In Volkswagen's pursuit to once again overtake Toyota and General Motors as the dominant car company worldwide, they have focused on the U.S. car market and 2012 marked yet another successful year for the European giant. Including their luxury brands Audi, Bentley, Bugatti and Lamborghini, Volkswagen's U.S. sales jumped 35 percent in 2012 after selling more than 580,000 units, breaking a 40 year old record for the company's U.S. sales. (Volkswagen also bought Porsche last summer which will further increase their total sales in 2013.)
The main contributor to the increase in U.S. sales for Volkswagen in 2012 was the Passat, the automaker's mid-sized sedan. Passat's sales increased 413 percent year over year, resulting in a new Volkswagen factory built in Chattanooga, Tenn. A spacious, safe sedan, the Passat offers a family superior comfort on the road and has excellent fuel economy, receiving 22 miles per gallon city and 32 highway.
On average, the most popular Volkswagen car in the United States has been the Jetta, a sporty, nimble, fun-to-drive and highly efficient car competing in a tough four-door compact sedan class. The Jetta is not nearly as family friendly as the Passat but offers a great driving experience. Several trim levels are available to fulfill your needs including the Jetta Hybrid. The people at Volkswagen are excited about the hybrid model and driver reviews match this enthusiasm. The Jetta Hybrid receives 45 miles per gallon combined city and highway, with the same handling and driving experience that people have come to love about the Jetta.
Since 2009, Volkswagen has doubled the number of cars sent to the United States thanks to three straight years of double digit sales increases. The Volkswagen Beetle saw a significant increase in sales totaling 29,174 units in 2012 compared to a mere 6,468 in 2011. The more powerful Beetle Convertible is coming off a slick redesign that brought a sense of edginess to the humble car. Its fuel economy improved as well, now receiving 41 miles per gallon highway.
Volkswagen's U.S. comeback is thanks to their refocus in the American market and ability to make alterations for an American appeal. Come visit Burnsville Volkswagen and see for yourself what makes these cars so popular.