Volkswagen Announces New CEO and Gives Dealers First Look at New New Chattanooga Assembly Plant
Volkswagen of America, Inc. is meeting with its 582 U.S. and 130 Canadian dealers to prepare them for what is certain to be a busy year ahead. The meeting, which takes place in Atlanta, will include a welcome address by Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management, Volkswagen AG, as well as a drive of more than 700 all-new 2011 Volkswagen Jetta vehicles to the company's brand-new assembly facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This will be the dealers' first opportunity to drive the all-new Jetta, which will arrive in showrooms beginning today. The 2011 Jetta delivers sophisticated style, precision German engineering and Carefree Maintenance, all at an extremely accessible starting price of around $16,000.
"We have a clear vision: to take the Volkswagen Group to the top of the auto industry by 2018," said Prof. Dr. Winterkorn. "In terms of sales and profit; but also when it comes to the best team, best quality and best customer satisfaction. Size is not the essence for us, and size is not an end in itself, our focus is on quality growth."
As part of the meeting, dealers will view some of the company's most exciting new vehicles, including the Golf Blue e-Motion, which is completely new and designed from the ground up as an electric vehicle. The Golf Blue e-Motion will have a range of 100 miles and is expected to be in market by 2013.
"Volkswagen dealers are the lynch-pin for our strategy to grow the business here in America," said Jonathan Browning, President, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "I'm looking forward to meeting with our dealers and sharing a preview of Volkswagen's incredible new products, along with providing a first look at our new assembly facility in Chattanooga."
"I'm eager to show our dealer family the plant we are building here in Chattanooga," said Frank Fischer, Chairman and CEO of Volkwagen's Chattanooga Operations. "Our factory design is innovative, our plant is environmentally friendly and our workforce is producing a high-quality car that is designed with the North American driver in mind. I am sure their visit to the plant will convince dealers that the plant is here and the NMS is real," Fischer said.
Volkswagen's new assembly plant in Chattanooga opens next year and represents a $1 billion investment by the company in the United States. The plant will build Volkswagen's new midsize sedan (NMS). The facility is creating thousands of new jobs and is a key to Volkswagen's growth plan in the U.S.
"The state of Tennessee is pleased to welcome Volkswagen dealers to our state and to showcase the world-class Chattanooga facilities Volkswagen has built in record time," said Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen. "Volkswagen is an incredible partner, a world-class employer for the state of Tennessee and we look forward to world-class vehicles rolling off the assembly line in Chattanooga."
"As a state with a longstanding and dynamic automotive sector, we welcome Volkswagen's dealers," said Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue. "Our state has a long history of hosting events that keep Georgia on the mind of the participants long after they leave."
In addition to opening the Chattanooga plant in 2011, Volkswagen of America will introduce four all-new or refreshed models – NMS, Beetle, Tiguan and Eos. These vehicles join the 2010 launch of the all-new Jetta and new Touareg. Each of these vehicles is critical to achieving Volkswagen Group's target of selling one million vehicles annually in the US by 2018 (Volkswagen: 800,000; Audi: 200,000).
The Volkswagen brand grew deliveries by more than 21 percent in the first half of 2010 and continues to expand its market share (2.3 percent vs. 2.0 percent last year). As new products are introduced, the company and its dealers see tremendous opportunity to continually increase volumes and market share in the U.S.
Volkswagen of America and its network of 582 dealers are working together to significantly improve the company's quality and customer satisfaction. In fact, 40 dealers are investing approximately 200 million dollars in expanding their business. At the same time, Volkswagen is aiming to open new dealers in key growth areas throughout the U.S.
New CEO announced
Volkswagen Group of America announced today that Jonathan Browning, 51, has been named President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America effective October 1, 2010. He is currently responsible for the global directing of the Volkswagen Group’s National Sales Companies (NSC).
“Volkswagen will play an even stronger role in the important U.S. market going forward, said Christian Klingler, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG for Sales. “Jonathan Browning is an acknowledged expert on this market, its customers and its sales structures.”
Jonathan Browning succeeds Stefan Jacoby, who has left the company. Browning has held numerous executive sales and marketing posts worldwide at General Motors (GM) and Ford Motor Company. He was vice president of European sales, service and marketing at the GM Group from 2001 to 2008, and simultaneously chairman of Vauxhall Motors from 2006 to 2008, becoming GM vice president of global sales, service and marketing in 2008. Browning worked for the Ford Group from 1997 to 2001, first as executive director of marketing for Ford Europe and then as the global managing director of Jaguar. He moved to the Volkswagen Group in June 2010.
“The U.S. will always be one of the largest and most important markets for automobiles,” said Klingler, adding that this affords the Volkswagen Group significant growth opportunities. Klingler also reiterated the target to sell 200,000 Audi brand models and 800,000 Volkswagen brand models in 2018. “Volkswagen and Audi will become leading brands in the U.S.”
Volkswagen Group is investing one billion dollars in the new Chattanooga plant, will be launching a unique marketing offensive in the U.S. and recently celebrated the world premier of the Jetta in New York’s Times Square. According to Klingler: “The Group’s board and top management fully support this market and its customers.”
"We have a clear vision: to take the Volkswagen Group to the top of the auto industry by 2018," said Prof. Dr. Winterkorn. "In terms of sales and profit; but also when it comes to the best team, best quality and best customer satisfaction. Size is not the essence for us, and size is not an end in itself, our focus is on quality growth."
