As a part of its plan to produce more than 75 percent of its North American-sold products in North America, Volkswagen will be building the 2014 Golf at its Puebla, Mexico assembly plant. We first reported on the possibility of this move back in October, but VW recently confirmed the news. Golf models built in Mexico would be sold in both North and South America.
Production of the new Golf in Puebla – alongside the Jetta and Beetle – will commence during the first quarter of 2014, and the car will go on sale in the US sometime during the second half of next year.
After the Golf, it is also likely that production of the Tiguan and an upcoming crossover (teased by the recent CrossBlue Concept at the Detroit Auto Show) would also take place somewhere in North America. While there is no indication where the Tiguan's North American production would take place, the new three-row crossover could be produced at VW's Chattanooga, TN plant, which currently builds the Passat.
Scroll down for the official press release.
Puebla, Mexico / Herndon, VA (January 25, 2013) - Volkswagen announced today that it will begin to produce the next-generation Golf at its Volkswagen de México manufacturing facility in Puebla, Mexico. Production of the seventh-generation Golf will commence at the company's plant in Mexico in the first quarter of 2014.
Localization has become increasingly important in automotive manufacturing as a way to safeguard against currency fluctuations and to be closer to the market in which the manufacturer sells. Golf models made at Volkswagen de México's plant will be supplied to the North and South American markets.
"The Puebla, Mexico plant offers an excellent economic basis for Volkswagen production operations and is a well-established automotive manufacturing facility with a record of efficiency and high quality," said Hubert Waltl, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand with responsibility for Production. "With its existing infrastructure, competitive cost structures and free trade agreements, Mexico is the ideal location to produce the Golf for the American market."
The decision to produce the Golf in Mexico builds on Volkswagen's strategy for the North American market. Investments of more than $5 billion are planned in the U.S. and Mexico in the next three years, thereby laying the foundation for further growth in the North American market. Key investments are the opening of new plants in Silao, Mexico for the 1.8- and 2.0-liter turbocharged EA888 engines and the planned Audi production facility in San José Chiapa, Mexico.
"Producing the Golf in Puebla, Mexico signals a continued commitment to the North American market and allows Volkswagen to make further strides towards the goal of building more than 75 percent of the cars Volkswagen of America sells in the NAFTA region," said Jonathan Browning, President, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "For more than 40 years, Puebla has been manufacturing quality Volkswagens for the U.S. and markets around the world and we are thrilled that the next-generation Golf will be added to the production line."
The Volkswagen Golf, the company's best-selling vehicle globally, was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September 2012. This seventh-generation version of one of the world's most popular cars offers more features, improved safety, and more performance than the outgoing vehicle and is actually lighter than its predecessor. The Golf's unmistakeable state-of-the art styling is evolutionary and timeless, and provides clear lineage to previous Golfs. The new Golf design is more sophisticated and longer lived than any other compact in the world. The Golf is slated to go on sale in the United States in the first half of 2014.
About Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen of America's operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Eos, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan vehicles through approximately more than 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more. \
About Volkswagen de México
Volkswagen de México's Puebla plant is the biggest automobile factory in North America. All the processes needed for complete car production, including the machining and assembly of engine and axle parts and body stamping, are performed on-site. The production capacity is approximately 2,500 vehicles per day. In 2012, the plant produced 604,000 thousand vehicles, setting a new production record. Approximately 84 percent of this volume was exported to the world markets. Volkswagen de México currently produces the Volkswagen Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Jetta and Jetta SportWagen. The company has approximately 18,900 employees.
Production of the new Golf in Puebla – alongside the Jetta and Beetle – will commence during the first quarter of 2014, and the car will go on sale in the US sometime during the second half of next year.
After the Golf, it is also likely that production of the Tiguan and an upcoming crossover (teased by the recent CrossBlue Concept at the Detroit Auto Show) would also take place somewhere in North America. While there is no indication where the Tiguan's North American production would take place, the new three-row crossover could be produced at VW's Chattanooga, TN plant, which currently builds the Passat.
Scroll down for the official press release.
VOLKSWAGEN ANNOUNCES PRODUCTION OF THE GOLF IN MEXICO
- The next-generation Golf will be manufactured in Puebla, Mexico, for North and South American markets
Puebla, Mexico / Herndon, VA (January 25, 2013) - Volkswagen announced today that it will begin to produce the next-generation Golf at its Volkswagen de México manufacturing facility in Puebla, Mexico. Production of the seventh-generation Golf will commence at the company's plant in Mexico in the first quarter of 2014.
Localization has become increasingly important in automotive manufacturing as a way to safeguard against currency fluctuations and to be closer to the market in which the manufacturer sells. Golf models made at Volkswagen de México's plant will be supplied to the North and South American markets.
"The Puebla, Mexico plant offers an excellent economic basis for Volkswagen production operations and is a well-established automotive manufacturing facility with a record of efficiency and high quality," said Hubert Waltl, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand with responsibility for Production. "With its existing infrastructure, competitive cost structures and free trade agreements, Mexico is the ideal location to produce the Golf for the American market."
The decision to produce the Golf in Mexico builds on Volkswagen's strategy for the North American market. Investments of more than $5 billion are planned in the U.S. and Mexico in the next three years, thereby laying the foundation for further growth in the North American market. Key investments are the opening of new plants in Silao, Mexico for the 1.8- and 2.0-liter turbocharged EA888 engines and the planned Audi production facility in San José Chiapa, Mexico.
"Producing the Golf in Puebla, Mexico signals a continued commitment to the North American market and allows Volkswagen to make further strides towards the goal of building more than 75 percent of the cars Volkswagen of America sells in the NAFTA region," said Jonathan Browning, President, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "For more than 40 years, Puebla has been manufacturing quality Volkswagens for the U.S. and markets around the world and we are thrilled that the next-generation Golf will be added to the production line."
The Volkswagen Golf, the company's best-selling vehicle globally, was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September 2012. This seventh-generation version of one of the world's most popular cars offers more features, improved safety, and more performance than the outgoing vehicle and is actually lighter than its predecessor. The Golf's unmistakeable state-of-the art styling is evolutionary and timeless, and provides clear lineage to previous Golfs. The new Golf design is more sophisticated and longer lived than any other compact in the world. The Golf is slated to go on sale in the United States in the first half of 2014.
About Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen of America's operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Eos, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan vehicles through approximately more than 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more. \
About Volkswagen de México
Volkswagen de México's Puebla plant is the biggest automobile factory in North America. All the processes needed for complete car production, including the machining and assembly of engine and axle parts and body stamping, are performed on-site. The production capacity is approximately 2,500 vehicles per day. In 2012, the plant produced 604,000 thousand vehicles, setting a new production record. Approximately 84 percent of this volume was exported to the world markets. Volkswagen de México currently produces the Volkswagen Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Jetta and Jetta SportWagen. The company has approximately 18,900 employees.
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