Holy Cow! Volkswagen Posts An Incredible 47.9% Explosion In January Sales

"We ended 2011 strong and are seeing the momentum continue into 2012 with a 47.9 percent increase, demonstrating our growth strategy continues to take root," said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. "With the today's release of our much-anticipated Game Day ad, 'The Dog Strikes Back,' our relentless focus on the core pillars of the business, and a full line-up of new and refreshed vehicles, Volkswagen is off to a strong start in 2012." 

The Passat continues to gain steam with 6,318 units for the month of January 2012. The strong demand has created a need for increased employment at the Chattanooga plant. Volkswagen will be hiring 200 additional employees, bringing the total employees to 2,700.

Jetta sedan remains the volume leader for Volkswagen with sales totaling 9,564, slightly down from last year's record sales.  

The 2012 Beetle, the feature of the upcoming game day ad, sold 1,401 units.

The Touareg vehicles saw an increase in sales with 68 percent and the Tiguan increased 50 percent, marking the best January ever.

Volkswagen's high-mileage, clean diesel TDI models account for 17.6 percent of sales in January, a 30.2 percent increase over 2011.

Autopinion - 2/1/2012 12:18:43 PM

-1 Boost

Dude - how are you contributing to this story? First your unexplained cynicism about "do anything to be #1" and then your paranoia about UAW and the President manipulating NHTSA. Please find another site to waste someone else's time.

I hope the market momentum give VW the courage to bring the Scirocco and an appropriate revision of the Phaeton to the US!

G35Driver - 2/1/2012 12:42:40 PM

-1 Boost

It's no secret why VW is doing well...Why drive a vanilla Camry or Fusion when you can have a Passat for the same or less?

Part of the blog issue that always comes up is that people will go back and forth, but they've NEVER driven or even been in these cars (and I'm sure that really applies to the 8NEW* Passat). I've driven or 'touched' all these mid-sizers and the Passat has a definite advantage in driving feel, interior quality, space and content.

MercedesSL - 2/1/2012 12:51:48 PM

+4 Boost

Jetta sales are down, and passat sales for the prior year were next to nothing. Passat is now selling at an decent volume which accounts for the large % gain, but is still far from competative for the segment. Holy Cow is right.

knowitall1985 - 2/1/2012 5:06:18 PM

+3 Boost

last year only 76 passat sedans?? Only 102 beetle sedans for the whole country... no wonder sales went up so much..keep it in perspective...

mini22 - 2/1/2012 8:09:51 PM

-2 Boost

You guys can spin it all you want. It's still a 47% increase. Yes VW has a long way to go in sales in the US. Still it's an improvement you cannot ignor.I'm sure Camry sales are going to improve as well. Personally there is only 1 car made by Toyota that I would consider buying. It just happens to have a Subaru engine with Toyota heads and Subaru makes it's own version of the car.I don't think I need to name them as the've been well talked about on this sight.I hope that VW will get a little more bold in product offerings(as in a US built Sirocco or the Bugster concept)Perhaps if they generate enough sales in the US they will take this step.