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VW Likely to Overtake Toyota as Top Carmaker in 2011
"Volkswagen AG will probably become the world’s biggest carmaker this year, vaulting past Toyota Motor Corp. and General Motors Co. on gains in emerging markets.
The German company’s sales, third among carmakers in 2010, will probably rise 13 percent to 8.1 million vehicles this year, based on the average of three analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. GM sales will gain about 8 percent to 7.55 million, while Toyota will drop 9 percent to 7.27 million, according to the survey.
VW sales in China may rise almost 20 percent in 2011 and more than double in India, according to estimates at researcher J.D. Power & Associates. That’s a contrast to Toyota, which is suspending Southeast Asian plants because of floods in Thailand, months after an earthquake crippled production in Japan.
“Emerging markets are at a stage of car-adoption by consumers and there is still a large space for sales to grow. said Jenny Gu, Shanghai-based senior markets analyst for J.D. Power. ‘‘VW realized this and put a lot of effort on emerging markets.’’
Estimates at J.D. Powers, IHS Automotive and PwC Autofacts were used to calculate the average projections.
Volkswagen had fallen 3.3 percent this year in German trading before today, weighed by concerns about the European debt crisis. Still, that’s a smaller decline than the 34 percent drop at Detroit-based GM and 20 percent at Toyota.
NEXT YEAR’S LEAD
Toyota may regain the lead from VW next year as the recovery of the Japanese company’s facilities from the March earthquake will pave the way for the Toyota City-based automaker to sell 8.4 million cars, or half a million units more than VW, according to research firm IHS Automotive. J.D. Power projects VW will retain its lead in 2012, outselling Toyota by about 50,000 units.
‘‘Growth in China, Europe and the U.S. are major contributors to VW’s expansion but they obviously also benefit from Toyota’s own misfortunes,” said Daniel Schwarz, a Frankfurt-based analyst at Commerzbank AG who recommends buying VW stock. Schwarz forecast the Japanese passenger-car market to increase by a quarter next year after shrinking by about a fifth in 2011.
Wolfsburg, Germany-based VW, which also owns the Audi and Skoda brands, focused on boosting capacity and its network of dealerships as it built its brand in markets such as China and India, Gu said in a telephone interview.
CHINESE GROWTH
Automakers are turning to developing economies for growth as sales in mature markets slow. China, the world’s second- largest economy, will grow 9.5 percent this year, six times the pace of the U.S. and euro area, according to International Monetary Fund estimates last month. The country is already the biggest auto market globally, with sales exceeding 18 million in 2010.
VW sales in China will probably reach 2.3 million units and 116,000 in India this year, with the two markets accounting for about a third of the company’s sales, according to J.D. Power estimates.
VW, which operates more than 60 factories worldwide, plans to spend a record 62.4 billion euros ($87 billion) -- excluding its ventures in China -- over the next five years to raise annual production to 10 million by 2018. VW’s Chinese joint ventures, which are not consolidated, will invest another 14 billion euros through 2016. The German company may reach the target three years ahead of schedule, according to a person familiar with the matter." [Continue reading...]
VW Sponsors Stanford University and UC Berkeley Solar Vehicle Teams in the World Solar Challenge
"Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. today announced that it has donated $50,000 to both the Stanford Solar Car Project and the University of California, Berkeley’s CalSol teams in order to help fund the teams’ participation in the 2011 World Solar Challenge. The funds will help cover the costs of designing and building the solar vehicles, as well as the fees to enter the competition.
The 2011 World Solar Challenge began on Oct. 16, 2011 in Darwin, Australia, with more than 30 teams competing from all across the globe. The event is held on a 3000km (1,864mi) course that crosses through the center of Australia from Darwin to Adelaide. Once the teams leave Darwin, they will compete to be the first to cross the finish line in Adelaide in their solar vehicle.
“This has been an excellent opportunity to reiterate our commitment to sustainable mobility. It’s important to promote automotive programs at world-class universities like Stanford University and UC Berkeley and get the student community excited about automobiles. This is important for the continued success of our long term relationships and collaborations with such universities.” said Dr. Peter Oel, Director of the Volkswagen AG Electronics Research Lab (ERL). The ERL represents the entire Volkswagen Group in applied research and development. Its mission is to develop innovations and technologies for future generations of cars, and to transfer technologies from many industries into the automotive domain.
CalSol, the UC Berkeley Solar Vehicle Team, is a non-profit organization composed of more than 50 students from the highest ranked public university in the nation. CalSol’s purpose is to build, design, test, and race fully solar powered vehicles. Through participation in races and events, the team aims to raise awareness of renewable energy and solar vehicle technology. " [Continue reading...]
The 2011 World Solar Challenge began on Oct. 16, 2011 in Darwin, Australia, with more than 30 teams competing from all across the globe. The event is held on a 3000km (1,864mi) course that crosses through the center of Australia from Darwin to Adelaide. Once the teams leave Darwin, they will compete to be the first to cross the finish line in Adelaide in their solar vehicle.
“This has been an excellent opportunity to reiterate our commitment to sustainable mobility. It’s important to promote automotive programs at world-class universities like Stanford University and UC Berkeley and get the student community excited about automobiles. This is important for the continued success of our long term relationships and collaborations with such universities.” said Dr. Peter Oel, Director of the Volkswagen AG Electronics Research Lab (ERL). The ERL represents the entire Volkswagen Group in applied research and development. Its mission is to develop innovations and technologies for future generations of cars, and to transfer technologies from many industries into the automotive domain.
