VW #1

At least that’s what they want to achieve in 10 years time.

Michael Kern, Volkswagen head of sales and marketing, says that the company aims to become the largest manufacturer in the world, both in sales and profitability, by 2015, taking the lead from current champion Toyota.

VW is currently selling six million cars annually, three million less than the top manufacturers.

How is Volkswagen planning to do this?

• They plan to add twelve new models in the following three years, a very ambitious number
• They will expand their presence in the United States, Russia, India and other markets, where they are currently not so strong.

The opportunity may come from the small car side. Sales of compacts are taking off not only in India, China and similar emerging markets where the middle class is growing fast, but also in mature markets that are more and more worried about the environment, such as Europe.

Here’s a photo of the VW up! presented in Frankfurt…

Tags: VW, Volkswagen, up!, VW up!, automotive, auto industry, automotive industry, Michael Kern

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