Volkswagen considering commercial vehicles for the US

[Madman]

And about damn time, too!

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/09/16/vw-small-commercial-trucks-caddy-usa/

I see Ford Transit Connects EVERYWHERE!  It's a booming market for small, efficient commercial vehicles.

[Galaxy]

The VW Caddy is on odd vehicle. It is essentially the commercial version of the VW Touran, but VW Commercial offers a civilian version in the form of the Caddy Life.

[93JC]

I see Ford Transit Connects EVERYWHERE!  It's a booming market for small, efficient commercial vehicles.

I mostly see them on dealer lots, off in a corner, with a $35,000 MSRP sticker on 'em.

And this is a place that's relatively friendly to smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles.

[2o6]

Nissan NV will beat the brakes off the VWs, and the Ford Vans aren't all that practical. (As 93JC said, the Transit Connect is hella expensive)

[cawimmer430]

Rejoice, Spinners! The Volkswagen Crafter is RWD since it's built on the Mercedes Sprinter platform! You can DRIFT with this thing! 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Crafter

[S204STi]

About motherfucking time.

[cawimmer430]

About motherfucking time.

[TurboDan]

Are they going to have any chicken tax issues? IIRC, didn't at least one of the Transit models have to be brought over as a passenger van with seats, windows, etc., which were then promptly removed and disposed of at the Baltimore shipping port?

[Madman]

Are they going to have any chicken tax issues? IIRC, didn't at least one of the Transit models have to be brought over as a passenger van with seats, windows, etc., which were then promptly removed and disposed of at the Baltimore shipping port?

Yes, the Turkish-built Transit Connect comes over here with seats and windows, making it a passenger vehicle in the eyes of the Feds and thereby dodge the Chicken Tax.  Once on US soil, Ford rips out the back seats and belts, plugs up the windows and turns it into a cargo van.  Volkswagen could do the same as Ford or they could build vans in either Puebla or Chattanooga.

[Northlands]

Nissan NV will beat the brakes off the VWs, and the Ford Vans aren't all that practical. (As 93JC said, the Transit Connect is hella expensive)

These I am seeing a good number of around here. There's a smaller number of Transit Connects in comparison.

[Madman]

Latest whispers indicate VW may bring over the next generation Caddy and Crafter sometime around 2016 or 2017.

Production of the current Crafter (a Mercedes Sprinter with a VW-styled nose) will end in 2016 when the co-production deal between Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen comes to an end.  The Crafter's replacement is being developed by MAN, Volkswagen's heavy truck subsidiary and will be built at a new factory in Poland.  There may also be a name change in store for the new van as it is believed Volkswagen is keen to disassociate the new van from the old Daimler-built model.  It is possible that Polish-built vans could be shipped to America in CKD form, the same way German-made Sprinters are imported into the US.

The current Caddy is based on the Touran people mover which, in turn, is based on the Mk VI Golf.  It will undoubtedly be replaced by a Mk VII Golf based model, which means producing it at Puebla for North American consumption is very likely.

A two-pronged van attack will square-up nicely against Ford's Transit and Transit Connect, Ram's ProMaster and ProMaster City, Nissan's big NV 1500/2500/3500 and small NV200 van and even Chevrolet's antiquated and inefficient Express van and it's new Nissan NV200-based City Express small van.

[Morris Minor]

Is GM going to belly up to this table with something other than the Express?

[12,000 RPM]

IN ZE FAUSERLAUND VE ZUS DRIVE ZEI GOLF

VHY ZO YOU UNDMERICANS VANT ZE SUV SO MUCH?

ZUS DRIVE ZEI GOLF SPORTWAUGEN.

[Madman]

Volkswagen is "intensively" considering selling the Caddy, Transporter/Caravelle and Crafter replacement in North America.  Oh, and the Amarok, too.

http://truckyeah.jalopnik.com/volkswagen-intensively-considering-trucks-and-vans-for-1692364298/+travis


I'm not so sure the Amarok would work here.  What with mid-sized pickups dying a slow death in the marketplace, I have to question the wisdom of jumping into this segment with an undersized truck that is sure to be the most expensive contender in its class.  This is one time where I would say leave this one overseas.

The vans, on the other hand, are a different story.  It seems Mercedes decision to sell the Vito (inexplicably badged Metris) in the US has prompted VW to consider bringing over the upcoming mid-sized Transporter/Caravalle T6.  Meanwhile, Transit Connects seem to be breeding like rats, judging be the swarms of them I've been seeing lately.  If VW wants to get into the van market, selling the Caddy here is a no-brainer.

[Madman]

Volkswagen is still mulling over commercial vehicles for North America.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-sales-idUSKCN11R2QF


Dieselgate has undoubtedly delayed these plans and may force VW to fit gasoline engines for our market.