A news report from German weekly business magazine WirtschaftsWoche said the German automaker wants to produce its Tiguan compact SUV in North America in order to reduce costs and protect itself against fluctuation of exchange rates, citing some insider management sources with the company. However, it’s all rumors and speculation at the moment, as Das Auto reportedly declined to comment on the report.
For now, the refreshed Tiguan arrives Stateside as a direct import from Germany, where it is produced at Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg plant. The German automaker recently opened its first facility in the United States in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The $1 billion factory assembles the North American market 2012 Passat and has an annual capacity of up to 150,000 vehicles. The Tiguan is popular enough to justify the move.
VW makes two more vehicles in North America - the Jetta and the Beetle - both of which are put together in Mexico. The German magazine said that it has not been established if the Tiguan will be assembled in the US or Mexico.
Volkswagen delivered some 1.2 million cars in the first quarter of this year, of which 106,300 arrived in North America, a 15.2 increase over the same period of last year.
The Tiguan was first introduced four years ago, and a total of about 700,000 units have already been sold. The facelifted 2012 model year brings a Tuareg-like front end, more efficient engines and new assistance systems like Fatigue Detection and Light Assist.
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