Volkswagen Sales Drop 14.4% In December Ends 2008 Down 3.2%

"The auto industry in 2008 was one of the toughest we've seen in a long time,." said Mark Barnes, Chief Operating Officer, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "Despite these economic conditions, 2008 was still a good year for Volkswagen.  We relocated our North American headquarters to Herndon, VA. bringing us closer to our customers, we announced an all-new North American production facility will be built in Chattanooga, TN., and we launched an impressive five new vehicles that allowed Volkswagen to buck the economic downturn as our sales remained close to our 2007 totals.  Volkswagen of America has a plan in place for a successful future here in the U.S."

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RaulT - 1/5/2009 12:25:03 PM

-1 Boost

if it wouldn't have been for the introduction of the CC, Routan, and Tiguan they would have sunk even lower.

Touareg and Rabbit sales more than halved

chewy - 1/5/2009 2:10:54 PM

+2 Boost

you can say that for any company. And the new models shuffle some sales around while adding others. In the end, 3% less sales for the year is amazing for 2008.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/6/2009 2:13:48 AM

+1 Boost

Yes, and? Everyone is hurting. If the way to maintain market share is to introduce new models, so be it.

RaulT - 1/6/2009 11:25:00 AM

+1 Boost

hello, I am not bad mouthing VW. I sell them in fact. I am saying that it was a good idea for them to introduce these vehicles.

VW is on the right path to having an even bigger presence here in the states

mini22 - 1/5/2009 2:30:57 PM

+4 Boost

Yeh-Honda an Acura are down over 30%.Ford is down over 30%.Frankly the CC,Routan,and Tiguan are appealing cars in VW's line up.Why would you base VW success or failure on the Rabbit and Toureg in the 1st place. I thought for a long time the Jetta was their top seller in the the US.If anything VW has greatly improved the product mix.I hope that 2 more positive things happen with VW.1) Their new car out of their Tennesee plant is priced right and well built.2) They import that limited edition Scirroco with the 260 HP engine and price it around 25K.

AudiNewEngland - 1/5/2009 2:41:05 PM

+2 Boost

^^Exactly


Where would BMW be without the introduction of the E92 M3 this year?

Same with Audi and the S5/R8.

Thank you for that very insightful comment though, RaulT.

RaulT - 1/5/2009 3:09:17 PM

0 Boost

I do not base their success on the Touareg or Rabbit, I was just pointing out a fact......

And you are correct, Jetta definetly is the volume leader

chewy - 1/5/2009 7:05:47 PM

+2 Boost

the reason that Rabbit sales are falling now is that VW has stopped making the MK5 Rabbits and all is left is reserves, so Rabbit sales will continue to fall until MKVI are sold in the US

mini22 - 1/5/2009 11:05:48 PM

+1 Boost

Further it will depend on dealers being able to get financing for their buyers but then that's the whole auto industry.