Tuesday, 11 March 2008
Volkswagen wants more U.S. sales, targeting more competitive price points
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According to a recent Automotive News article, Volkswagen is setting its sights on serious expansion in the United States. Last year, the Audi and VW brands moved just over 328,000 units in the U.S. By 2018, that number will reach 1 million, if Group CEO Martin Winterkorn has his way. “"I am sure if we want to grow, we have to go to the United States," he said.
A first step of the plan involves building a production facility in the U.S., potentially in North Carolina, South Carolina or Georgia. VW’s product lineup will favor smaller and less expensive vehicles, with replacements for both the Jetta and Passat shrinking. A subcompact a la the Polo in Europe will compete with models like the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris, while a body-on-frame pickup will fill out the larger end of the spectrum. "We need to produce cars that fit the American customer," explained Winterkorn. "The Jetta and Passat are too expensive. We need models that hit the sweet spot."
Source: Automotive News [Subscription required]
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