The Santana has had a number of updated features added since the original 1983 model. This vehicle was very popular as a taxicab, having been in service dating back to 1987, along with policecars and other government services. The first Santanas were all originally equipped with a four-speed manual transmission. Initially launched with a 1.6-litre petrol engine, the Santana was updated with a 1.8-litre petrol in 1987, first available in the Santana Variant station wagon introduced by Shanghai in 1992. In 1995, the local content quota stood at 89 percent. The drive to fully localize production became the impetus for the Chinese auto parts industry: In 1986, the quota of made-in-China parts was below six percent. The car and venture laid the ground-works for China's mass motorization. In September 1986, the 10,000th Santana was built in China. Production commenced in September 1985 while the first assembly line of the Santana started a month later. Volkswagen signed a contract with STAC, along with the China National Automotive Industry Corporation (CNAIC) and the Bank of China to form the Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive joint venture in October 1984. The first Volkswagen Santana was assembled in April 1983 by a team from Shanghai Auto. The first 100 cars were built from CKD kits delivered from Germany. The Santana (B2) had been built in China on a small scale trial basis by the Shanghai Tractor Automobile Corporation (STAC), predecessor of the SAIC Motor, since 1982. The Santana's biggest success was in China. The final Chinese versions were named Santana Vista, and the name Santana was used on a new 2013 model, slightly smaller and based on the Škoda Rapid and SEAT Toledo. Chinese production of the three box sedan continued until December 2012. European test production ended in 1988 while Latin American production continued until 2006. In Europe, the Santana name was dropped in 1985 (with the exception of Spain, where the Santana nameplate was retained) and the car was sold as a Passat. In Brazil and other South American countries it was known as the Santana, while the Passat Variant B2 wagon was marketed as the Quantum. In Mexico, it was named the Volkswagen Corsar, while in Argentina it was sold as the Volkswagen Carat. In North America, it was also known as the Volkswagen Quantum. The use of the "Santana" badge rather than "Passat" echoes the use of different names for the sedan versions of the Polo ( Derby) and Golf ( Jetta). It was introduced in 1981 while production started in 1983 for China and 1984 for Europe. The first generation is based on the second-generation Volkswagen Passat (B2). The Volkswagen Santana is a nameplate used by Volkswagen for various sedans and station wagons since 1983.
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