Filed under: Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Government/Legal, Safety, Volkswagen
Volkswagen's GX3 to be nixed because of legal concerns?
Sadly, Volkswagen looks ready to pull the plug on its GX3 project, which only weeks ago looked set to put the three-wheeled star of this year's L.A. Auto Show in U.S. showrooms by 2007. AutoWeek reports that concerns about U.S. liability laws have driven a stake through the heart of the project, which, although not officially dead, is at best on life-support.
Although the trike would have been classified as a motorcycle, with safety standards vastly different than an automobile's, it sounds like VW lawyers are concerned that the GX3 was just too car-like for (their) comfort.
We really can't blame VW, but we'd sure like to blame somebody... a few staffers are ready to hold a candlelight vigil in hopes that the German automaker will have a change of heart.
[Sources: AutoWeek; Volkswagen]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Corey W. 10:45AM (5/14/2006)
"The low-slung GX3 legally would have been considered a motorcycle, meaning VW could have engineered it to different standards than a car. But blurring the line between cycle and car could be too risky"
How are you blurring the lines if the vehicle is under one standard (motorcycle)?? It's different, it would have been nice to see this produced in the States.
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Oliver Licul 10:46AM (5/14/2006)
I do not care what the attorneys say, I want one!!!! Please BUILD IT!!!!!
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Johnny B 10:47AM (5/14/2006)
Leave it to the lawyers to screw up a great idea...The main problem is that people are just too damn sue happy in this counrty, no one wants to take the responsibilty for their own actions, it always has to be someone elses fault...
I think all lawyers should be rounded up and put in camps!
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Paul Alda 11:07AM (5/14/2006)
Why don't you blame George Bush?
That's what you guys seem to like to do around here.
Blame him for the trial lawyer culture that you guys have reveled in.
You see what "sticking it to big business" has wrought?
Keep voting for these people.
Let's see how many more exciting concepts we'll lose to our liability-friendly society.
Tort reform now!
Europeans use the government to eliminate risk; their admirers over here us e the courts.
Let people decide what they want to do or not do!
Bring the TVR Tuscan over here!!
They would never have gone out of business if they were sold here. Such beautiful cars, do they really need airbags?
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Paul Alda 11:09AM (5/14/2006)
Yes, #3;
Personal responsibility. Guess who doesn't like that?
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2 wheels 11:19AM (5/14/2006)
#3 - spot on.
Not exactly the kind of thing I'd want and I probably couldn't afford it but I would have like to seen a few built. Plus I just like leaning in curves. Trikes and bikes with sidecars just don't have any appeal to me.
Helluva better idea than that V10 Tommahawk or whateverthehell it was motorcyclish thing with 4 wheels that DMC dreamed up. The must be smokin' some good weed in that design center. Wonder if I can get some of what they're having?
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Dr. Woo 11:22AM (5/14/2006)
That is terribly saddening. This could have been a revolutionary vehicle, not simply because of how it's built, but because it would be the product of a major automaker with a full warranty and all of the associated perks.
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non-starter 11:35AM (5/14/2006)
The vehicle is retarded. The worldwide market for it is about 500 vehicles.
I said it before and I'll say it again. VW will never produce the vehicle. They're just using the lawyers as scapegoats.
I'm sure on the Monday after the auto show they took 15 mins and noticed that the small market for the vehicle means they could only sell a tiny number. And that means it would have to be very expensive to cover its startup costs, which shrinks the market even further.
It just took them 4 months to come up with lawyers as a convenient scapegoat. American lawyers no less.
Kudos to VW for finding a way to get out of their ridiculous "and we're gonna build it!" comments without taking the blame themselves.
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mati 11:41AM (5/14/2006)
oh no i love the GX3 why pull it
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gbh 12:48PM (5/14/2006)
I agree on some level with #3's echoing of the "... first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers..." sentiment. Surely, lawsuits in our country can get more than a *bit* out of hand. The real problem is the human effluvia who start most of these lawsuits. Not always the lawyers, they're just doing the job they are paid to do. (No, I'm not a lawyer.)
For a whole sub-class of society, relatively minor incidents of normal life have become another lottery.
The next problem is juries who make these ridiculous awards.
