| Volkswagen AG, Europe's biggest automaker, | | | | |
| forecast record sales after deliveries in | | | | "We have made a lot of mistakes in the |
| 2007 go beyond six million units for the | | | | U.S.,'' Stefan Jacoby, said at the NAIAS |
| first time on increased demand for Skoda and | | | | briefing. "But we're a part of American pop |
| VW vehicles. | | | | culture. We have a one-time chance to turn |
| | | | this around.'' |
| Group deliveries surged 7.9 percent last year | | | | |
| to 6.19 million cars and SUVs from 5.73 | | | | "They do have some momentum,'' said Rebecca |
| million in 2006, CEO Martin Winterkorn said | | | | Lindland, senior automotive analyst with |
| at a Detroit Auto Show briefing. | | | | Global Insight Inc. in Lexington, |
| | | | Massachusetts. "They have people looking at |
| The CEO said that he plans to boost the | | | | Volkswagen again.'' |
| Volkswagen's global sales in 2007 by adding | | | | |
| models in a bid to take on Toyota Motor Corp. | | | | "They have a chance if they stay true to |
| According to Bloomberg, among the new | | | | their German heritage,'' she added. "VW is a |
| offerings are a minivan for the United States | | | | brand that people want to root for. It has a |
| built jointly with Chrysler LLC, a remake of | | | | certain charisma and appeal.'' |
| the Scirocco sports hatchback and the | | | | |
| coupe-styled four-door Passat CC, which | | | | Last year, the sales of Volkswagen brand in |
| Winterkorn premiered in Detroit. | | | | America dived 1.9 percent to 230,572 cars and |
| | | | SUVs, led by a 31 percent plunge in demand |
| Even as the Wolfsburg, Germany-based company | | | | for the mid-sized Passat and a 12 percent |
| expands worldwide, Volkswagen remains | | | | drop for the Beetle, the automaker was |
| struggling in America. In 2006, the | | | | earlier quoted as saying. |
| automakers loss in North American loss was | | | | |
| $897 million. | | | | But the maker of VW oil pan gaskets intends |
| | | | to improve sales in the U.S. by launching |
| The automaker said that it will decide in the | | | | products that tickles the fancies of American |
| first half whether to build a factory in | | | | aficionados. "We are working on a new compact |
| North America, Winterkorn said, adding that | | | | sedan and a mid-sized sedan for the American |
| the company has not decided on a location | | | | customer,'' Winterkorn noted. |
| yet. | | | | |