#NYIAS: Volkswagen May Have Just Found The Keys To The Truck Market With The Tanoak Midsized Pickup

#NYIAS: Volkswagen May Have Just Found The Keys To The Truck Market With The Tanoak Midsized Pickup
The words Volkswagen and pickup typically do not go together very well.  Yes back in the 60's there was a van like pickup and again in the 80's a Rabbit based sport truck  variant.  But these were never what we would call serious contenders for anything other than novelty status in the US market.

Jump ahead a few decades and Volkswagen releases the Amorak truck but for some reason unknown decides to not market it in the US the largest truck market on the planet.  Times must be changing for Volkswagen and the new Atlas based Tanoak has just burst on the scene.

New York Auto Show

This unibody concept could easily be assembled in the US and target the Honda Ridgeline directly.  Lets call it the "weekend truck" market for trips to the local home improvement store. If targeted correctly the Ridgeline could be toast and it may make inroads into the midsize truck market that is proving to be so popular.

Are the Ridgeline's days numbered, who is at risk?

2018 Tanoak Concept Press Release








































carloslassitercarloslassiter - 3/28/2018 7:11:52 PM
+3 Boost
So it's like a truck for girls?


TomMTomM - 3/29/2018 6:56:13 AM
+1 Boost
The pick up space is still dominated by Domestic entries and it is really hard for the Foreign companies to get a foot hold that they do not already have. I suppose that a mid-size would be easier - because that was really founded by the foreign companies - BUT - the problem is - I will suggest that for the price of a VW Pick UP - you will easily get a Full size Ford - Chevy or Ram - and likely some change too.

What that does is eliminate the people who buy trucks for dual purpose and the business market (Who will not live with the VW costs of service and unreliability) - which leaves the "girls" market - ironically one that once bought second generation MUSTANGS is now buying Trucks. I doubt it will sell well.


dumpstydumpsty - 3/29/2018 11:00:03 AM
+1 Boost
Consumer's being open to CUV's is now giving way to them being more open to trucks, yes. Eventhough the RAV4 is a CUV, when it was 1st introduced, the 1st crack on it was that it looks like a "woman's vehicle". Today, I've seen a lot more men driving old & new versions lately.


dumpstydumpsty - 3/29/2018 10:53:37 AM
+1 Boost
Point is....it's not too shaby at all. At 1st glance, it doesn't LOOK like all the other midsizers & that's a huge PLUS. Especially in a market crowded with stylized small & midsized CUV's from both mainstream & luxury brands.

God bless VW for still trying. Dodge/RAM/FCA....damn yall for giving up a descent thing & then not trying a game-changer that the 06 Rampage 4-dr concept could have been.


delandelan - 3/30/2018 2:18:30 PM
+1 Boost
this looks vile....



mini22mini22 - 4/2/2018 1:39:33 AM
+1 Boost
Yes the domestics are still dominating this market. No question. However I do think their slice of the pie will continue to get smaller. Nissan and Toyota have been reasonably successful with their big Pickups and SUV's. Its a smart move for VW to jump in.


MDarringerMDarringer - 4/2/2018 10:29:13 AM
+1 Boost
What planet do you live on: "Nissan and Toyota have been reasonably successful with their big Pickups and SUV's."?

The Titan has been a dismal sales failure. The Armada isn't a big seller. The Tundra is a footnote in sales. The Sequoia's sales are laughable.

Nissan and Toyota have failed miserably. With the sole exception of the Tacoma, the Japanese have lost their touch in the pickup world. They were not able to translate their small-pickup prowess to larger ones.
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