There will be VS5 and VS7 with Jetta logo on the market. From then on, Volkswagen brand will involve the product layout from low-end to high-end in China market.
However, there are still many people who suspect that Santana, as one of the "old three", plays an important role in China in terms of history and brand status. But why did Volkswagen choose Jetta instead of Santana as its own brand?
In fact, there is a truth that many people don't know. There is a foreign automobile brand called Santana, which was born in Spain and was originally responsible for the production of agricultural equipment. Later, he obtained the Land Rover series production license and was responsible for the production of Land Rover models, becoming the first "birthplace" of Land Rover Defenders.
At that time, this authorized assembly production mode was very popular in Europe. At that time, both moratab in Iran and Minerva in Belgium adopted CDK production mode. According to the study, they took the parts of Land Rover Defender and then authorized various manufacturers to assemble them. This production mode is also the original production mode of Santana brand in Spain.
1962, Spain Santana Company began to sell Santana and Land Rover models to Central and South American markets and African markets, and independently developed and improved Land Rover Defender series models according to different automobile market demands. However, the financial crisis in Leland, England, made Land Rover, which was once in the limelight, languish, and the product line was delayed and became a "sick cat".
This situation forced Spanish companies to independently develop their own Land Rover models. These Land Rover models produced by Santana are much more cost-effective than "authentic British goods", which not only improve their performance, but also offer very favorable prices.
In the sixties and seventies, most of Santana's main products were Land Rover Defenders, such as Santana? Series? Three? The appearance of the model is basically the same as that of Land Rover Defender, except that Santana Peugeot and air intake grille are added at the rear.
Santana basically inherited the genes of Land Rover, based on the first generation of Land Rover Defenders. Later, with decades of experience in producing Land Rover, Spain developed an off-road vehicle called "Ligero", which was purchased in bulk by the Spanish military and became a military vehicle as soon as it was produced.
The model authorized to be assembled at once was even more popular than the real car, and the British could quit. So in 1983, Santana terminated the agreement with Land Rover, but it will continue to produce and develop its own off-road vehicle brand, but the model will be similar to the Land Rover Defender in appearance.
Shortly after "breaking up" with Land Rover, Santana established a cooperative relationship with Suzuki in the early 1980s. At that time, 20% of Suzuki's shares were purchased. From 65438 to 0986, Santana began to assemble authorized models of Suzuki Vitara.
199 1 year, Suzuki further acquired Santana? 48% of the shares became the controlling shareholder of Santana. Since then, Santana's automobile products have further moved closer to Suzuki, responsible for the production of Suzuki three-door and five-door SUVs that we are familiar with.
Santana has always been keen on developing hard-core off-road vehicles. With many years of experience in producing vehicles for Land Rover and as a Spanish military vehicle supplier, he began to independently develop new cars after terminating his cooperation with Land Rover. This time, Spain found Italy's Iveco Iveco as a partner.
After the cooperation, he didn't redevelop other people's cars as before. This time, he decided to independently study new models, build a hard-core SUV with 100% Spanish descent, and become the most mainstream car series of Santana Company-PS10.
Santana. PS 10 car series can be said to be the Spanish "relative" of Land Rover, which looks very similar to the Land Rover Defender series. Santana. PS 10 series models are non-loaded and equipped with a 2.8L diesel engine, with a maximum power of 92KW. After entering the market, he immediately won the Spanish military order with excellent performance and reliability. Later, with the cooperation of Iveco, Santan? PS 10 is to lengthen Iveco again? Mountain model.
But later, due to poor management, Spain and Santan? PS 10 and iveco? Massif stopped production on 200 1, officially ending its history as an independent automobile manufacturer. For this car brand, which is as famous as Volkswagen and has a long history of production, will Volkswagen consider taking out the Santana brand to operate independently after the Jetta brand declares independence, if it is launched on the basis of Santana in Spain? Will a domestic hard-core SUV be bought by consumers?
This article comes from car home, the author of the car manufacturer, and does not represent car home's position.