VW mulls over U.S. Up sales
Volkswagen AG is considering selling its Up minicar brand in the United States. Automotive News reports.
NEW YORK -- Volkswagen AG is considering selling its Up minicar brand in the United States, said Stefan Jacoby, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America.
The vehicle is perfect for urban markets, Jacoby said. But the decision "is a bit too much in the future," he added.
The Up brand is scheduled to go on sale in Europe in early 2011. VW plans hatchback, small minivan and sedan versions. Company executives say the small van would be best-suited for the United States because it's larger than the other variants.
The Up is key to VW's plan to increase worldwide sales to 1 million a year by 2018. The company plans to sell at least 500,000 Up models a year in Europe and emerging markets.
The major concern about U.S. sales is pricing, since buyers generally won't pay premiums for small vehicles.
In 2007, VW showed three concept versions of the Up at auto shows: a hatchback in Frankfurt, a four-door mini-minivan in Tokyo and a four-seat, rear-wheel-drive electric small minivan in Los Angeles.
(Source: Automotive News)