Volkswagen heading for 10 per cent sales slide

**dubbed** · 17-04-2009, 10:15 AM

GERMAN auto maker Volkswagen is likely to suffer a 10 per cent slide in sales in the first quarter in a global auto market that is 20 per cent weaker, a member of VW's board of directors said.

"We are going to have a world market that is down about at least 20 per cent and we will be down about 10 per cent in the first quarter,'' said Christian Klinger.

He was speaking here during a ceremony in which VW chairman Martin Winterkorn received the Man of the Year prize awarded by the Journal de l'Automobile.

Mr Klinger said VW had nonetheless managed to increase its market share by two points in the first quarter, a gain he described as "substantial.''

Winterkorn said there was some uncertainty as to whether VW's first quarter would earnings would turn out negative or positive.

http://www.news.com.au/business/stor...-31037,00.html

**gerhard** · 17-04-2009, 10:23 AM

Sliding 10% when everyone else is down 20% or more could be defined as "Growth"

Audi in AU has increased sales over last year in the first quarter.

Now with world Car of the Year and in second place behind Toymota, VW seems in a pretty strong position overall. Toymota is apparently still #1, but they aren't sailing on smooth seas wheras VAG is powering on pretty well.

**dubbed** · 17-04-2009, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by gerhard

Sliding 10% when everyone else is down 20% or more could be defined as "Growth"

Audi in AU has increased sales over last year in the first quarter.

Now with world Car of the Year and in second place behind Toymota, VW seems in a pretty strong position overall. Toymota is apparently still #1, but they aren't sailing on smooth seas wheras VAG is powering on pretty well.

Yup, VAG is here to take over the world!

**Golf Houso** · 17-04-2009, 12:46 PM

But do you want everyone to drive a golf though? I know I sure don't...

**gerhard** · 17-04-2009, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by Golf Houso

But do you want everyone to drive a golf though? I know I sure don't...

Since when does VAG only supply Golf?

**Golf Houso** · 17-04-2009, 01:02 PM

Originally Posted by gerhard

Since when does VAG only supply Golf?

Just an example, I always thought the individuality was part of the appeal and besides VW don't exactly have much of a presence in the mid to large sized market segments anyway...

**gerhard** · 17-04-2009, 01:11 PM

There isn't much in the cheap end of the market, but there are plenty of mid-large Audi and VW to choose from.

Q5, R50, R36, A6, etc, etc.....

If I was loaded, I'd have the 3.0d Q5 for a town car and an R50 for highway cruising and the upcoming Robust for the bush.

The cheap, featureless end of the market we can happily leave to Toymota

**Golf Houso** · 17-04-2009, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by gerhard

There isn't much in the cheap end of the market, but there are plenty of mid-large Audi and VW to choose from.

...

The cheap, featureless end of the market we can happily leave to Toymota

Definately, and considering the most expensive Jetta would be just under 50, whereas the commodore or falcon ranges go from the mid to low 20's to 100k plus for comparison. I think they're in a pretty comfortable spot, and would not like to see any Dub's in the Toymota/washing machine segment either

I'd personally get any audi with a 4.2 in it, strip the cats out with new headers and an exhasut, and enjoy

**dubbed** · 17-04-2009, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by Golf Houso

But do you want everyone to drive a golf though? I know I sure don't...

lol have you been living under a rock??? There may not be a whole lot of Golfs and Jettas in Australia (more lately) but over the world there are squillions!