VW to Kill Passat in the US When New Sedan Arrives

Volkswagen will most likely discontinue the Passat sedan and wagon in the United States when the company debuts the new mid-size sedan in 2011. The new model will be larger than the Passat but will be sold with a lower price tag, autoweek.com wrote today. It will be produced in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the new factory that is projected to begin operations in 2011.

Nevertheless, Volkswagen will continue to sell the Passat in Europe and a new version is expected to be released sometime around 2011. In the United States, Volkswagen' Passat is priced at $27,665 for the sedan and at $29,095 for the wagon version. The aforementioned source claims the upcoming sedan will be offered with a price tag of around $20,000.

"The United States is one of the most important markets of the future for the Volkswagen Group. Our goal is to participate in the anticipated recovery on the US auto market and to achieve significant growth," Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann, Member of the Board of Volkswagen AG with responsibility for 'Group Production', explained.

Volkswagen will continue to sell the CC sedan, marketed in Europe as Passat CC, in the United States, with the 2010 edition priced at $28,300.

"The Volkswagen brand can look back on a long tradition in the USA. The beginning of construction work on our new plant in Chattanooga marks a new chapter in our joint history," Chattanooga Plant Manager Frank Fischer said. "We believe in our lasting success on the American market. Our strong products and a great team are the best arguments."