Volkswagen to price U.S. cars more aggressively

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Volkswagen plans to prices its vehicles in the U.S. market more aggressively and drop costly features many customers there don't want, Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn was quoted as saying.

The idea is to narrow the sales gap that separates Europe's biggest carmaker from larger rival Toyota Motor Corp of Japan, the Wall Street Journal Europe reported.

"We have definitely added too many technical items that (American) customers don't want to pay for," Winterkorn said.

By tailoring its cars more to U.S. tastes, he said, it could offer future versions of its Jetta and Passat models below what they sell for now.

The Jetta starts at about $17,000 in the U.S. market, while the Passat starts for roughly $23,900. Toyota's Corolla is priced about $15,200, while the larger Camry starts at about $20,000, the paper said.

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david999david999 - 10/18/2007 10:39:25 AM
0 Boost

We wil probably see more made in Mexico or China VWs in North America.
This will hurt them more then help.


AgentOrangeAgentOrange - 10/18/2007 11:06:40 AM
+1 Boost
Way to go VW, reduce prices on U.S. bounds VWs where they already sell for 20 - 30% below comparably equipped Canadian bound VWs.
Don't do anything for us Canucks - we love getting screwed.




mini22mini22 - 10/18/2007 11:22:01 AM
+2 Boost
They need to be built in the USA where they can keep a better watch of quality control.


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 10/18/2007 6:08:43 PM
+1 Boost
Yes, I agree. VW and Audi should both have at least one NA plant in the cards if they're really serious about us.


BMWRUBMWRU - 10/18/2007 12:13:50 PM
+2 Boost
Beetles and Jettas are already manufactured in Mexico.
I agree that they need to move the manufacturing facilities to the US or Canada.


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 10/18/2007 6:09:13 PM
+1 Boost
Especially because they're better vehicles overall... if the reliability is improved, there won't be any reason not to get one.


ToneeTonee - 10/20/2007 9:15:36 PM
+1 Boost
I agree w/Volkswagen. To me the Jetta & Passat were always priced higher than their competition and I couldn't see why. However I would drive a Volkswagen over a Toyota anyday. Good move by VW.


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