals," Stefan Bratzel, director of the Center of Automotive Studies at the University of Bergisch, Gladbach, Germany, told Chinese media.
"Selecting China as the venue for the launch of the new Phaeton proves VW's commitment to this vast market."
In contrast, VW is still deciding whether to reintroduce the Phaeton to the American market. The car was a sales flop across the Atlantic and was pulled from the company’s model line-up in 2006.
Robert Cullen
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