Volkswagen E-Bugster Presages Shape of Drop-Top Beetle
"Volkswagen used the Beijing auto show to unveil a convertible version of its E-Bugster, an electrically powered Beetle concept first shown in Detroit in January.
The automaker has not made it easy to parse all the clues about future models embodied in this vehicle. Volkswagen says the concept presages the coming gasoline-powered convertible version of the 2012 Beetle, which is expected to be introduced at the Los Angeles auto show in November. But whether an electric powertrain would reach that car or its hardtop equivalent is not so clear, especially with the E-Golf undergoing an internal fleet test." [Read more]
Passat TDI wins green accolade from Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com
"Because Earth is our very favorite planet (no offense, Jupiter—you’re super special, too), we prefer to celebrate Earth Day year round instead of just once a year. So you can imagine how happy we were when we heard that the 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI was named a 10 Best Green Car by Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com.
The 10 Best Green Cars announcement comes just in time for Earth Day, perfect timing for a list of eco-friendly cars. And with gas prices well over $4 a gallon in many US cities, there’s never a bad time to drive a fuel-efficient vehicle. The top 10 cars were selected on a variety of criteria, but the Passat TDI was chosen in part because it offers up to 43 mpg with a powerful, responsive engine." [Read more]
Source: The VW Blog
The 10 Best Green Cars announcement comes just in time for Earth Day, perfect timing for a list of eco-friendly cars. And with gas prices well over $4 a gallon in many US cities, there’s never a bad time to drive a fuel-efficient vehicle. The top 10 cars were selected on a variety of criteria, but the Passat TDI was chosen in part because it offers up to 43 mpg with a powerful, responsive engine." [Read more]
Source: The VW Blog
Volkswagen to Add Jobs in Tennessee
"Volkswagen AG will add 800 jobs at its only U.S. plant to increase production of the Passat sedan, the company said on Thursday.
The new hires will be added to the Chattanooga plant's existing workforce of 2,200 Volkswagen workers and another 500 who work for a contract firm called Aerotek.
The plant will not add another shift, but will place a third "team" of workers on the existing two shifts and add a Saturday shift to accommodate the additional production, said Hans-Herbert Jagla, head of human resources at the factory.
Plant manager Frank Fischer said there are thus far no plans for a second model to be produced at the Chattanooga plant, which opened in May 11.
Jonathan Browning, head of VW operations in North America, said the plant's additional production will bring its annual capacity to 170,000 vehicles, up about 20,000 from current capacity. In its ramp up year of 2011, the plant produced about 40,000 Passats.
He said 25 percent of all Volkswagens sold in the United States are Passats made in Chattanooga.
Browning said that soon VW is likely to announce an increase of its forecast for industry-wide U.S. auto sales in 2012 to 14 million vehicles from its current forecast of 13.7 million vehicles, based on stronger-than-expected first-quarter sales for the industry.
In the first two months of the year, Volkswagen sold 14,500 Passat sedans in the U.S. market. Last year, Volkswagen's U.S. sales increased 26 percent to about 325,000 vehicles for the VW brand. Including its Audi luxury brand, the VW Group sold about 450,000 vehicles in the U.S. market in 2011." [Read more]
The new hires will be added to the Chattanooga plant's existing workforce of 2,200 Volkswagen workers and another 500 who work for a contract firm called Aerotek.
The plant will not add another shift, but will place a third "team" of workers on the existing two shifts and add a Saturday shift to accommodate the additional production, said Hans-Herbert Jagla, head of human resources at the factory.
Plant manager Frank Fischer said there are thus far no plans for a second model to be produced at the Chattanooga plant, which opened in May 11.
Jonathan Browning, head of VW operations in North America, said the plant's additional production will bring its annual capacity to 170,000 vehicles, up about 20,000 from current capacity. In its ramp up year of 2011, the plant produced about 40,000 Passats.
He said 25 percent of all Volkswagens sold in the United States are Passats made in Chattanooga.
Browning said that soon VW is likely to announce an increase of its forecast for industry-wide U.S. auto sales in 2012 to 14 million vehicles from its current forecast of 13.7 million vehicles, based on stronger-than-expected first-quarter sales for the industry.
In the first two months of the year, Volkswagen sold 14,500 Passat sedans in the U.S. market. Last year, Volkswagen's U.S. sales increased 26 percent to about 325,000 vehicles for the VW brand. Including its Audi luxury brand, the VW Group sold about 450,000 vehicles in the U.S. market in 2011." [Read more]
Volkswagen Q1 Sales Reach Record 2M Cars
"Volkswagen Group's global first-quarter sales surpassed two million vehicles for the first time as North American and Chinese sales rose dramatically, the Germany company announced Friday.
Wolfsburg-based Volkswagen sold 2.16 million cars in the first quarter of 2012, a 9.6 percent increase on the same time last year. The record first-quarter sales were carried by a 12.6 percent increase in March compared with the previous year and strong numbers in North America and China.
