English 
Spanish 
3 min read
0 comments
When we think of a car model, we usually imagine that it is standardized, with the same name and features everywhere in the world. But China, always surprising, innovates even in the automotive market, where the same car can have multiple names and even be manufactured by different companies.
This is the case with Volkswagen T-Cross, an SUV that, in the Asian giant, has versions with their own identities depending on the manufacturer.
As we know, Volkswagen is one of the most traditional automotive brands in the world. In China, it has a history of success, with decades of leadership and a strong legacy built through partnerships with local manufacturers.
Since 1984, the German automaker has collaborated with SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation), and from 1991, it entered into a partnership with FAW (First Automobile Works).
- Volkswagen confirms employees' nightmare: THREE factories will close and mass layoffs will happen
- Assad flees Syria, leaving behind his private fleet of luxury cars, including Mercedes, Porsches, Ferraris and armored SUVs
- Mitsubishi surprises: new hybrid arrives in Brazil in 2025 with 302 hp, 86 km of electric autonomy and 27 km/l!
- Replacing an electric car's battery will be cheaper than repairing a combustion engine, study reveals
However, the peculiarity of the Chinese market goes beyond collaborations: the T-Cross, a popular model in other countries, gained exclusive versions, each manufactured by one of these two partners.
In China, the Volkswagen T-Cross is not just one, but two different cars. SAIC-Volkswagen manufactures the Tukai, while FAW-Volkswagen is responsible for Water. Both share the same essence, but present significant variations in dimensions, engine and, of course, name.
Differences between Tukai and Tacqua: two T-Cross, two experiences
The T-Cross Tukai, manufactured by SAIC-Volkswagen, measures 4,218 meters in length and has a wheelbase of 2,651 meters. It is sold in three versions, the first two being equipped with a 1.5 naturally aspirated engine with 110 hp and 141 Nm of torque.
The five-speed manual version costs 115.900 yuan ($89.490), while the six-speed automatic costs 128.900 yen ($99.532).
There is also a top-of-the-line version, called 300 TSI, equipped with the new 1.5 Turbo Evo II engine with 160 hp and 250 Nm of torque, associated with a seven-speed DSG gearbox.
This model, the most expensive, costs ¥161.900 (R$125.014) and can be purchased with a 329-liter trunk or a smaller version, with 212 liters.
On the other hand, the FAW-Volkswagen Tacqua, which is slightly smaller at 4,194 meters long, also offers two versions, both with a 1.2 Turbo engine with 116 hp and 200 Nm of torque.
The versions, sold as R-Line, are priced between ¥143.900 (R$111.115) and ¥146.900 (R$113.431). Interestingly, the Tacqua has the largest trunk between the two models, with a capacity of 367 liters.
The complexity of the Chinese automotive market
Understanding the Chinese automotive market is not a simple task, especially for those looking from a Western perspective.
The complexity goes beyond the differences between the Tukai and Tacqua models. In addition to a specific market segmentation, which offers multiple options for the same model, China poses challenges and opportunities for automakers like Volkswagen.
The Chinese market, once dominated by foreign brands, is now tilting heavily toward its own automakers, especially with the rise of innovative technologies in electric and plug-in hybrid cars.
This new scenario forced Volkswagen to reinvent itself in order not to lose space in a market that was once synonymous with guaranteed profits.
Now even with the history of success in China, the company needs to rethink its strategies to keep up with the changes and preferences of the Chinese consumer.
Why does Volkswagen need to reinvent itself in China?
China, with its unique automotive market, poses complex challenges for foreign automakers. Volkswagen, which has always had a strong presence in the country, is now facing the reality that consumers are increasingly drawn to local brands.
The T-Cross, which anywhere else in the world would be just a car, in China is divided into two personalities, which reflects this transformation in the market well.
