What's in a name? VW of America officially renamed...
As of January 1st Volkswagen of America will be known by a new name: Volkswagen Group of America. In their efforts to take down Toyota as the world's top automaker Volkswagen has chosen to begin embracing its multi-brand size by adding the term group to its corporate moniker. It's a reminder that the company is more than just the letters "VW." The Volkswagen Group of America encompasses the brands of VW, Audi, Bugatti, Bentley and Lamborghini. It also houses the brand's financial service branches (go figure there are no financial branches for Bugatti or Lamborghini). Executives believe the change in title will also better prepare the organization for future brand expansion.
[Source: Just-Auto.com]
PRESS RELEASE:
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. TO BE RENAMED VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.
New name describes company's wide array of individual brands; reflects collaborative approach
AUBURN HILLS, MICH. (Dec. 12, 2007) - Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today that it has changed its name to Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. The change will be fully effective January 1.
The new name better reflects the fact that the Volkswagen Group of America includes five distinct brands: Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, and Volkswagen, as well as the related financial services functions of Audi Financial Services, Bentley Financial Services and Volkswagen Credit.
"Our company, like the entire Volkswagen Group, has grown dramatically since our formation in the United States in 1955. Our new corporate name allows our individual brands to flourish, while recognizing that we have a common support structure that gives us great strength as we face our competitors," said Stefan Jacoby, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The new name Volkswagen Group of America reflects the much wider array of goods and services we now offer, and prepares us for even more activities in the future."
Operating under the umbrella of Volkswagen Group of America, the Volkswagen and Audi brands will continue to provide sales and service under their names, Volkswagen of America and Audi of America.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. remains a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, which together with its subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide is now the fourth largest automobile company in the world.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
car industry expert 6:09AM (7/11/2009)
You just don't understand how great Volkswagen group is now, your hung up on the crap stuff they made ages ago. The group makes sooo many great cars now. From the forthcoming Volkswagen Up which should be a massive seller in Europe, China and maybe Japan to the Bugatti Veyron which is possibly the greatest car of all time, a collosal feat of engeneering and Volkswagen deserves every single bit of credit. They lose millions on every Veyron sold but they made it in the name of engeneering and isn't it brilliant that a man man like Ferdinand Piech was powerfull enough to get it all the way to production. Supercars like the Audi R8, Lamborghini Gallardo and Reventon and forthcoming Estoque, the new Grand Bentley and the ultra profitable Continental GT range and maybe even a new Bugatti Royale. The Porsche 911, a new Carrera GT are all part of the Volkswagen group portfolio now. Even brands like SEAT and Skoda, look at the gorgeus Bocanegra concept or even the new Exeo, the Skoda Joyster concept and Yeti, all great cars under the Volkswagen Group umbrella.
Would you rather a souless, boring, car company like Toyota or a magnificant car maker like the Volkswagen group atop the car making hierachy?
Reply
car industry expert 6:26AM (7/11/2009)
You just don't understand how great Volkswagen group is now, your hung up on the crap stuff they made ages ago. The group makes sooo many great cars now. From the forthcoming Volkswagen Up which should be a massive seller in Europe, China and maybe Japan to the Bugatti Veyron which is possibly the greatest car of all time, a collosal feat of engeneering and Volkswagen deserves every single bit of credit. They lose millions on every Veyron sold but they made it in the name of engeneering and isn't it brilliant that a man man like Ferdinand Piech was powerfull enough to get it all the way to production. Supercars like the Audi R8, Lamborghini Gallardo and Reventon and forthcoming Estoque, the new Grand Bentley and the ultra profitable Continental GT range and maybe even a new Bugatti Royale. The Porsche 911, a new Carrera GT are all part of the Volkswagen group portfolio now. Even brands like SEAT and Skoda, look at the gorgeus Bocanegra concept or even the new Exeo, the Skoda Joyster concept and Yeti, all great cars under the Volkswagen Group umbrella.
Would you rather a souless, boring, car company like Toyota or a magnificant car maker like the Volkswagen group atop the car making hierachy?
Reply
Eleventeen 10:31AM (12/14/2007)
Yeah because when I see a Bugatti Veyron the first thing I think is 'Wow, thats from the same group of companies that brought us the award-winning Rabbit.'
