Looks like the Germans are pursuing their plans of world domination through their car industry now. Expanding its global empire even further, Volkswagen announced the launch of its 105th plant worldwide and 16th factory in China in the south eastern region of Ningbo.

The Ningbo plant is a fully-fledged production facility, featuring its own press, body and paint shops plus a final assembly unit. It has a total annual capacity of 300,000 vehicles, and creates more than 5,700 jobs, which is good news for the local of people of Ningbo, located some 150 km south of Anting (greater Shanghai area).

The new plant is already in business producing a version of Skoda Superb, and stating from next year it will add MQB-based VW and Skoda models, which include a wide range of cars including high-end nameplates like the Golf.

The launch of the new production site is an effort to keep up with the growing demand for VW cars in China. The Asian sub-continent is the Volkswagen Group’s largest sales market. In 2012, the company and its partners Shanghai-Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen delivered 2.81 million vehicles to customers in China. They reckon that number will grow to 4 million by 2018.

Prof. Dr. Winterkorn said: “This new, state-of-the-art factory is further proof of the Volkswagen Group’s comprehensive commitment in China. Here in Ningbo and together with our partners, our pioneering spirit is once again driving economic and technical progress in the Chinese automotive industry. We are working hard to offer our customers in China the best vehicles and most efficient technologies – engineered and made in China. For our Group brands, the Ningbo plant also gives new momentum to tapping the full potential of the huge market south and west of Shanghai.”