Volkswagen of America, Inc. (VWoA) reported 36,588 units sold in March, a 34.6% increase over prior year sales and best March results since 1973. Diesel TDI models accounted for 23.1% of sales in March, up 44.4% versus the prior year.
March’s strong sales of 36,588 units highlights a robust first quarter for 2012 for Volkswagen and we are poised for continued growth this calendar year. Two years ago, we sold 10,168 Passat sedans for the year, and now we’ve broken the 10,000 barrier for the month. The new Passat has become a true success story, and it’s having a great impact across our company here in the US.
—Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
The company announced in March that it will add an additional 800 jobs at its Chattanooga manufacturing facility to meet the demand for the Passat, bringing the total employment increase in 2012 to 1000.
On the heels of taking first place in a six-car comparison test in Car and Driver Magazine, the Passat achieved 10,032 sales in March, marking the first time ever this volume has been achieved. In Car and Driver’s midsize sedan comparison test, the 2012 Passat 2.5 SE beat out the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Malibu, Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima.
Jetta sedan, including the enthusiast GLI model, remains the volume leader for Volkswagen with sales totaling 12,947, while Jetta SportWagen totaled 2,019.
The 2012 Beetle sold 1,969 units. The Beetle TDI Clean Diesel Coupe will go on sale late summer 2012.
The Tiguan continued strong sales with 2,659 units sold, marking the best March ever. The Touareg vehicles saw an increase in sales with 53.9% with 748 units sold.
Source: Green Car Congress
It wouldn't be an auto show without concept cars, and the Detroit Auto Show this year has its share.
From Volkswagen comes a new take on a familiar shape: the Volkswagen E-Bugster, an all-electric two-seat coupe version of its iconic Beetle.
Volkswagen isn't unveiling the car until the show opens, but with sites violating the maker's embargo, we felt you deserved to see the car too.
First, the styling, which blends a flat windshield, a low roofline with shallow windows, and a close-coupled hardtop to create a sporty coupe body.
It's rather like the new 2012 Mini Cooper Coupe, although (to our eyes) a less jarring modification to the known shape.
Power for the concept car is provided by a lithium-ion battery pack and a 85-kilowatt (114-horsepower) electric motor driving the front wheels. The 695-pound battery pack is mounted under the rear seat and below the floor of the trunk.
The charging port is sited under the large VW emblem on the hood, a nice touch. It offers Level 1 and Level 2 charging and, for areas where it's available, DC quick charging as well.
Source: Green Car Reports
