Even with the negative publicity caused by the so-called Dieselgate, even with labor issues in factories like the Portuguese Autoeuropa, nothing seems to stop Volkswagen! To demonstrate this, the overthrow of yet another record, in production, with reaching the milestone of six million units produced, in a single year! It is, effectively, work.
The announcement was made by the car manufacturer itself, explaining that the brand should be reached by the end of 2017, that is, until midnight on Sunday.
As for the responsibility for this achievement, Volkswagen attributes it not so much to the new models launched in the meantime, as is the case of the “Portuguese” T-Roc or the “American” Tiguan Allspace and Atlas, but, more and mainly, to those that are the its nuclear models – the Polo, the Golf, the Jetta and the Passat. Basically, the "four musketeers" that achieved the best results for the brand, in 2017. And to which there is also the Santana, a model aimed at the Chinese market, where it is offered in several versions.
Six million… to repeat?
Moreover, with more models on the way, including the small crossover T-Cross, a new flagship that will occupy the space left vacant with the disappearance of the Phaeton, as well as a whole new electrical family originating from the ID prototypes, everything indicates that the overthrow of this landmark — six million vehicles produced — will not be a unique event.
However, in a statement, Volkswagen also recalls that there are already more than 150 million cars produced with the double V emblem, since the original Beetle left the assembly line, in 1972. Today, the company assembles more than 60 models, in more than 50 factories, spread across a total of 14 countries.
Future will be crossover and electric
As for the future, Volkswagen anticipates, from now on, not only the renewal, but also the growth, of the current range. With the bet going, in particular, for SUVs, a segment in which the German brand expects to offer, as early as 2020, a total of 19 proposals. And that, if that happens, it will raise to 40% the weight of this type of vehicle, in the manufacturer's offer.
On the other hand, alongside the crossovers, the new zero-emissions family will also appear, starting with a hatchback (I.D.), a crossover (I.D. Crozz) and an MPV/commercial van (I.D. Buzz). The objective of those responsible for Volkswagen is to guarantee no less than one million vehicles without a combustion engine on the roads, by the middle of the next decade.
Indeed, it is work!…