Volkswagen CEO: Brand’s image is improving with U.S. consumers

Speaking at the National Automobile Dealers Convention, Volkswagen Group of America CEO, Stefan Jacoby, said that the company is making strides in improving its image with U.S. consumers. He said that that’s importance since the German automaker will be opening its first production plant in the U.S. in Chattanooga, Tenn., with plans to sell 800,000 units in the U.S. by 2018.

Volkswagen was ranked 30th out of 36 in overall satisfaction in 2007 when Jacoby took the job; a year later, the company was ranked 15th. Today, Volkswagen is ranked seventh and has also moved up on the J.D. Power and Associates’ Initial Quality Survey and four of its models were top safety picks by the IIHS.

Volkswagen also has a lot going on this year with a new Jetta on the way in the summer and a new Touareg with a hybrid and diesel option. A new midsize sedan is also due in 2011, which will be produced at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga factory.

– By: Kap Shah

Source: Drive On