CalSol, the UC Berkeley Solar Vehicle Team, is a non-profit organization composed of more than 50 students from the highest ranked public university in the nation. CalSol’s purpose is to build, design, test, and race fully solar powered vehicles. Through participation in races and events, the team aims to raise awareness of renewable energy and solar vehicle technology. " [Continue reading...]
VW Announces Pricing for the New Golf R
"Intelligent downsizing. That’s what the new Golf R represents. The heir to the 2004 and 2008 Golf R32 models, the new R manages to have more power, more performance, and consume less gasoline than its illustrious iconic performance forebears. And it offers all this for just $33,990, plus destination, for the two-door Golf R model.
Whereas the R32 models used 3.2-liter VR6 engines, the new Golf R is fitted with a high-output version of the award-winning turbocharged 2.0-liter TSI® engine. This engine makes 256 horsepower, six more than the VR6 fitted into the 2008 R32. As well as offering more power and performance, the Golf R is also more economical, with manufacturer estimated fuel economy of 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway compared with EPA estimated mileage of 18 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway for the prior model.
Like the previous R32 models, the Golf R is equipped with Volkswagen’s 4Motion® all-wheel-drive system: the latest generation of this system can divert up to 100 percent of the torque to the rear wheels, if needed. All Golf R models sold in the U.S will be equipped with a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission. For the first time, the Golf R will be available in two- and four-door guises as well as in two trim levels: well-equipped Golf R and luxurious Golf R with Sunroof and Navigation." [Continue reading...]
Volkswagen EcoFuel Engine Runs on Gasoline and Natural Gas
"Supporters of natural gas make a strong case for its use in our cars and trucks, but the reality of burning natural gas as motor vehicle fuel is challenging. That's because there is a relative shortage of natural gas fueling stations. More importantly, there's a short driving range of most natural gas vehicles.
However, at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany, Volkswagen introduced its new subcompact model, the Up! (we'll refrain from further use of the exclamation point), as well as six concept versions of the Up. One of those concept cars is the "eco Up" with a dual-fuel EcoFuel System engine that uses both Compressed Natural Gas and gasoline.
The idea behind Volkswagen's subcompact is that the car runs on natural gas in regular use, but it also holds a 2.5-gallon reserve tank of gasoline to give owners a cushion of extra driving range" [Continue reading...]
First Oprah-Awarded 2012 VW Beetles To Be Delivered Thursday
"Last November, 275 people present at a taping of the Oprah Winfrey Show got a very nice door prize: in cooperation with Volkswagen, Oprah gave each audience member a 2012 Volkswagen Beetle. Not only were those present getting the cars, but all taxes and fees associated with winning the prize were taken care of as well.
This Thursday, Volkswagen of America president and CEO Jonathan Browning will be at a VW dealership in Orland Park, IL, where he'll personally hand over the keys to the first 25 lucky winners. Since delivering 275 cars at the same time would be a logistical nightmare, the remainder of the awarded 2012 VW Beetles will be delivered in the coming weeks, probably by multiple dealerships.The cars were given away as part of an “Ultimate Favorite Things” show, where Oprah Winfrey and Volkswagen teased the newly redesigned Beetle in silhouette before announcing the giveaway. This wasn’t the first time that the queen of daytime-talk-show-TV gave out cars to her audience; in 2004, Oprah handed out 276 Pontiac G6 sedans to those in attendance." [Continue reading...]
Dean Karnazes Talks Touareg, Marathons and Eating on the Go
"Volkswagens have been known to run forever, so it makes perfect sense that Dean Karnazes drives one. Dean runs marathons as often as most people do laundry (and more often than some—you know who you are). In fact, he once completed 50 marathons in all 50 states in 50 consecutive days. As if that weren’t enough, he also ran 135 miles across Death Valley in 120-degree temperatures and has run 350 miles without stopping. We recently caught up with him (Editor’s note: this was no easy task; now we’re exhausted) and asked him a few questions about getting from point A to point B, both on foot and in his2011 Volkswagen Touareg TDI Clean Diesel. We also talked about the upcoming Bank of America Chicago Marathon, where he’ll join Volkswagen at the Health and Fitness Expo to sign autographs and offer a little pre-race inspiration.
All-new Facebook, all-new Beetle
"If you’re like most people, you’ve probably already logged into Facebook 47 times today and noticed the updated user profile layout. And if you’ve seen the all-new Beetle—which is a distinct possibility, considering that you’re reading the Beetle Blog—then you know that it has an updated profile of its own. We figured that the best way to celebrate both updates would be to bring the all-new Beetle right into the new Facebook profiles.
Beetle fans belong on the big screen: Submit your photo to appear on a Times Square Billboard
We know you like the all-new Volkswagen Beetle, and frankly, we’re flattered. But does everyone know you like it? We can’t think of a better way to get the word out than broadcasting your lovely mug on a large screen in a high-traffic area—say, a billboard in Times Square in New York City.
You might ask, “How can I broadcast my Beetle love to the world?” It’s easier than you think. Just “Like” the VW USA Facebook Page and submit your photo. It’s the easiest way to let your friends (and your friends’ friends, and also a lot of strangers) know how you feel about the Beetle. Your photo will be displayed on the Beetle Billboard in Times Square*, and because “pics or it didn’t happen” is the first law of social networking, we’ll post a snapshot of the experience to your Facebook wall. We’ll also notify you before your photo appears on the billboard so that you’ll have a chance to see it live in Times Square starting September 29th. [Continue reading...]
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