VW to Increase U.S. Dealer Network in order to Meet Sales Target

Jonathan Browning, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, told reporters in Los Angeles Auto Show that the company would have added significantly to the network of dealers in the United States in the coming years, if you want to achieve sales targets.

VW existing network of the United States consists of approximately 600 dealers. Browning expects the number will remain stable for the next three to four years, but states that from this point on it will increase significantly.

"In 2014/15 we will have more distributors in the United States to achieve long-term objectives," said Browning Automotive News.

The German manufacturer aims to nearly triple its U.S. sales over the next seven years, from 256,830 units in 2010 and estimates of 300,000 cars Browning in 2011 to about 800,000 in 2018.

Browning also expects sales of VW in the U.S. market to record a "double digit" growth in 2012, without giving an exact figure. He added that for the first time since 2003, the U.S. division Volkswagen will make a profit at the end of 2011.

 

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Fisker Karma Says That To Reach Its Sales Target In 2011, Boosting Production Of $ 50 000 Nina In Mid-2013

Just yesterday, has sold the first copy of the Fisker Karma hybrid sedan has extended its having received the necessary certification, EPA - mpg even if the numbers were not exactly what the company hoped to ...

Despite the delay, Henrik Fisker, CEO and co-founder, insists that the Karma will reach its sales target for 2011, which is somewhat optimistic 7,000 units.

"Analysts are watching a different perspective," he said, rejecting reports that Karma is not given a promise. "We have already challenged the analysts a couple of times. We have. We have to produce cars."

But it's not so good karma (pun intended) who made delay the timetable for the Fisker sedan and not the original targets seem to have an impact on its second model line.

Fisker has already signed an agreement with BMW to the German 2.0-liter TwinPower compressor engines for the project Nina, which is a small hybrid sedan. However, the timing for the launch has been pushed back a year from 2012 to mid 2013th the

While Valmet in Finland Karma base, Nina will be built in Delaware, USA. And while Fisker employs only 120 people, the new ex-GM plant in Delaware has about 2,500 employees.

The reason is that Nina has a volume of much higher production of 100,000 cars a year. If it's a realistic goal remains to be seen. So far, Henrik Fisker Hybrid made its first major profile in the market and began to fill 3,000 orders for the company says it is karma.

Story Sources: Delaware Online

 

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VW Group Sales Exceeding Six Million In The First Nine Months Of The Year

The Volkswagen Group defies the economic crisis and preparing to move to a new level of sales this year. For the first time in its history, the German automaker has sold 6,110,000 vehicles (5.36 million excluding the Scania truck division) in the first nine months of the year, marking an increase of 13, 9 percent during the same period 2010.

"We are very pleased with the Group's development. Provide six million vehicles in nine months is a key step towards achieving our annual target of eight million vehicles sold in 2011," the group said Council member Christian Klingler Sales .

"We also expect good power numbers for the fourth quarter. We continue to keep a watchful eye on developments in global auto markets, some of which are very volatile," said Klingler.

At the regional level, the VW Group has seen sales increase in January-September 2011 17.3 per cent to 1.92 million in Asia / Pacific market, 21.4% and 485,400 units in North America, 9.5 %, and 700 900 vehicles in South America and 10.8% of 2.77 million copies in Europe.

Its home market of Germany, the VW Group shipments grew 12.3 percent to 864 400 units.

Overall, the Volkswagen brand sold in 3810000 (12.3 percent) of the vehicle during the period, Audi delivered 973 200 units (17.4 percent); Skoda 664 800 vehicles (16.8 percent), and Seat 266 800 units (3.1 percent) and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles 389 900 (25.5 percent).

 

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Take The Chevrolet 100 Years, Aims To Celebrate The New Sales Record This Year

Industrial and William C. In Swiss-born racecar driver Louis Chevrolet was founded Chevrolet in 1911, built their first automobile in a rented garage in Detroit. A hundred years and 209 million vehicles, Chevrolet is present in over 140 countries.

While in past decades, the Chevrolet has been mostly limited to the American continent, is now a global brand, sold in over 60% of its total production outside the U.S.

In 2010, Chevrolet had its best year ever with sales of 4.26 million - a record that is intended to break this year, sets the tone to mark the anniversary celebrations.

"Like many of the strongest global brands, Chevrolet was founded in the American values ​​that are admired around the world," said the vice president of worldwide marketing and strategy Chris Perry.

"Our goal is to build on the foundations laid in our first hundred years instead of birth of the brand in cities around the world," he said. "Chevrolet is launching its second century with the best range of products and still strong growth in key markets in Asia, Europe and South America."

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Fiat May Miss 500’s North America Sales Target in 2011 Due to Delays in Store Openings

Fiat’s 500 sales in North America will likely fall short of the initial target of 50,000 units in 2011, because of the delays in opening new stores. Currently, the brand has opened 100 out of the 130 stores planned for the US this year.

The Italian company chose to open new stores instead of using the existing Chrysler dealer network, in order to differentiate its niche product. However, the original plan, which called for most delaers to be operational by February, failed since at that time only about a dozen were ready.

This, according to Laura Soave, head of the Fiat brand in North America, was due to the dealers waiting longer than anticipated for the government permits. Soave admits that “We lost the whole first quarter”.

"We have coverage now, so it is time for us to turn this up. We ‘ve already activated the smaller guerilla-type marketing, but there are bigger events that will get us bigger awareness," Soave added.

Since the 500 went on sale in North America it has proven to be a hit: 7,982 units were sold in the US so far, with 3,038 delivered in July alone. Canada is also a successful market for the stylish Italian city car, with 3,064 sales from March until July.

Fiat intends to make up for the lost time with no less than 500 (!) marketing efforts, ranging from placing 36 cars in Times Square and inviting people to watch movies in the jumbotron, to launching a new iPad application.

Story sources: Bloomberg News

 

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