Re: Volkswagen Group: Industry News (haydar)
Weird that Bentley isn't in the sporty group. No surprise on the VW front, though.
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Weird that Bentley isn't in the sporty group. No surprise on the VW front, though.
Volkswagen Group: Industry News
Volkswagen Group: Industry News
23/11/2001
The Volkswagen Group, Europe's largest car manufacturer, is to divide into two different product groups, as predicted here in News 7th November. The division is made between 'sporty' and 'classic', the first division comprising Audi, Lamborghini and Seat, and the second Skoda, Volkswagen, Bentley and Bugatti.
The incoming Chief Executive, Bernd Pischetschrieder, who replaces retiring Ferdinand Piech next spring, has long been rumoured to want to instigate radical reforms in the VW Group, and he is already playing an active role on the VW board.
The past few weeks have seen a few shake-ups at senior level in the VW Group, with the departure of Rolls-Royce & Bentley Chief Executive Tony Gott; it was announced today that Gott is to be replaced by Franz-Josef Paefgen, who has been moved from Audi, and his job at Audi is to be taken by Martin Winterkorn, the current board member for research and development. The new head of Seat will be Audi executive Andreas Schleef, who takes on Pischetschrieder's old position.
The two main brand groups (there will also be a third commercial vehicles division) will be responsible for their own global operations, and maintaining the individual identities of each brand is said to be a priority. This move could arrest further convergence and overlapping between the Audi, Volkswagen, Seat and Skoda mainstream models, which many analysts believe is the result of a platform-sharing strategy that has gone too far.
http://www.4car.co.uk/jsp/main.jsp?lnk=211&id=2981
23/11/2001
The Volkswagen Group, Europe's largest car manufacturer, is to divide into two different product groups, as predicted here in News 7th November. The division is made between 'sporty' and 'classic', the first division comprising Audi, Lamborghini and Seat, and the second Skoda, Volkswagen, Bentley and Bugatti.
The incoming Chief Executive, Bernd Pischetschrieder, who replaces retiring Ferdinand Piech next spring, has long been rumoured to want to instigate radical reforms in the VW Group, and he is already playing an active role on the VW board.
The past few weeks have seen a few shake-ups at senior level in the VW Group, with the departure of Rolls-Royce & Bentley Chief Executive Tony Gott; it was announced today that Gott is to be replaced by Franz-Josef Paefgen, who has been moved from Audi, and his job at Audi is to be taken by Martin Winterkorn, the current board member for research and development. The new head of Seat will be Audi executive Andreas Schleef, who takes on Pischetschrieder's old position.
The two main brand groups (there will also be a third commercial vehicles division) will be responsible for their own global operations, and maintaining the individual identities of each brand is said to be a priority. This move could arrest further convergence and overlapping between the Audi, Volkswagen, Seat and Skoda mainstream models, which many analysts believe is the result of a platform-sharing strategy that has gone too far.
http://www.4car.co.uk/jsp/main.jsp?lnk=211&id=2981
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
Re: Volkswagen Group: Industry News (Rob)
Hmmm...sounds good and sounds bad...
Good: new radical changes (with all of our bit**ing, I'm sure we'll enjoy some stir-ups), new people hence...new ideas, possibly bring SEAT stateside, because VWoA probably needs a VW company which is cheap and sporty (no teen drivers are into audi, lol...unless they got moolah). I had noticed a bit too much platform sharing, which its nice to see is a good cost-cutting tool, but all the cars are lookin' similar, and not enough radical differences between models.
Bad: no sporty vw's..unless pischetsrieder (spell?) gets a sudden whif of conscience and wants to unleash an original GTi formula here stateside (PLEASE)...VW has had a great thing going on (even if not aimed at sport car enthusiasts...) as a company they've been doing great - with so many radical changes we could some foook ups...but lets hope not.
Good and bad...I just want a nice GTi...even if its a SEAT version! CHEAP AND QUICK! not expensive and fast...
Hmm...16V in a Polo? PLEASE.
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Hmmm...sounds good and sounds bad...
