VW plans to sell Polo in U.S. larger than Toyota's Yaris, but smaller than Honda's Fit

[DainBramaged]

Volkswagen plans to sell its Polo small car in the U.S.

VW development chief Ulrich Hackenberg said the automaker plans to sell the car in the U.S. to take advantage of American buyers' increasing enthusiasm for smaller, fuel-efficient cars.

"The small-car segment is the fastest growing segment in the U.S.," Hackenberg told Automotive News Europe at the Detroit auto show. "Oil prices will rise again and that will drive small car sales up further."

VW has never competed in the subcompact segment in the United States. The smallest car it sells here is the Golf, also known as the Rabbit. The Polo would be larger than the Toyota Yaris, but smaller than the Honda Fit, says Volkswagen Group of America CEO Stefan Jacoby.

Jacoby says the Polo would be a "further alternative" to help VW meet its goal of more than tripling U.S. sales to 800,000 vehicles annually over the next decade. Once the economy begins to recover, oil prices will be more expensive than before the recession, Jacoby says, and VW has the "right products for that."

"With our European heritage, we are used to compact and subcompact cars. We are working right now to upgrade these cars for the American market," Jacoby said.

Volkswagen of America spokesman Jim Gill says he is not aware of a definite date for the Polo's U.S. launch.

"We are definitely looking at it and what would need to be done for it to be successful," Gill said.

The New York auto show on April 8-9 appears to be the front-runner for showing the Polo in North America. Gill said VW has not decided where it will show the Polo.

Some production vehicles shown at the New York show can go on sale in the U.S. later in the year.

Hackenberg said that U.S.-market Polos could be produced in VW's assembly plant in Puebla, Mexico. He did not say when U.S. sales of the Polo would start.

VW will debut its latest-generation Polo at the Geneva auto show in March.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20090116/COPY01/301169905/1176

[mdmc]

1. I also saw that they were dabbling with some huge monstrosity

I forgot what it is called but is was the size of an excursion... I was like "What they fuck are they thinking...

[DainBramaged]

2. So much of the crap from everyone (like the Chevy Traverse)

was planned 3 years or more ago when like gas prices, everyone thought the SUV bubble would never burst. Now they have to make the products because of the billions committed to the design and suppliers. If they had ALL concentrated on small SUVs like the Honda CRV and the Toyota whateveritis, and stopped trying to make bigger vehicles, we'd all be in a better place. Once you get people thinking small, it's easier to put them in a more economical vehicle. But, with oil at $32 a bbl. and gas ABSOLUTELY headed to $1.29 a gallon or less by Spring, people are demanding big trucks and SUVs again. Chevy discontinued the Trailblazer, guess how many were ordered before the factory was closed? Over 40,000, all unfulfilled, by dealers who sold out of their inventory in a heartbeat once gas dropped below $2.00 a gallon. And USED ones are selling for nutty prices too.

[mdmc]

9. As gas prices go, so does the country

down/down...

[tandot]

3. 60 - 70 mpg clean diesel for under $20,000

http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_news/4219904.html

[DainBramaged]

4. When VW announces it I'll believe it.

[flvegan]

5. VW competed in that segment in the 70's. It was called the Beetle.

It just sold for shit. It wasn't really a segment until the 70's, but they were in it.

Regardless, glad to see more small car options. However, they'd better price it right.

[DainBramaged]

6. VW NEVER prices anything right

they need a huge cushion for the warranty work.



:hi:

[Dover]

7. I believe Polo won car of the year in 2003

http://www.vw.co.za/models/polo/

Not sure why it's only now hitting the markets here, but better late...

I wonder what the future of diesel is?

[JCMach1]

10. I have known two people over the last 1 1/2 years have had their Polo's die completely

(i.e. hardly worth the cost to fix) at less than 5 yrs, but out of warranty.

This is not your father's VW and I wouldn't touch one of these.

They bought VW for the economy too. They will never buy VW again.

[JVS]

8. Sweet!