New Golf Fails To Stop VW Sales Free Fall - Down 22% for Month!

Last month, Volkswagen began delivering the all-new, seventh-generation 2015 Golf GTI. The all-new Golf GTI is off to a strong start boosting sales of the model to its best total sales since March 2006.  The all-new 2015 Golf TSI and TDI Clean Diesel models will go on sale this August.  In June, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) announced that the all-new, seventh-generation Golf and Golf GTI models, when equipped with optional forward collision warning, have earned the coveted 2014 TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating.

“Our core models, the Passat and Jetta, continue to show strong demand in the market, particularly for our TDI clean diesel powertrains, “ said Mark McNabb, chief operating officer, Volkswagen of America. “With the launch of the much-anticipated 2015 Golf GTI, as well as the upcoming introduction of the all-new 2015 Golf TSI and even more fuel efficient diesel engines, we are confident Volkswagen will be back on the shopping list for more customers.”

The Chattanooga-built Passat totaled 7,222 units delivered for the month. In June the Passat TDI, the only clean diesel in the midsize sedan segment, delivered 2,316 clean diesels or 32.1 percent of total Passat sales. This marks the best year-to-date for Passat TDI® Clean Diesel.

Total Jetta deliveries for June, including SportWagen, accounted for 12,090 units.  The Tiguan and Touareg delivered 2,416 and 573 units respectively.
 

mini22 - 7/1/2014 12:07:13 PM

+3 Boost

VW needs to re think the Golf. Base Golf sales are very down. The Golf R is a waste of time. It is barely selling at all. Even though Beetle sales are down total sales of the Beetle out sell the Golf by more than5000 units so far. VW should nourish the Beetle more. Offer it in a 4 dr. Make a High performance version above the Beetle GSR. Make a low slung Beetle roadster or spider.Do the Dune in a 4 dr. AWD. The only Golf that should be offered is the GTI and GDI and in a 4dr. Jetta sales should improve with the 1.8. turbo 4 cylinder. VW needs to improve interior plastics even on the base Jetta.

MattDarringer - 7/1/2014 5:21:16 PM

+2 Boost

Quite frankly the regular Golf is not a vehicle the market wants.

They would be wise to do the GTI and a GTD given that the TDI Golfs we've been getting (2014) are fully loaded. The regular Golf collects dust on the lot. Sales of the Passat are implosion bad. The Jetta is cooling rapidly.

The problem with VW is that it is a goldfish swimming in a shark tank. The products are stale and their is no hope in sight. The new Golf looking like the old Golf might work in Europe, but dealers have been screaming for better styling for a LONG time. The American Golf needed to be a flashy departure. Putting a VW badge on a SEAT Leon would have been brilliant. Sales would have jumped.

W124E320 - 7/1/2014 3:50:20 PM

+1 Boost

I think if VW did a TDI Golf, with cooler wheels, and a really nice interior, say a "luxury" version, it might appeal to buyers who want a nicer car but like the versatility of the Golf, but dont want to pay an Audi price. Thats one problem, the TDI is nearly $30K equipped. I think the GDI is a great idea, but if the "boy racer" visual content was toned down a bit, again, it might make it on to more shopping lists.

MattDarringer - 7/1/2014 5:39:54 PM

+4 Boost

There simply is no reason--other than manufacturer greed--that the TDIs have to cost so much. People are interested in the TDI but when they see a Golf for $30K, a Jetta for $33k, and a Passat pushing $40K they walk. Change those numbers to 20/23/30 and sales of TDIs would be crazy strong.

quizz - 7/1/2014 8:01:44 PM

0 Boost

Not at all. Here are a bunch of 2014 Sportwagen TDI 6spd for under $25,000:
http://bit.ly/1o5rjDc

Seriously, for under $25,000?

MattDarringer - 7/2/2014 11:51:45 AM

+2 Boost

@quizz On what planet do you come from that trusts VW's base prices? VW is good at coming up with a competitive sounding base price but NEVER will you find one on the lot. VW also structures its options so that the price escalates rapidly. The 2015 GTI is supposedly $27k but we have one in the manifest at $42K. Most of our allotment for the GTI are $34-36K. Your Sportwagen will be mid thirties easily.

VW's pricing is beyond ridiculous. The base Golf TDI needs to be $20K.

VW fanatics, of course, think VW's pricing is reasonable, but it simply isn't. The Focus ST fully loaded is low thirties and quite frankly there is no advantage to the GTI. The Focus is also infinitely more reliable.

nytx - 7/1/2014 5:06:50 PM

+2 Boost

The 2015 Golf MK7s (TDIs & TSIs) have not hit US dealers yet - maybe July, probably August. 2015 GTI MK7s have slowly been trickling in since the beginning of June, but not large quantities. So these stats aren't very representative of the success or failure of the new models.

Anyone who follows car model years and is waiting for a new Golf TDI, TSI or even GTI knows not to buy the 2014s sitting on the lots. Hence sales are down.

In addition the new Golf R will hit lots at the earliest Q4, but probably Q1 2015.

MattDarringer - 7/1/2014 5:41:23 PM

+2 Boost

The incentives on the 2014 Golf are insane, but not many takers.

quizz - 7/1/2014 7:56:42 PM

0 Boost

I drive a 2013 Sportwagen TDI (base, no options, manual 6spd) and it is easily one of the best cars I've ever owned (around $27,000). I commute a lot, and average about 42MPG in mixed driving (70% freeways). I've put over 50,000 trouble free miles on it in the last 8 months. The Sportwagen TDI (actually based on the Golf platform, so it handles better than any Jetta) is easily VW's best family car. I will definitely swap up to the Golf GTD when it arrives in 2015.

Obviously, the counter argument is that it will start falling apart after 100,000 miles, but I get rid of my cars before then (as most American's do) so it's a non-issue. You can pick up a TDI from CarMax for $17,000 with low mileage but an amazing 5 year/100,000mile warranty that's totally worth it for these cars.

MattDarringer - 7/2/2014 11:55:18 AM

+3 Boost

Get an extended warranty on it ASAP. The fact that you don't have the DSG means that you'll have fewer worries. The DSGs have a habit of failing around 75K and VW lets the customer swallow the $6K repair bill. If you haven't had a myriad of electrical issues, you're one of the few. You're also unique that you found a base TDI Sportwagen because VW doesn't let many of them hit dealers.

USNA1999 - 7/1/2014 9:35:30 PM

-2 Boost

I am still getting me a GTI, waiting for the two door (3 door).

mini22 - 7/2/2014 12:43:08 PM

+2 Boost

I think there are a few problems here. The main 2 are styling which is stale and reliability. Here is what I don't understand. The DSG's are engineered in Europe. Is Europe having the same reliability issues? I keep hearing the VW is one of the top sellers and they are so well put together.

carsnyc - 7/2/2014 1:28:16 PM

+2 Boost

Fix reliability and replace the Jetta and Passat fast! Corollas, Camrys, Civis, 3 and 6's, Altimas are far better options.

Then we you regain market confidence and share, go back to selling niche cars like the Golf, which only 0.01% of the U.S. population wants.