As part of the meeting, dealers will view some of the company's most exciting new vehicles, including the Golf Blue e-Motion, which is completely new and designed from the ground up as an electric vehicle. The Golf Blue e-Motion will have a range of 100 miles and is expected to be in market by 2013.
"Volkswagen dealers are the lynch-pin for our strategy to grow the business here in America," said Jonathan Browning, President, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "I'm looking forward to meeting with our dealers and sharing a preview of Volkswagen's incredible new products, along with providing a first look at our new assembly facility in Chattanooga."
"I'm eager to show our dealer family the plant we are building here in Chattanooga," said Frank Fischer, Chairman and CEO of Volkwagen's Chattanooga Operations. "Our factory design is innovative, our plant is environmentally friendly and our workforce is producing a high-quality car that is designed with the North American driver in mind. I am sure their visit to the plant will convince dealers that the plant is here and the NMS is real," Fischer said.
Volkswagen's new assembly plant in Chattanooga opens next year and represents a $1 billion investment by the company in the United States. The plant will build Volkswagen's new midsize sedan (NMS). The facility is creating thousands of new jobs and is a key to Volkswagen's growth plan in the U.S.
"The state of Tennessee is pleased to welcome Volkswagen dealers to our state and to showcase the world-class Chattanooga facilities Volkswagen has built in record time," said Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen. "Volkswagen is an incredible partner, a world-class employer for the state of Tennessee and we look forward to world-class vehicles rolling off the assembly line in Chattanooga."
"As a state with a longstanding and dynamic automotive sector, we welcome Volkswagen's dealers," said Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue. "Our state has a long history of hosting events that keep Georgia on the mind of the participants long after they leave."
In addition to opening the Chattanooga plant in 2011, Volkswagen of America will introduce four all-new or refreshed models – NMS, Beetle, Tiguan and Eos. These vehicles join the 2010 launch of the all-new Jetta and new Touareg. Each of these vehicles is critical to achieving Volkswagen Group's target of selling one million vehicles annually in the US by 2018 (Volkswagen: 800,000; Audi: 200,000).
The Volkswagen brand grew deliveries by more than 21 percent in the first half of 2010 and continues to expand its market share (2.3 percent vs. 2.0 percent last year). As new products are introduced, the company and its dealers see tremendous opportunity to continually increase volumes and market share in the U.S.
Volkswagen of America and its network of 582 dealers are working together to significantly improve the company's quality and customer satisfaction. In fact, 40 dealers are investing approximately 200 million dollars in expanding their business. At the same time, Volkswagen is aiming to open new dealers in key growth areas throughout the U.S.
Volkswagen Group of America announced today that Jonathan Browning, 51, has been named President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America effective October 1, 2010. He is currently responsible for the global directing of the Volkswagen Group’s National Sales Companies (NSC).
“Volkswagen will play an even stronger role in the important U.S. market going forward, said Christian Klingler, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG for Sales. “Jonathan Browning is an acknowledged expert on this market, its customers and its sales structures.”
Jonathan Browning succeeds Stefan Jacoby, who has left the company. Browning has held numerous executive sales and marketing posts worldwide at General Motors (GM) and Ford Motor Company. He was vice president of European sales, service and marketing at the GM Group from 2001 to 2008, and simultaneously chairman of Vauxhall Motors from 2006 to 2008, becoming GM vice president of global sales, service and marketing in 2008. Browning worked for the Ford Group from 1997 to 2001, first as executive director of marketing for Ford Europe and then as the global managing director of Jaguar. He moved to the Volkswagen Group in June 2010.
“The U.S. will always be one of the largest and most important markets for automobiles,” said Klingler, adding that this affords the Volkswagen Group significant growth opportunities. Klingler also reiterated the target to sell 200,000 Audi brand models and 800,000 Volkswagen brand models in 2018. “Volkswagen and Audi will become leading brands in the U.S.”
Volkswagen Group is investing one billion dollars in the new Chattanooga plant, will be launching a unique marketing offensive in the U.S. and recently celebrated the world premier of the Jetta in New York’s Times Square. According to Klingler: “The Group’s board and top management fully support this market and its customers.”
Related Stories
09/22/2010 01:27 PM: Volkswagen Group Expands North American Investment With New Engine Plant by TimothyTThe Volkswagen Group announced today that it will build a new engine plant in Silao, Mexico as part of its long-term expansion strategy in North America. Beginning in 2013, the new plant in Silao will...
09/13/2010 11:10 AM: Jonathan Browning Named President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America by TimothyT
Volkswagen Group of America announced today that Jonathan Browning, 51, has been named President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America effective October 1, 2010. He is currently responsible for the g...
09/01/2010 04:05 PM: Volkswagen Touareg R Rendered; Will Use Diesel V8, Likely Hit U.S. by 2012 by TimothyT
http://blog.caranddriver.com/volkswagen-touareg-r-rendered-will-use-diesel-v8-likely-hit-u-s-by-2012/...
08/31/2010 10:33 AM: 2011 Volkswagen Passat major facelift leaks again by TimothyT
A new alleged photo of the 2011 Volkswagen Passat has surfaced on the website of Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet. The paper has sourced the photo directly to VW, handed to the paper by a distributor i...
08/26/2010 12:54 PM: Spy Photos: Volkswagen Up! Prototypes Spied in Death Valley by TimothyT
The first prototypes of the Volkswagen Up! minicar have arrived in Death Valley today. Although they're draped in some pretty heavy camouflage, it's clear that the production Up! will be very simila...
