In an interview with Reuters, VW executives have confirmed that the Jetta Wagon will once again be produced.
The puzzling thing is that they don't know when. Best estimates have suggested a late 2006 build with models arriving in showrooms in early 2007. Or it's possible, said the report, that the car might not arrive until 2008. That's a long way off for a vehicle that holds high market appeal, and an important, and possibly critical position in VW's roster.
What's holding up production? Most German manufacturers are usually fast to market with five-door variants of four-door models. Look no further for examples from BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. A rival positioned closer to Volkswagen in target demographic, Volvo, brought its V50 wagon out simultaneously with its redesigned S40 sedan last year, and Japanese competitor Mazda, most capable of wooing customers away from Volkswagen due to its sporting DNA, brought a five-door version of its new 3 to market at the same time
as its four-door sedan, and followed up with a Mazda6 sport wagon soon after its award-winning sedan shook up the midsize segment.
VW is usually quicker to market with such models, such as with its new Passat Wagon that will be available in calendar year 2006, but there are some extenuating circumstances for the Jetta Wagon's lethargy to market. For one, the lone source for Jettas is the Pueblo plant, in Mexico. European Golfs with trunks, namely Bora, Vento and Jetta models, were previously all built in Wolfsburg alongside the European-model Golfs; however, due to slow demand an executive decision was made to build all Jettas in North America. It's a similar move to what VW did with the New Beetle.
With the ability to produce some 2,000 units per day, the Pueblo manufacturing facility is one of the largest vehicle plants in North America. And while VW will be increasing production capacity, part of the blame for the wagon's late arrival rests on the fact that it must retool for the launch of the fifth generation Golf and GTI, as well as the facelifted 2006 New Beetle.
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| VW executives have confirmed that the Jetta Wagon will once again be produced. (Photo: Artist's Rendering) |
What's holding up production? Most German manufacturers are usually fast to market with five-door variants of four-door models. Look no further for examples from BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. A rival positioned closer to Volkswagen in target demographic, Volvo, brought its V50 wagon out simultaneously with its redesigned S40 sedan last year, and Japanese competitor Mazda, most capable of wooing customers away from Volkswagen due to its sporting DNA, brought a five-door version of its new 3 to market at the same time
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| Although the current Jetta Wagon is very popular, the wait for a next-generation model will be long. (photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
VW is usually quicker to market with such models, such as with its new Passat Wagon that will be available in calendar year 2006, but there are some extenuating circumstances for the Jetta Wagon's lethargy to market. For one, the lone source for Jettas is the Pueblo plant, in Mexico. European Golfs with trunks, namely Bora, Vento and Jetta models, were previously all built in Wolfsburg alongside the European-model Golfs; however, due to slow demand an executive decision was made to build all Jettas in North America. It's a similar move to what VW did with the New Beetle.
With the ability to produce some 2,000 units per day, the Pueblo manufacturing facility is one of the largest vehicle plants in North America. And while VW will be increasing production capacity, part of the blame for the wagon's late arrival rests on the fact that it must retool for the launch of the fifth generation Golf and GTI, as well as the facelifted 2006 New Beetle.