USA - VW CrossBlue SUV nears decision on manufacturing
The VW CrossBlue SUV was shown at the 2013 Detroit Motor Show. The CrossBlue is likely to remain specific to the American market for the time being (though Australia is vying for it as well) and VW is still undecided on where to produce it.
Auto News reports that the German giant will make a decision by the end of the year whether to produce the CrossBlue at the Chattanooga facility (where the Passat is being made) or at the Puebla, Mexico facility (which is older than Chattanooga plant).
Frank Fischer, CEO of Volkswagen's Chattanooga Operations, said -
No decision has been made yet. My team is working hard to get this as a second vehicle.
The CrossBlue will be an important model for VW in the USA. The brand sold about 400,000 vehicles in 2012 and aspires to almost double the number by 2018. VW's CEO, Dr. Martin Winterkorn, believes that the brand needs to "take initiative" in the mid-size SUV segment for the American market. He said - "And we [VW] will, I promise you", at a recent American dealers meeting held in Washington DC.
The CrossBlue will be a three-row 7-seater SUV and should be positioned in between the Tiguan and the Touareg. The concept shown was a hybrid with a 190bhp TDI engine and a 9.8 kWh Lithium-ion battery.
[Source - Auto News]