Volkswagen Group China
Company: Volkswagen Group China
Company Description: Volkswagen Group China is enjoying sales of over 2 million cars (2011) in the Chinese market and is China's largest foreign carmaker. Volkswagen Group China is the largest, earliest, and the most successful international partner in the Chinese auto industry. Weiming Soh has run sales and marketing in China for the past six years.
Nomination Category: Sales Awards Individual Categories
Nomination Sub Category: National VP of Sales of the Year
Nomination Title: Weiming Soh, Director of Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand sales in China and the ASEAN region.
Tell the story about what this nominee achieved since the beginning of July 2010 (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:
This is an honorary nomination as chosen by the Stevie Awards.
For six years, Mr. Weiming Soh has run sales and marketing for VW China. During
that time, VW China Group has seen remarkable growth making VW the number one in
sales in China. In China, VW now sells one fourth of all the cars it makes
worldwide and has a 20% share of the market.
ACHIEVEMENTS
New to the position in 2006, the sales forecast for 2010 was 900,000 units. In
2010, VW China sold more than twice that amount at 1, 971,000 vehicles.
In 2009, as part of a global VW strategy, VW China announced a growth plan
called “Strategy 2018” with goals in four business areas:
• Sales and customers: Improve customer satisfaction and brand image through
enhanced dealer networks and upgraded service.
• Products and technology: Combine VW’s most environment-friendly technologies
with local R&D to generate products that perfectly meet customers’ needs.
• Production and supply: Contribute to China’s automobile industry.
• Responsibility and Partnership: Strive to be an excellent corporate citizen
and create a long-lasting partnership through the integration of European and
Chinese cultures
In sales, the strategy is being implemented by Mr Soh and his team:
• In March 2011 – VW China opened a sales and service academy in Beijing, where
trainers will be trained to instruct service and management staff
• VW China is doubling the number of dealer outlets in the country to about
2,000 over the next five years.
• Volkswagen Group China become the first carmaker to join Sino-German “Climate
Protection and Electric Mobility in China” project bringing environmentally
friendly BlueMotionTechnologies to both of its joint-ventures for local production.
As a result
In 2010 the group sold more than 1.9 million vehicles in China,
In 2011 the group is on pace to sell 2.2 million vehicles, exceeding its 2018
target a few years early!
In November 2011, a Chinese Government report lists 13 VW brand vehicles as
energy saving models eligible for government subsidies, making VW the number one
manufacturer of fuel-efficient vehicles in China. VW had the largest presence on
the list.
Under Mr. Soh’s leadership, VW china has become a market leader, with remarkable
sales growth, considerable investments, and successful Sino-German partnerships
for continued success.
MOVING FORWARD
In 2012, VW’s SEAT will expand into China with 15 new-concept dealerships with
modern styling and customer-oriented service..
To strengthen its position as the market leader for passenger cars in China, the
Group has decided to invest a record amount in forward-looking projects. The
investment plan for China - the biggest market for Volkswagen worldwide - has
been increased to € 14 billion for the period from 2012 to 2016.
“Our new Sales and Service Academy is the foundation for our long-term
commitment to service in China.” said Neumann, president and CEO of Volkswagen
Group China.
Volkswagen plans to build electric cars in China beginning in 2013. Both its
joint ventures with FAW and SAIC are developing their own-brand electric vehicles.
List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:
2010 Branding Strategy Presentation by Mr. Soh:
http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/talks_and_presentations/2010/05/Presentation_
Mr__Soh_-_Brand.bin.html/binarystorageitem/file/4.+Mr.+Soh+Brand.pdf
Best half year ever”
http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2011/07/Best_half_year_sales_for_
Volkswagen_Group_China_ever.html
Best Year Ever?
http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2011/10/Volkswagen_Group_China_on_
track_for_sales_record_in_2011.html
Sales Academy Beijing:
http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2011/03/Volkswagen_Academy_
opens_in_Beijing.html
ThinkBlueTechnologies in China:
http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2010/12/think_blue_at_
guangzhou_auto_show.html
VW China Strategy 2018
http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2009/02/volkswagen_
group_china.html
Mr Soh’s 2006 China Strategy
http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/talks_and_presentations/2006/05/the_
automotive_value0.bin.html/binarystorageitem/file2/240506_Soh_ppt.pdf
Climate Mobility Agreement
http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2010/08/volkswagen_group_china_
signs_mou_with_the_federal_ministry_for_the_environment.html
Greenest Car Company
http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/news/2011/11/Volkswagen_Group_produces_
most_fuel-efficient_cars_in_China.html
Mid 2011 China Market Report:
http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/talks_and_presentations/2011/11/
Volkswagen_Group_in_China.bin.html/binarystorageitem/file/Volkswagen+Group+in+China.pdf
Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the nominee:
Weiming Soh is a Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Group China
responsible for Sales and Marketing and Director of Volkswagen Passenger Cars
brand sales in China and the ASEAN region.
Before joining VW in 2005, Soh was managing director of Beijing Jeep Corp. and
simultaneously ran the China import operations for Chrysler.