October 2016: Volkswagen of America

[William Maley]

Volkswagen of America Reports October 2016 Sales Results

Nov 1, 2016

• October sales totaled 24,779 units
• Golf SportWagen sales (which includes all-new Alltrack) increase 60.3% over October 2015

Herndon, VA — (November 1, 2016) Volkswagen of America, Inc. (VWoA) today reported sales of 24,779 units delivered in October 2016. Sales of the Golf SportWagen, which include the all-new Alltrack, increased by 60.3% over October 2015. On October 27, Volkswagen of America revealed the Atlas SUV which will hit showrooms in the spring of 2017.

October 2016 Sales

	October 16	October 15	Yr/Yr% change	October 16  YTD	October 15 YTD	Yr/Yr% change
Golf	1,005	1,099	-8.6%	10,554	17,292	-39.0%
GTI	1,754	2,520	-30.4%	18,941	19,337	-2.0%
Golf R	395	518	-23.7%	3,498	3,219	8.7%
e-Golf	407	596	-31.7%	3,189	3,151	1.2%
Golf SportWagen	1,576	983	60.3%	10,053	12,484	-19.5%
Total Golf Family	5,137	5,716	-10.1%	46,235	55,483	-16.7%
Jetta Sedan	8,068	8,551	-5.6%	97,811	103,344	-5.4%
Jetta SportWagen        (now Golf SportWagen)	n/a	n/a	n/a	5	2,670	-99.8%
Total Jetta	8,068	8,549	-5.6%	97,816	106,014	-7.7%
Beetle Coupe	984	760	29.5%	7,823	11,496	-32.0%
Beetle Convertible	523	519	0.8%	4,845	8,849	-45.2%
Total Beetle	1,507	1,279	17.8%	12,668	20,345	-37.7%
Eos*	n/a	394	-100.0%	387	2,550	-84.8%
Passat	6,234	8,116	-23.2%	59,320	71,852	-17.4%
CC	240	678	-64.6%	2,595	5,168	-49.8%
Tiguan	3,322	4,815	-31.0%	33,547	27,036	24.1%
Touareg	271	840	-67.7%	3,479	6,154	-43.5%
TOTAL	24,779	30,387	-18.46%	256,047	294,602	-13.09%

*Eos production ended in July 2015

[A Horse With No Name]

They are bleeding and need to stop the bleeding.  The Golf is not selling well, and the Beetle si a dead vehicle rolling. .

[Stew]

I have read 17 is the last year fr the beetle, even though they did a bit of an update for 17.  they killed a few models and the 2.0T is only available in R-Line SEL which starts at 33k!  They also killed some of the better Jetta and Passat models too.  this is making no sense to me at all. 

[A Horse With No Name]

22 hours ago, Stew said:

I have read 17 is the last year fr the beetle, even though they did a bit of an update for 17.  they killed a few models and the 2.0T is only available in R-Line SEL which starts at 33k!  They also killed some of the better Jetta and Passat models too.  this is making no sense to me at all. 

This is along the lines of my comments in the Ford thread about the importance of corporate culture. VW is almost incapable of acting rationally on their own behalf. It makes no sense to me at all either.

[Stew]

On 11/5/2016 at 10:12 AM, A Horse With No Name said:

This is along the lines of my comments in the Ford thread about the importance of corporate culture. VW is almost incapable of acting rationally on their own behalf. It makes no sense to me at all either.

Agreed.  They could really pick up sales just by putting value into their brand.  i think it is ridiculous that for 17 to get a Jetta with the 1.8T you have to get the SEL which  is almost 25 grand!  One of things that made the Jetta so appealing to me was the fact you could get the 1.8T and have a rather quick and efficient little car with not much money.   Then they cut manual transmissions from all Beetle models which frankly sucks, though honestly I am sure that really has little if any sales impact at this point. 

[A Horse With No Name]

5 minutes ago, Stew said:

Agreed.  They could really pick up sales just by putting value into their brand.  i think it is ridiculous that for 17 to get a Jetta with the 1.8T you have to get the SEL which  is almost 25 grand!  One of things that made the Jetta so appealing to me was the fact you could get the 1.8T and have a rather quick and efficient little car with not much money.   Then they cut manual transmissions from all Beetle models which frankly sucks, though honestly I am sure that really has little if any sales impact at this point. 

Considering Beetle sales are so far in the toilet, like about very other passenger car, yeah, probably makes near zero impact.

I love the Jetta sizing, packaging, and styling, but again vW is highly irrational here. Since the MK 6 Jetta came out, we have had...

2.0 Two point slow, non turbo 2.0 from the nineties...

 

1.4T

1.8T

2.0 Turbo in the GLI

2.5 5 cyl

Hybrid, that sold like a turd in a punch bowl....

MK 1 EA 189 Diesel

MK 3 EA 288 Diesel (my car)

Various 5 and 6 speed manuals, various five and 6 speed automatics, several variations of the DSG with multiple tuning patterns, dependent on GLI or TDI for the DSG

Meanwhile Toyota sold the lions share of the Camry's with the same 4 cyl and autotrajic combo. The variety from VW would be nice if they got a single one of these right and didn't have egg on their face from virtually every combination listed.

 

 

...not to mention that VW still has not figured out a competent way to build a motor with a timing chain.  Timing chains and VW's go together like Clinton and Emails or Trump and Twitter.

[Stew]

Like FCA some proactive marketing would be nice.  The only thing I have seen VW advertising is the Golf Alltrack, like it's the only thing they sell. 

[A Horse With No Name]

15 minutes ago, Stew said:

Like FCA some proactive marketing would be nice.  The only thing I have seen VW advertising is the Golf Alltrack, like it's the only thing they sell. 

It is the only passenger car selling at any kind of a margin as near as I can tell. VW is moving iron, but at fire sale prices.

[ccap41]

1 hour ago, Stew said:

Like FCA some proactive marketing would be nice.  The only thing I have seen VW advertising is the Golf Alltrack, like it's the only thing they sell. 

Same here. It was the golf/GTI not too long ago though..

[Stew]

There are lots of automakers I think could increase sales just b marketing their cars. 

[A Horse With No Name]

35 minutes ago, Stew said:

There are lots of automakers I think could increase sales just b marketing their cars. 

It has become tougher I think to promote them as print and TV advertising is often ineffective.

Targeted internet advertising is a real art.