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March VW Sales

2 April 1998

Volkswagen Reports March Sales - Best in 10 Years

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 2 -- With sales of 16,765,
Volkswagen of America, Inc. reported its best March sales results since 1988.
This figure represents a 43.7 percent increase over last year's March figure
of 11,669.
    For the year, Volkswagen is well ahead of last year's pace.  Year-to-date,
Volkswagen has sold 39,566 new cars, up 34.0 percent over the same period in
1997 when sales were 29,526.
    March also represented the first month of market availability for the New
Beetle, with a limited initial launch volume having reached most Volkswagen
dealerships in the U.S. by month's end.
    "We are obviously very pleased with the March results," said Clive
Warrilow, President and CEO, Volkswagen of America.  "As we promised, this
month marked the initial launch of the New Beetle.  With a short national
selling period during the last two weeks in March, we sold 2,365 New Beetles
with limited national availability.  Consumer reaction so far has been
tremendous."
    Also notable among Volkswagen's March results were brisk sales of its
newly redesigned Passat, which enjoyed its best monthly sales results ever
recorded with 3,198 units.
    Volkswagen sales were again led by its popular Jetta model with sales of
7,786, an increase of 3.6 percent over last year's 7,514.  Volkswagen's
popular Cabrio recorded sales of 1,600, an increase of 92.8 percent over last
year's 830.

SOURCE  Volkswagen of America, Inc.