As a matter of statistics there are far more of these suits than one would like to have. However, there really aren't all that many, and even with the sometimes stupid award amounts, it's not the problem
the insurance industry makes it out to be. Even with Katrina payouts, they've made HUGE profits.
Non-Starter you apparently have never been outside the US. There's a world full of people who drive vehicles of this ilk. Gimme 500 of them at a 16-18K price point - I'll sell them all in a coupla months in California alone.
Perhaps there is just not the internal political will to build this vehicle, perhaps the bean counters disapproved. Perhaps it's another stillborn VW sportscar that will go elsewhere (see: Porsche 924).
Maybe they didn't like the ROI calcs, and used the lawyers as a scapegoat. But as a VW, they could easily sell thousands a month - if the price was right.
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Ford Mustang 12:51PM (5/14/2006)
I agree with #8 in regards to why VW is not going to make this vehicle. I can see no difference in liability between this or a motorcycle/jetski/etc. Besides that they could easily get around the entire problem by making customers sign a waiver of liability. Will a waiver of liability stop them from being sued? With the way courts are today, probably not, but it would go a long way to show that the customer knew that driving this vehicle was as risky as riding a motorcycle.
I also see no difference between this and something like a shelby cobra. Both are something you wouldnt really want to be in a bad accident in but in buying/driving one you realize there is a risk and take it.
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AutoFan 2:18PM (5/14/2006)
It's a stupid ugly vehicle that would have been an oversteering pig. Good riddance.
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Randy Simmons 2:21PM (5/14/2006)
Who teaches these people that other people are responsible for their:
i. well being
ii. station in life??
And don't excuse the lawyers. They go out and search for "victims".
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Jerry Blatherton 2:22PM (5/14/2006)
that fucking sucks. I was ready to buy one, honestly. thanks, vw.
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Peter G 2:30PM (5/14/2006)
I have to agree with #8. The only market for this is the fringe. I knew this was dead as soon as I saw it. It has all the drawbacks of a motorcycle (no weather protection, helmet requirement, impracticality, chain drive), but lacks the fun of a motorcycle (leaning into turns, raw acceleration, unique 2 wheeler experience).
Carver makes a much more interesting solution IMO. Leans into turns like a motorcycle, no helmet requriements, weather protection...
Bottom line if it is just a impractical as a motorcycle, requires a helmet, yet lacks the real thrill of a motorcycle, yet cost way more, why not just get a motorcycle instead. I know I would.
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Skeptical 2:43PM (5/14/2006)
Yep. This is just a strange motorcycle. So it has a market that is a small fraction of the motorcycle market. IOW there is no money to be made here.
Legal concerns are a smokescreen.
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mike 4:01PM (5/14/2006)
I think the VW would have been better to build the GX3 even if the market would surely have been small. Niche vehicles can be great mascots that provide a carmaker with an image of innovation. The GX3's image benefits to VW might even outweigh the cost of a few lawsuis. The lawyers might be jealous, though.
Fat, bald, old men can't get into a vehicle like the GX3.
"If I can't have one NOBODY can!"
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apollo322 5:51PM (5/14/2006)
"Non-Starter you apparently have never been outside the US. There's a world full of people who drive vehicles of this ilk. Gimme 500 of them at a 16-18K price point - I'll sell them all in a coupla months in California alone."
You can add at LEAST 20,000 americans to this list. There is no doubt this thing would sell in some fairly decent qualities, even if only as a track car/bike for some well heeled maniacs. I'd of bought one in a heartbeat, and my guess is we'll see someone take this project on again in the near future. I don't blame a big car company for passing, but why not yamaha?
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marko 8:54PM (5/14/2006)
I'll sign a waiver to not sue VW if I f*ck S^it up? Anycase- just buy a motorbike you pansies.
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Skeptical 9:53PM (5/14/2006)
"You can add at LEAST 20,000 americans to this list."
You are out to lunch. Harley sells about 10 000 Vrods a year. What do you think has more market potential. Harleys premier bike or some VW trike for the same price.
Why would anyone pay $17000 for a slow 3 wheeled VW motorcycle.
This is an extreme fringe project. That would have a hard time getting 5000 annual sales at which point the price would have to triple. How many will sell at $40000.
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