Good: new radical changes (with all of our bit**ing, I'm sure we'll enjoy some stir-ups), new people hence...new ideas, possibly bring SEAT stateside, because VWoA probably needs a VW company which is cheap and sporty (no teen drivers are into audi, lol...unless they got moolah). I had noticed a bit too much platform sharing, which its nice to see is a good cost-cutting tool, but all the cars are lookin' similar, and not enough radical differences between models.
Bad: no sporty vw's..unless pischetsrieder (spell?) gets a sudden whif of conscience and wants to unleash an original GTi formula here stateside (PLEASE)...VW has had a great thing going on (even if not aimed at sport car enthusiasts...) as a company they've been doing great - with so many radical changes we could some foook ups...but lets hope not.
Good and bad...I just want a nice GTi...even if its a SEAT version! CHEAP AND QUICK! not expensive and fast...
Hmm...16V in a Polo? PLEASE.
Re: Volkswagen Group: Industry News (Elbows)
SEAT Ibiza or Leon Cupra R for the affordable side, while Audi A3/S3 if you want a hot hatch on an expensive side.
SEAT Ibiza or Leon Cupra R for the affordable side, while Audi A3/S3 if you want a hot hatch on an expensive side.
Re: Volkswagen Group: Industry News (A4Jetta)
Will be interesting. Thing is, VW has to be very careful with its brand strategy. Some, like GM did in the past, were very successful. Chrysler did have problems with overlap but that was eventually overcome too.
Audi- both luxurious and sporty, being able to rival BMW in both areas.
VW- not sure where it is now.
Seat- sporty and affordable, though cars like the Toledo offer luxury.
Skoda- somewhat more elegant, well-appointed but affordable.
Compare that with GM's brands in the past:
Cadillac- the luxury brand
Buick- upper-medium
Oldsmobile- upper-medium
Pontiac- lower-medium
Chevrolet- lower-priced
All of them combined varying degrees of style, performance and quality, but each of them had a defined image and their own clientele. Each brand also operated independently as far as styling and powertrains were concerned.
Will be interesting. Thing is, VW has to be very careful with its brand strategy. Some, like GM did in the past, were very successful. Chrysler did have problems with overlap but that was eventually overcome too.
Audi- both luxurious and sporty, being able to rival BMW in both areas.
VW- not sure where it is now.
Seat- sporty and affordable, though cars like the Toledo offer luxury.
Skoda- somewhat more elegant, well-appointed but affordable.
Compare that with GM's brands in the past:
Cadillac- the luxury brand
Buick- upper-medium
Oldsmobile- upper-medium
Pontiac- lower-medium
Chevrolet- lower-priced
All of them combined varying degrees of style, performance and quality, but each of them had a defined image and their own clientele. Each brand also operated independently as far as styling and powertrains were concerned.
Re: Volkswagen Group: Industry News (David Votoupal)
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=160888
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=160888
Re: Volkswagen Group: Industry News (haydar)
Deutche Welle news questioned Paefgen's removal from Audi when sales have dramatically improved. Stated that somehow he's fallen from favor from both the outgoing and incoming Chairmans.
Matt
Deutche Welle news questioned Paefgen's removal from Audi when sales have dramatically improved. Stated that somehow he's fallen from favor from both the outgoing and incoming Chairmans.
Matt
Re: Volkswagen Group: Industry News (haydar)
This is what I would like to see from Volkswagen AG in America...
Audi - Sport Luxury (like BMW)
Volkswagen - Luxury (like Mercedes)
Škoda - Affordable Cars (like Hyundai)
SEAT - Affordable Sporty Cars (like Honda)
This is what I would like to see from Volkswagen AG in America...
Audi - Sport Luxury (like BMW)
Volkswagen - Luxury (like Mercedes)
Škoda - Affordable Cars (like Hyundai)
SEAT - Affordable Sporty Cars (like Honda)
Re: Volkswagen Group: Industry News (candyweißpassat)
The Audi CEO fell out of favour with Piech when he used his Audis to club Bentley into 3rd place at Le Mans. Piech wanted Bentley to win, so he gets his revenge now.
The Audi CEO fell out of favour with Piech when he used his Audis to club Bentley into 3rd place at Le Mans. Piech wanted Bentley to win, so he gets his revenge now.
