VW Up 35% in 2012

What a year for Volkswagen! Volkswagen sold 438,133 vehicles in the US up 113,732 units or 35% over 2011. This is a huge accomplishment and statement that VW will achieve their Mach 18 Plan that would make them the largest automobile manufacturer in the world. Many people and especially the American automotive press laughed at VW when they announced their Mach 18 plan or 10 year plan in 2008. That coupled with a recession made the plan for VW to sell 800,000 vehicles in the US in 2018 seem like a dream not a goal to increase sales 3+ times with no foreseen industry sales increases. In other words they claimed they would triple their market share in 10 years.

Well VW is on its way towards their plan and has achieved two major milestones in 2012. One, being this incredible and industry leading sales growth. The other is delivering 117,023 Passats in its first full year since the localization of the model. This proves that VW can succeed just as the Japanese, Koreans, and even other Germans by localizing production in the US and tailoring products to the US market. Look towards another strong year from VW in 2013 as they continue to steal market share from the bland Japanese and not so hip anymore Korean brands.