Volkswagen has big plans for the U.S., new sedan, 7-passenger SUV on the way

Volkswagen U.S. Sedan Sketch

During a briefing today at Volkswagen’s U.S. headquarters, North American CEO Stefan Jacoby said that the automaker hopes to reach a goal of selling 800,000 units in the United States by 2018. He said that Volkswagen will transform its money-losing U.S. arm into a pillar of its plans to top Toyota as the world’s largest and mort profitable automaker.

Volkswagen will do this by adding several new models that will be specifically designed for American buyers, including a new sedan, a 7-passenger SUV and an updated version of the Volkswagen Beetle.

We’ve been hearing about a new sedan for quite some time now. The model will be built at VW’s new $1 billion plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. Jacoby said that the new model will be slightly larger than the Passat but will cost less. Key competitors for the sedan include the Honda Accord, Chevrolet Malibu and the Toyota Camry.

Jacoby said that Volkswagen is also planning a 7-passenger SUV for 2011. The model will compete against the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander and the Chevrolet Traverse.

Finally, Volkswagen will offer a new Jetta and Beetle in the next couple of years.

“We want to be the No. 1 automaker globally,” Jacoby said today during a briefing at VW’s U.S. headquarters in Virginia. “Not everybody believes in this goal. We believe in this vision we have, and we are working very hard on its realization.”

– By: Omar Rana

Source: Detroit Free Press