Volkswagen, under Pischetsrieder and Bernhard's leadership, has woken up to the realization that it shouldn't be playing in the
premier league, a sector that its Audi brand still struggles to compete in. Rather than introduce its previously announced BMW 5-Series/M-B E-Class competitor to a disinterested public, and incur more humiliation and further losses, Bernhard plans to introduce between five and ten new models over the next five years, or so he said at a news conference during the Frankfurt auto show on Monday. Although he couldn't be vaguer about how many vehicles his company would introduce over this time period, at least Bernhard was clear on the trajectory his company needs to target and, as importantly, realizes the automotive press and potential Volkswagen customers that regularly tune in needed to hear that someone at the helm is finally talking sense.
Bernhard said that the five to ten new vehicles wouldn't be replacements for
existing Volkswagen models, but instead would be all-new products targeting VW's traditional customer base, with "good value and quality engineering" being the prime directive.
"Volkswagen will grow strong," commented Bernhard during his introduction of the Eos retractable hardtop. "We know where our roots like, in the heart of the value segment. High quality and good value are the keys to doing that."
Bernhard pointed to the new Eos, a four-seat convertible that goes on sale in Europe early next spring and throughout North America in May, as an example of VW's value oriented quality.
The Eos is to have a base price of 25,950 euros, which equals approximately $31,900 USD at current exchange rates.
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| Volkswagen, under Pischetsrieder and Bernhard's leadership, has woken up to the realization that it shouldn't be playing in the premier league, a sector that its Phaeton luxury sedan struggles to compete in. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
Bernhard said that the five to ten new vehicles wouldn't be replacements for
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| Bernhard said that the five to ten new vehicles wouldn't be replacements for existing Volkswagen models, but instead would be all-new products targeting VW's traditional customer base, like the Eos he was introducing in Frankfurt, with "good value and quality engineering" being the prime directive. (Photo: Volkswagen Canada) |
"Volkswagen will grow strong," commented Bernhard during his introduction of the Eos retractable hardtop. "We know where our roots like, in the heart of the value segment. High quality and good value are the keys to doing that."
Bernhard pointed to the new Eos, a four-seat convertible that goes on sale in Europe early next spring and throughout North America in May, as an example of VW's value oriented quality.
The Eos is to have a base price of 25,950 euros, which equals approximately $31,900 USD at current exchange rates.