Volkswagen removes the Passat from the US market
- Volkswagen has decided to end the commercial career of the Passat sedan manufactured since 2011 at the Chattanooga (Tennessee) site, which was specially designed for the American market.
- This D-segment model, which had enjoyed relative success in this market during the first years of its career, reaching 157,000 sales in 2011 and 177,000 sales in 2012, saw its influence shrink sharply and rapidly over the following years. Its sales fell to less than 100,000 units in 2015 and less than 10,000 units in 2020. The automaker's goal was to shift North American customers from the Jetta (C-segment sedan) to the Passat, the Jetta enjoyed good success between 2005 and 2012, with sales in North America ranging between 250,000 units in 2005 and 400,000 units in 2012.
- This strategy did not materialize, firstly because of Dieselgate, a scandal that affected the Volkswagen group concerning its diesel engines, and secondly because of the declining influence of sedans in the face of SUVs in the North American market. The second generation of the American Passat did not bring anything to any revival of its career.
- Even American sedans (C, D and E segments) have been devastated by the strong demand for SUVs and the only sedans that have managed to partially resist in this market have been Japanese and Korean sedans. European sedans have suffered a lot, especially those of the Volkswagen brand which had to completely revise its strategy by launching SUVs in different segments, such as the Taos, Tiguan and Atlas which ended the career of the Golf, Beetle and now Passat.
Contact us: info@inovev.com