Re: Volkswagen Group: Industry News (candyweißpassat)
quote:[HR][/HR]
Volkswagen - Luxury (like Mercedes)[HR][/HR]
NOOOOO! Big mistake. Audi can handle both BMW and Mercedes. VW should be targeting Nissan, Mazda, Toyota and Ford. VW has no European equivalent, so I hope that's not their basis for change.Volkswagen - Luxury (like Mercedes)[HR][/HR]
Re: Volkswagen Group: Industry News (A2JettaDriver)
Audi is in competition with BMW (sport-luxury)
VW is moving into competition with Mercedes (extreme luxury)
If VW brought Skoda over, Skoda could take the baton from where VW left off in the mid-nineties.
quote:[HR][/HR]
Volkswagen - Luxury (like Mercedes)
NOOOOO! Big mistake. Audi can handle both BMW and Mercedes. VW should be targeting Nissan, Mazda, Toyota and Ford. VW has no European equivalent, so I hope that's not their basis for change.[HR][/HR]
Audi can't handle to different flavours at the same time.Volkswagen - Luxury (like Mercedes)
NOOOOO! Big mistake. Audi can handle both BMW and Mercedes. VW should be targeting Nissan, Mazda, Toyota and Ford. VW has no European equivalent, so I hope that's not their basis for change.[HR][/HR]
Audi is in competition with BMW (sport-luxury)
VW is moving into competition with Mercedes (extreme luxury)
If VW brought Skoda over, Skoda could take the baton from where VW left off in the mid-nineties.
Re: Volkswagen Group: Industry News (candyweißpassat)
I wish VW brought Skoda or Seat to the US. SOmething cheap while fun to drive without all the unnesscary features
I wish VW brought Skoda or Seat to the US. SOmething cheap while fun to drive without all the unnesscary features
Re: Volkswagen Group: Industry News (candyweißpassat)
quote:[HR][/HR]This is what I would like to see from Volkswagen AG in America...
Audi - Sport Luxury (like BMW)
Volkswagen - Luxury (like Mercedes)
Škoda - Affordable Cars (like Hyundai)
SEAT - Affordable Sporty Cars (like Honda)[HR][/HR]
While it would be great to see Škoda and Seat (S&S) here in the USA can anyone honestly see that happening? It would appear that the current Volkswagen infra-structure simply could not handle one or two more brands. VW has been expanding their Parts Depots a lot here in North America simply to keep up with the VW brand. When VW is done, they will have at least Nine Parts Depots for VW. Do you think VW Group would want to spend the money to build Nine or more warehouses for (S&S)? What about dealership networks for S&S? Given the Automotive market in North America isn't exactly growing by leaps and bounds for certain types of auto, how many business people would take the chance to invest is a new brand like S or S? How many current Audi or VW dealers would even consider adding S or S to their current dealerships given the requirement for seperate showrooms, service and parts facilities. Many current VW/Audi dealers simply do not have the space for new brands so how would they add these brands?Audi - Sport Luxury (like BMW)
Volkswagen - Luxury (like Mercedes)
Škoda - Affordable Cars (like Hyundai)
SEAT - Affordable Sporty Cars (like Honda)[HR][/HR]
Re: Volkswagen Group: Industry News (A2JettaDriver)
I agree with you. VW should target the Japanese brands. I wonder if VW can take a page from Toyota of Japan. Over there, Toyota offered an entire range from the Tercel (or even smaller) to Lexus LX (I don't know if they still do but up to the late 90's carried a Toyota nameplate in Japan). Of course Audi could be the more exclusive nameplate. I wonder if a poll should be taken of how many current, but non-first time VW owners owned a Japanese make before they bought their VW (my humble guess is more than 50%).
I agree with you. VW should target the Japanese brands. I wonder if VW can take a page from Toyota of Japan. Over there, Toyota offered an entire range from the Tercel (or even smaller) to Lexus LX (I don't know if they still do but up to the late 90's carried a Toyota nameplate in Japan). Of course Audi could be the more exclusive nameplate. I wonder if a poll should be taken of how many current, but non-first time VW owners owned a Japanese make before they bought their VW (my humble guess is more than 50%).
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
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