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REPORT: Volkswagen confirms Karmann purchase, plans to build new car at factory in 2011
Volkswagen AG has announced it will be establishing a new manufacturing unit in Osnabrueck, located in VW's home state of Lower Saxony, Germany. Interestingly enough, VW will be purchasing the land, equipment, and machinery formerly owned by Karmann -- the coachbuilder and convertible roof specialists who manufactured the classic Beetle-based Karmann Ghia coupe (Karmann filed for bankruptcy protection in April, and has been struggling since).
Production of a new vehicle at the plant is slated to start in 2011. In the meantime, 200 people will be needed to open the plant next year, and VW is estimating more than 1,000 new jobs will be created by 2014. Volkswagen AG has not disclosed which model will be built at the plant, or any financial details.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
BigDumbFace 9:49AM (11/23/2009)
What is she even doing?
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airekk 9:55AM (11/23/2009)
She's obviously just picking the flowers before the fros................
too late.
James 11:43AM (11/23/2009)
Planting silly in snow for the obvious KG ad...(while the butt freezes).
f0 10:17AM (11/23/2009)
I always wondered why VW didn't follow the New Beetle logic and make a "New Karman Ghia" two door convertible on the Golf platform.
And for that matter, where was the "New (New) Thing"? Take a Golf, give it boxy styling, a toughened hose out interior, Yakima or Thule compatible roof rack, slightly raised suspension and 4WD and market it at twenty and thirty something weekend warriors.
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Jei 10:39AM (11/23/2009)
There are many possibilities regarding just what VW is planning to manufacture at the Karmann facility.
Additionally, this should be a good thing for employment in Germany also. Some of the Opel labor can find work for VW-Karmann.
Kip 11:00AM (11/23/2009)
quote f0:
"I always wondered why VW didn't follow the New Beetle logic and make a "New Karman Ghia" two door convertible on the Golf platform."
They have. It's called the Audi TT.
f0 11:05AM (11/23/2009)
Well, that is true, sort of. The original Ghia was a more affordable sports car than what the TT is.
zamafir 11:12AM (11/23/2009)
@f0 - correct... which is why we'll see karmann produce the production blusport in a few years. Though in true VW/Audi/Porsche fashion I'm sure it'll be castrated with the 1.4L TSI lump to prevent it from stepping on the TT's toes.
Eric D-J 1:35PM (11/23/2009)
They can't use the Ghia name because Ford has it. A new model would just be called Karmann if they did it.
Mr. Roarke 10:18AM (11/23/2009)
Now we know what Betty Draper did before she met Don: grinned lazily in vaguely abstract German car ads. They always she was a model or something.
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dukeisduke 10:32AM (11/23/2009)
Well, it was a good reason to re-post the picture of the pretty fraulein, anyway. Thanks AB!
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Landtat 10:47AM (11/23/2009)
Wouldn't be an ass kicker if they put out an updated/modernized version of the Ghis based on the old body design?
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Landtat 10:47AM (11/23/2009)
Sorry, typo, Ghia
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sadiemae1214 12:20PM (11/23/2009)
They need to rethink the EOS. A hardtop convertable is nice but there's way too much weight in the top. The sunroof glass is too big and too heavy and the roof itself is heavy. Thats a lot of work for the motor and they tend to overheat quickly.
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tblack 12:49PM (11/23/2009)
Wow. Marketing photography has come a looooong way. The car is filthy, the grass and trees are dead . . . but, then again, I suppose there was more truth in advertising then.
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Joey Mazz 12:05AM (11/24/2009)
The car was probably dirty on purpose, they wanted to conjure up images of a joy ride on a dirt road in the mountains, picking wildflowers, having a picnic, etc... Kinda makes me want to buy an old karmann.
Kaveh 1:42PM (11/23/2009)
A new Karmann will be cool, wonder if it will be rear engine or something like a TT.
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