Volkswagen, the World's 3rd Largest Automobile Maker
Volkswagen, the World's 3rd Largest Automobile Maker
Volkswagen, the World's 3rd Largest Automobile Maker
The world's 3rd largest automotive manufacturer Volkswagen has disclosed plans to become the world's largest car maker by 2018. Judging from its history over the last decade, the German automaker just might reach that even earlier.
The brand has certainly diversified itself, going beyond the historic and iconic Beetle which by 1972-73 has reached 16 million units worldwide to claim a record production for a single car model in automotive history, surpassing the Ford Model T.
Vehicle parts of the beetle continue to be produced for a model that's already more than half a century old.
But more than that, Volkswagen has diversified itself to include innovative models such as the Passat, the Pollo, the Golf, the Jetta, the Eos and the Scirocco, to mention the more famous models. In 1994, the modern New Beetle came off the production line and while not as affordable as the iconic Beetle, proved to be one of the most popular cars of the 20th century well into the 21st.
It's an entirely new design inside out and shares none of the vehicle parts of its predecessor. In early 2000, it released the Touareg, its first SUV, sharing major vehicle parts with the more upscale Porsche Cayenne.
On a Shopping Binge
The Volkswagen Group has been on a buying spree that included Italy's Lamborghini which also bought the automotive design house Italdesign Giugaro. It now owns the British hallmark car of the royalties, the Bentley as well the revived prestigious Bugatti brand of supercars. It also owns Audi and part of the Porsche Company, to mention the more popular brands. In January this year, Volkswagen purchased nearly 20% of the Suzuki Motor Corporation
Attempting to Penetrate the Luxury Markets
In 2006, Volkswagen came out with an engineering marvel that stunned even Mercedes Benz and other luxury brands with the release of the Volkswagen Phaeton. Despite being critically acclaimed as superior to anything Benz had at that time, the new car model failed to gain market share precisely because the market could not accept a luxury vehicle under the brand image synonymous to a budget Beetle and the rest of its product line. After the fiasco, the company vowed it would return in the luxury car market with a vengeance. It bought the luxury brand Bentley.
Attempting to Become a Supercar
Volkswagen again attempted to penetrate the exotic world of supercars to compete with the likes of Lamborghini and Ferrari when it showcased the Nardo in 1997 under the main Volkswagen passenger car division. Using the world's first 12-cynlinder W12 engine, the Nardo concept car become the world's fastest concept car at 217 mph that set seven 24-hour world land speed records. Again, just like its failed bid to enter the luxury brand with the Phaeton, the world was not prepared to accept the brand as a supercar and the Nardo never got into production. The engine and major vehicle parts would soon be revived in the Bugatti Veyron.
But just as it avenged itself with the purchase of the Bentley, Volkswagen tenaciously held on to its plan to have a car in the exotic sports category. It purchased Lamborghini and the Bugatti brands. Since then, many of its brands started sharing engines and various vehicle parts to attain better economies of scale. The engine and some major vehicle parts on the Lamborghini Gallardo, for instance, can also be found in the Audi R8 sports car including the chassis.
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