"The Volkswagen Group developed very well in the first quarter. We produced another strong performance in North America, China and Russia. However, uncertainty continues, particularly on the markets in Western Europe," Christian Klingler, group board member for sales said Friday.
While sales overall in the European market rose modestly for VW, increasing 3.2 percent in the first quarter to 937,000 cars, sales in Western Europe, excluding Germany, plummeted 4.7 percent. Volkswagen did well in its German home market, though, bolstering sales by 5.7 percent to 282,400 cars. The company enjoyed a 35.1 percent increase in sales in Central and Eastern Europe.
Sluggish sales in Europe, though, were more than compensated for by strong sales in the Asia/Pacific region and the Americas. Asia/Pacific sales rose 16.8 percent to 726,100 cars, and sales in China, VW's largest single market, charged up 15.6 percent to 633,900 cars.
The Americas were also a bastion for VW, and the company increased North American deliveries by 24.5 percent to 179,100. U.S. deliveries were up 34 percent. South American deliveries rose 3.9 percent to 229,400 cars." [Read more]
Wolfsburg-based Volkswagen sold 2.16 million cars in the first quarter of 2012, a 9.6 percent increase on the same time last year. The record first-quarter sales were carried by a 12.6 percent increase in March compared with the previous year and strong numbers in North America and China.
"The Volkswagen Group developed very well in the first quarter. We produced another strong performance in North America, China and Russia. However, uncertainty continues, particularly on the markets in Western Europe," Christian Klingler, group board member for sales said Friday.
While sales overall in the European market rose modestly for VW, increasing 3.2 percent in the first quarter to 937,000 cars, sales in Western Europe, excluding Germany, plummeted 4.7 percent. Volkswagen did well in its German home market, though, bolstering sales by 5.7 percent to 282,400 cars. The company enjoyed a 35.1 percent increase in sales in Central and Eastern Europe.
Sluggish sales in Europe, though, were more than compensated for by strong sales in the Asia/Pacific region and the Americas. Asia/Pacific sales rose 16.8 percent to 726,100 cars, and sales in China, VW's largest single market, charged up 15.6 percent to 633,900 cars.
The Americas were also a bastion for VW, and the company increased North American deliveries by 24.5 percent to 179,100. U.S. deliveries were up 34 percent. South American deliveries rose 3.9 percent to 229,400 cars." [Read more]
Volkswagen Launches Factory Restoration Program for Microbus
"Automakers offering restoration services for vehicles they built decades before isn’t exactly uncommon. Aston Martin’s Works Heritage Service will gladly maintain your wanna-be-Bond DB5. Mercedes-Benz Classic will restore a 600 Grosser, a 300SL Gullwing, and everything in between.
And Volkswagen, it seems, is more than willing to give your Microbus a museum-quality restoration in the same city it was built nearly 50-60 years ago.
The timing couldn’t be better, since interest in vintage Transporters appears to be on the rise in Europe. So much so, in fact, that Volkswagen’s Dutch branch is actually importing Kombis from Brazil — which largely resemble the second-generation T2 –and customizing them with a retro touch.
Unlike that operation, which added old soul to new vehicles, VW’s new “Commercial Vehicles Oldtimer” program breathes new life into old vehicles. Services performed range from light repairs to a full restoration. Customers also have the option of restomodding their vehicles, although those who desire a faithful restoration can take heart in the fact the Oldtimer group has access to extensive historical records and original parts." [Read more]
Volkswagen Up! Named 2012 World Car of the Year in New York
"The jurors presiding over the annual World Car of the Year awards at the 2012 New York Auto Show have awarded the top honor to a car that is not offered in the U.S.
In fact, it’s not even offered in all of North America.
Nevertheless, Volkswagen’s tiny up! hatchback has beaten worthy rivals including the BMW 3-Series and Porsche 911 to be voted 2012 World Car of the Year.
The jury, consisting of 66 journalists and auto industry representatives from 25 countries, voted by a majority to name the up! the winner.
They noted that the up! has altered what consumers--outside the U.S.--have come to expect from the city car segment. Of note were its responsive steering, sophisticated suspension setup, efficient engines and high-quality materials and finish.
On a minimal footprint (11.6 feet long) the up! also provides space for four people, plus extremely efficient drive technologies including three-cylinder units for gasoline and diesel fans. The vehicle also comes in three- or five-door bodystyles and in the near future a sporty GT model is expected.
The reason the up! was eligible was because of the competition's rules, which state that to be eligible for the overall World Car award, the candidates had to have been available for sale on at least two continents during the period beginning January 1, 2011 and ending May 30, 2012.
One of the runners up in the competition didn’t go home empty-handed. The 2012 Porsche 911 was voted the winner in the 2012 Performance Car of the Year category, beating out the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 and McLaren MP4-12C supercars." [Read more]
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