"The focus will be on the rapid integration of the latest technologies into vehicles of the Volkswagen Group brands for the Chinese market," VW said in a statement.

Last year, VW's software unit Cariad set up a joint venture with Chinese technology group ThunderSoft to develop China-specific features for the German automaker's 'infotainment' systems and car cockpits.

(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Kim Coghill)