Volkswagen Pulls Back From 2018 Sales Prediction
Volkswagen is scaling back its sales predictions. The mass-market German automaker had planned to deliver 800,000 units annually in the U.S. by 2018 but that’s probably not going to happen.
Instead the firm is now focusing on “realistic targets.” For a little perspective they moved slightly fewer than 408,000 vehicles in the United States last year, a decline of 7 percent compared to 2012. Obviously doubling sales in just four years is a mighty tough challenge.
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Still, if they want to hit the big figure above they’re really going to have to focus on the U.S. This means building products American consumers are interested in, vehicles like the CrossBlue concept, a large SUV-like people-hauler. They’ll also have to avoid other distractions, things like Chinese market.
[Source: TTAC]
Born and raised in metro Detroit, Craig was steeped in mechanics from childhood. He feels as much at home with a wrench or welding gun in his hand as he does behind the wheel or in front of a camera. Putting his Bachelor's Degree in Journalism to good use, he's always pumping out videos, reviews, and features for AutoGuide.com. When the workday is over, he can be found out driving his fully restored 1936 Ford V8 sedan. Craig has covered the automotive industry full time for more than 10 years and is a member of the Automotive Press Association (APA) and Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA).
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If Volkswagen would build a new Transporter Van and the recent Bulli concept and sell the Scirocco in the United States they would be 100 to 200K closer to that 800K goal. Volkswagen: it's the height of the vehicle that would distinguish a new VW Transporter from typical (boring) family vans. Your old Transporters are still parked and running all over Seattle's Central District. Sell them in promotional combination with REI Stores in the USA.