Monday, January 12, 2015
Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE Makes Worldwide Debut at NAIAS 2015
Company celebrates 60 years in U.S., 10.1 million vehicles sold worldwide in 2014
DETROIT – Volkswagen unveiled its new Cross Coupe vehicle, a 5-seat concept hybrid that it expects to turn into a seven-seat, three-row vehicle by the time it begins production in 2016.
The vehicle’s worldwide debut at the North American International Auto Show 2015 came on the heels of VW's Golf winning the North American Car of the Year, an award that came earlier in the day.
Clearly, VW executives were effusive, bringing the Golf to the stage with its newly minted "North American Car of the Year" decal prominently placed on the hood.
The automaker also used the occasion to wish itself a happy birthday -- 60 years since the VW name came to the United States.
VW has big plans for the Golf name. In the first quarter of 2015, it will bring a sport wagon version to the U.S. and an "e Golf" in 2016.
The company now has more vehicles achieving 40 miles per gallon fuel economy than any other brand, said Volkswagen of America CEO Michael Horn.
VW reported it is investing $680 million at its Chattanooga, Tenn., facility and will hire an additional 2,000 workers as it continues to grow in the United States.
The company also said it sold 10.1 million vehicles worldwide in 2014, achieving a target it had first expected to meet by 2018.
Prof. Martin Winterkorn, who chairs the VW Group, said the company is expected to spend $7 billion in the North American market within the next five years.
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