Comments on: 2008 Olympic VW Sagitar!

By: Slade

Slade — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 08:32:36 +0000

The Olympics is VERY important to the Chinese government. Please note I said the government. Most people I know don’t care at all.
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The Olympics MUST be perfect. There will be a lot of press here looking for anything that goes wrong. Chang’an cars can go wrong.
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Oh, yeah, but then why are they using VWs?!?

By: Ash

Ash — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:01:20 +0000

oh yes – I forgot about that car – Chinas first homegrown hybrid!

Whats the end price tag on one though?

By: mark

mark — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:05:28 +0000

I thought they were using the Chang’an Jie Xun hybrid as the official Olympic car!

By: mark

mark — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:03:48 +0000

What was the connection between the Vauxhall Astra and the Seoul Olympics? Or would that be the Daewoo!

By: Ash

Ash — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:42:17 +0000

Because electric vehicles are not allowed on teh roads, and hybrid vehicles are daft expensive! Plus VW have been in China for years, and are a brand the peoples can easily identify with.

I think a Jap brand supporting the olympics in such a big way maybe a little too much for the PRC’s people at this early stage!

By: Ash

Ash — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:22:15 +0000

Thats because they dont have to by law! Although in recent years public outrage has forced the armed forces to follow the rules of the road as regular motorists have to do.

By: Nick in Shanghai

Nick in Shanghai — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:18:24 +0000

With all the guff about a green Olympics and the pollution concerns why wouldn’t they be using Electric or Hybrid vehicles ?

By: Andi

Andi — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:42:33 +0000

I remember Vauxhall selling Olympic Astra’s back in 1988 for the Seoul Olympics. Don’t see why VW shouldn’t do the same for the Beijing games.

By: woxihuanpijiu

woxihuanpijiu — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:35:58 +0000

Thanks for that, most of the ones I see down here are blue, white and black in that order. Living 5 mins from an army base means I need to be more vigilant when crossing the roads because those guys are F^#^*#&* lunatics who follow no road rules whatsoever.

By: Ash

Ash — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:11:25 +0000

Black = foreign registered company, or a Chinese JV with a foreign co.
Blue = Private ownership, or owned by a Chinese co
Yellow = registered as a bus (I think) sometimes with the initial Xue to represent a school bus
Diplomatic plates are black with either Shi for embassy, or Ling for consulates.
WJ white plates (carbon fiber style numbering)= Armed police
Military plates are white, and have a red word giving either their purpose (air, army, navy). If its the army, then they have their military region attached in red.

I think its like this anyway, anyone feel free to chip in and correct.

The Olympic committee would be foreign, and thus have black plates!

By: woxihuanpijiu

woxihuanpijiu — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:39:12 +0000

Don’t the black plates mean they have to registered with a foreign company to escape certain tax brackets? My understanding was that those plates were only for imported cars (someone will correct me if I’m wrong). If they are diplomatic plates then they can only be sold to diplomats or the taxes need to be paid for the regular folks to get hold of them.
I’m sure in the next few weeks we will be able to buy those flash decals for every known vehicle made in China from the local markets…

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:32:58 +0000

Wonder if the “olympic edition” VWs would just be decals on the exterior. If so, I would be thinking just a little (or maybe alot) of time with a hairdryer should be enough to convert it back to a standard VW?