December sales numbers are starting to trickle in. Audi’s 9.3% drop from December’s sales totals could well look like a major victory– after the big boys sign in. Well, at least that’s how Ingolstadt’s spinning it, declaring a major (if unspecified) gain in U.S. market share. One thing’s for sure: the fish-faced Q7 is floundering. Sales of the Porsche-platformed SUV (or is it the other way around?) dropped 23.4 percent from last year’s miserable totals, from1575 to 1207 units. The Q7 finishes the year down 36.2 percent. Although the TT’s annual totals are up by three percent, December inflicted a 62.8 percent ding. The only car kicking it: the A5, up 383.1 percent, and the R8, up 275 percent. But then we’re talking small numbers (657 and 115 respectively). Audi’s brand sibling VW is hurtin’ for certain. Although total sales “only” 3.3 percent for the year, December is looking REALLY scary, with sales dropping from 20,543 units to 17,577. There’s blood everywhere in the lineup…
Like all SUVs (cheap gas or no), the Touareg died a death, shedding 56.7 percent of its December sales total, down 23.3 percent for the year. Everyone who wanted an EOS has one; sales tanked by 55.8 percent. The Rabbit went into a hidey hole, losing 53.4 percent of last December’s popularity. Even the killer GTI is off 41 percent on December. In fact, there wasn’t a single winner. Not one.
Meanwhile, VW has delayed groundbreaking on their new Chatanooga, TN factory?. “The board members for Volkswagen AG want to attend and, unfortunately, we couldn’t get all the schedules to coordinate until March,” corp comms director Jill Bratina told msnbc. According to the company, work on the site continues apace.
Which is just as well. VW needs a hit product that’s robust, popular and immune to currency fluctuations. Until that happens, the million car army remains a figment of it’s NA Prez’ fevered imagination.
I take it these are US and not worldwide sales?
VW is “delaying the groundbreaking” from this month until March.
That’s their story and they’re sticking to it…
Tick-tock, Clarice, tick-tock.
“The board members for Volkswagen AG want to attend and, unfortunately, we couldn’t get all the schedules to coordinate until March,”
What a pathetic excuse: we couldn’t get all the swelled-head honchos in one place to hold a shovel and pose for photos, so we’re postponing months of planning and design work, screwing lots of contractors and suppliers in the process?
Can’t stomach going back on the triumphant ‘We’re going to beat Toyota’ PR that accompanied the original proclamations, can they? I swear, the German executive community displays an arrogance that the Americans can only dream of projecting.
If it wasn’t for three new models, the Routan, CC and Tiguan, VW sales in the US would have really hit the skids in December of 08.
With all that advertising and hub bub, only 899 Chrysler Routans were sold in December.
Compared to year ago, the VW Rabbit’s December sales plunged 53% to to 978 units.
Considering that Ford said they picked up market share and saw a 33% decline, I’d say that any decline under 15% IS a major win in this market.
VW needs a hit product that’s robust, popular and immune to currency fluctuations
It’s called the Polo…and maybe the Lupo. Go to vw.co.uk and droll over the product range smaller than the Golf.
VW: the company that labored to develop an SUV of their very own and…taadah!!…brought it out just as the SUV market tanked. Meanwhile they have gorgeous minicars over there…that we can’t have.
Yo VW! How did you get your start? What made your name? Hint: It the oppsoite end of the market from the Phaeton.
I read “the A5, up 383.1 percent” and thought, it’s a miracle, Americans are finally buying proper coupes again.
And then, unfortunately, I read “[b]ut then we’re talking small numbers (657 [for the A5] and 115 respectively).”
With the other major players down >30% I’d say a 14% decline is relatively good. The factory’s construction is not delayed, either, just the stupid ceremony. I’ll bet the foundation is already poured by march, and they’ll ruin that silver shovel! Though, not being able to get very few, very rich, people on a 5-6hr flight for a day until March might make one think that there is something going on they are not telling us about yet…
A TDI Lupo or just a Diesel would make a major impact in the US. Hell even a petrol model would be nearly as effective.
OldandSlow noted that “Compared to year ago, the VW Rabbit’s December sales plunged 53% to to 978 units.”
With the thirsty 2.5 liter 5 cylinder, it simply isn’t competitive with anything it is likely to be cross-shopped against.
With a realistic 1.8 liter non-turbo gasoline engine and a 6-speed manual, it would be a reasonable choice in the market.
Hell, they could try a 1.6 liter in a two door. We’re in a recession, after all.