Volkswagen Beetle Wallpapers
Volkswagen Beetle Photos
Jonathan Browning, president and CEO of Volkswagen America, said the German automaker is already making progress on its goal of expanding its market share in the U.S. and becoming the world's largest automaker.
In 2010, sales of the company's Jetta increased 8% and the car is gaining customers from Ford, Honda, Nissan and Toyota, Browning said. This year, the company will begin producing its 2012 Passat at its new plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. and also will introduce a redesigned version of its Beetle.
Volkswagen, Browning said, has a 55-year history in the United States and, at one point, both the Beetle and its Microbus were cultural icons.
"Somewhere along the way, we lost our bearings," Browning said, as quality declined. "Those days are over. We intend to rebuild our position in the United States."
Browning is working to recast VW's U.S. image from a quirky niche brand to a high-volume competitor to Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Hyundai and Toyota.
"We are already starting to show some results," Browning said.
Volkswagen sold 360,179 cars and trucks in 2010, a 20.9% increase from the prior year -- a gain nearly twice as high as the 11.1% industry sales increase. Volkswagen also is trying to become the world's largest automaker even though it only captured 3.1% of market share in the U.S. last year.
Browning also said Volkswagen remains committed to Southeast Michigan.
Volkswagen recently signed a new 10-year lease on its building in Auburn Hills that will take affect in 2012. The company plans to consolidate its employees at two buildings in Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills into one building where the company will maintain its local employment at about 1,100.
While Volkswagen moved its U.S. corporate headquarters from Auburn Hills to Herndon, Va. In 2007, Southeast Michigan remains the company's second-largest location in the U.S. based on employment.
Read more: Volkswagen CEO looks to recast company's U.S. image | freep.com | Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com/article/20110112/BUSINESS01/110112049/Volkswagen-CEO-looks-to-recast-company-s-U.S.-image#ixzz1B1sinkzB
Volkswagen Beetle Pictures
Volkswagen Beetle wallpapers
Volkswagen Beetle Photos
Volkswagen Beetle
