Volkswagen Reports August 2008 Sales
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Best Jetta month since May 2006
HERNDON, Va., Sept. 3 -- Volkswagen of America, Inc. today announced August 2008 sales of 22,292 units, a 2.9 percent increase over the August 2007 sales of 21,655 vehicles. On a year-to-date basis, 2008 Volkswagen sales are 1.3 percent ahead of 2007 sales through August.
"We're extremely pleased with our August sales results," said Mark Barnes, COO, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "This is a tough economy and for Volkswagen to be ahead of last year's sales is a true testament to the strength of our brand. With our recent launch of all-new 50-state compliant clean diesel Jetta TDI, Jetta SportWagen, Tiguan and our other exciting new product offerings, like the CC and Routan arriving late September, we're looking forward to continued success."
August represents the best Jetta month for Volkswagen since May 2006. With fuel economy becoming a key purchase criterion, consumers are looking at more economical vehicles, which positions Volkswagen very well. Volkswagen's all-new 50-state compliant clean diesel Jetta TDI is selling about as fast as the dealers can get them into their showrooms, with a turn rate of close to 75 percent.
About Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Volkswagen of America, Inc. recently announced Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) as standard equipment on all its 2009 model year vehicles. As a result, Volkswagen is one of the only original equipment manufacturers to offer an electronic stabilization control system on its entire product line -- ahead of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) deadline requiring stabilization systems in the 2012 model year vehicles. Volkswagen's ESP technology works in conjunction with anti-lock brakes and helps reduce loss of control, rollovers and other types of crashes. NHTSA predicts nearly 10,000 lives could be saved each year if all vehicles had stabilization systems as standard equipment.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Rabbit, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, GTI, Jetta, GLI, Passat, Passat wagon, Eos, and Touareg through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at vw.com.
VW-US Snapshot ------ YEAR-TO-DATE ------
August- August- August- August-
08 07 Yr/Yr % 08 YTD 07 YTD Yr/Yr %
Actual Actual change Actual Actual change
New Beetle - Coupe 1,549 1,627 -4.8% 11,296 11,093 1.8%
- Convertible 995 1,330 -25.2% 9,047 9,861 -8.3%
Total New Beetle 2,544 2,957 -14.0% 20,343 20,954 -2.9%
Jetta Sdn 10,350 8,714 18.8% 65,369 66,744 -2.1%
SportWagen 867 - 0.0% 1,481 -
Total Jetta 11,217 8,714 28.7% 66,850 66,744 0.2%
Eos 1,163 1,161 0.2% 10,792 8,975 20.2%
Golf - N/A - 21 -100.0%
Rabbit 1,971 3,074 -35.9% 15,802 17,753 -11.0%
GTI 1,431 1,204 18.9% 9,422 10,206 -7.7%
R32 201 654 -69.3% 2,638 693 280.7%
Total Golf/
Rabbit/GTI/R32 3,603 4,932 27,862 28,673 -2.8%
Passat Sdn 1,719 2,665 -35.5% 19,399 20,770 -6.6%
Wgn 488 527 -7.4% 4,577 4,748 -3.6%
Total Passat 2,207 3,192 -30.9% 23,976 25,518 -6.0%
Phaeton - - N/A - 17 -100.0%
Touareg 527 699 -24.6% 4,835 5,307 -8.9%
Tiguan 1,031 - N/A 3,600 - N/A
TOTAL 22,292 21,655 2.9% 158,258 156,188 1.3%