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RayJ 10:50AM (12/14/2007)
Hello like it or not GM is still the world largest automaker and until they are not I take issue to these Toyota writers promoting a company as number one that is not. VW has to take down Ford, Toyota, and the worlds largest automaker for over 80 years GM.
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Andrew 11:27AM (12/14/2007)
Haven't kept up with the news, have you?
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/24/theyre-1-in-first-quarter-toyota-tops-gm-as-worlds-top-auto/
Potsy 11:52AM (12/14/2007)
RayJ,
You should study comma usage.
Rayjht 11:55AM (12/15/2007)
I don't need to study comma usage I am an educator an when I am typing here I just need to have clear thought expressed I don't have to care much for grammar because....I don't care about impression here. Got it? Good. Now as for the other poster do you read much? If you did you would know that Gm is still the world largest and it is not decided by quarters but by the year. It is just analyst and writers that love Toyota trying to put them ahead before it actually happens if at all.
BartMack 10:58AM (12/14/2007)
It's hard to make a good acronym from 'VWGA'. They shoulda done VW Auto Group (of America) so they'd be 'V-WAG' or 'V-WAGA'. I'll never understand why carmakers don't consult me first.
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Andrew 11:28AM (12/14/2007)
I don't know why they don't have the balls to go with VAG.
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makfu 11:33AM (12/14/2007)
Toyota versus GM, as to who is number 1, is still up for debate. That said, VW has no chance in hell of becoming the world’s largest or best automaker. Given Toyota's strength in North America, GM's resurgence and a number of strong competitors, such as Renault-Nissan, this goal is just silly and is typical German managerial arrogance.
You can’t have a nearly legendary reputation for horrendous quality problems while simultaneously having no apparent coherent product strategy and think you can knock off Toyota (and several other automakers). Start with a more reasonable goal, such as becoming the highest quality manufacturer in the world. Then worry about picking a fight with Toyota.
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JB 12:07PM (12/14/2007)
Volkswagen is the biggest automaker in China... a amarket rapidly catching the US.
You need to look beyond the shores of the US to see where VW's stratedgy lies.
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MariosInferno 12:19PM (12/14/2007)
Then why don't they just pack the f**k up and leave. If they don't care or can't make it in the US, then they should leave. How much longer can they honestly survive in the US?? They are a disaster of a car company in this country.
Every last ounce of reputation has been squandered.
It's a cost pit for them...Wolfsburg has been saying this for years. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if this is the last ditch effort before calling it quits over here. Put a fork in em. IMHO, good riddance.
Andrew 12:28PM (12/14/2007)
Are you serious?! Albeit VW is no Toyota, it's doing halfway decent in sales. I see more and more VW's around here (northern Chicago burbs) every day. Young people with decent incomes graduating from college are gobbling up the things. Something tells me they're the ones who are going to continue buying new cars in the future, even when prices keep going up, and if they're picking VW now, they may just pick Audi tomorrow.
Andrew 12:29PM (12/14/2007)
Oh, and JB, I agree with you.
JB 12:31PM (12/14/2007)
thanks...
personally I think VW see's a big future in the U.S diesel market as demand for alternative fuels increases.
EEGeek 12:49PM (12/14/2007)
I don't read too much into this, but I wonder whether "future brand expansion" includes SEAT or Skoda. Or perhaps they'll want to create a new brand for Chinese imports...
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mercury26 12:51PM (12/14/2007)
VW is number one automaker in both Europe and China. In addition, in the European market they have other brands Skoda and Seat. They definitely have a shot to be number one, but it will take a serious refocus for the North American market.
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Bill 2:09PM (12/17/2007)
The post forgot to mention SEAT and Skoda. Not that either are sold in the US, but if Alfa takes off, SEAT might not be too far behind!
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Richard Warren 1:00PM (12/14/2007)
Andrew, GM for the year is ahead of Toyota, you're stuck in April
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Andrew 1:15PM (12/14/2007)
I'm just saying that you can't count on that GM being ahead much longer. It fell behind for a quarter, and will do so again in the near future.