industry news: Volkswagen Group's delivers close to ten million units for 2015

The Volkswagen Group handed over 9.93 million vehicles to customers worldwide in 2015. This is still impressive particularly in view of the continued challenging market situation in some regions as well as that diesel fiasco in the final quarter of 2015. Note that in 2014 the group sold over 10.1 million vehicles. 

Volkswagen Group CEO shown the door due to US diesel emissions testing debacle

The Volkswagen diesel debacle in the US has hit Volkswagen group hard. Shares have dropped by a whole lot and the market value is now down by a third in just two trading days. And we thought the drop in the Ringgit was bad.

The story is simple. News broke that Volkswagen cheated in its diesel emissions tests in the United States where the pollution controls will only come into full swing when it detects the car is being tested for emissions. If one drives a Volkswagen model fitted with this software, chances are the car is actually between ten to forty times more polluting than when it is tested. Discrepancies relate to vehicles with Type EA 189 engines, involving some 11 million vehicles worldwide and there could be fines in the US hitting billions of US Dollars. In fact Volkswagen have set aside USD$7.27billion to cover any contingencies that may arise from this incident. And you thought RM2.6billion was bad.

Latest Revised Volkswagen Car Prices in Malaysia and CNY Sales Rebates

Prices for Volkswagen cars in Malaysia have risen due to the free falling Malaysian Ringgit. Last I looked it was way past 3.53 to the US Dollar. The only consolation is the cheap fuel pump prices we get these days. I have posted a chart below showing the latest prices. Note that even the entry level Polo 1.6 costs at least up to RM2,000 more. However, Volkswagen Group Malaysia have come up with its latest sales initiative,  something called the ‘Volkswagen Red Campaign’!. 

New record: Volkswagen Group celebrates 200 million vehicles produced & previews XL Sport Concept Car

VW Group Celebrates a whole lot of vehicles produced...and sold over at the 2014 Paris Motor Show. It also previewed the Volkswagen XL Sport, a concept car powered by a Ducati 1199 V2 engine.

Press Release
• A top value among European automakers

• Record-breaking vehicle XL Sport makes its world debut at Paris Motor 

Show

• French film icon Catherine Deneuve receives €200,000 donation for 

“Cinema for Peace”

Wolfsburg/Paris, October 1, 2014 – A new record for the Volkswagen Group: Europe’s

leading automaker has now produced 200 million vehicles. Volkswagen is one of the

few manufacturers in the world to have reached this impressive total. At the Group

evening, the sports car study Volkswagen XL Sport made its world debut as the 200

millionth Group vehicle. On the occasion of the production record, actress Catherine

Deneuve, founding chairperson of “Cinema for Peace”, received a check for a

donation of €200,000 from the Chairman of the Board of Management of the

Volkswagen Group, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn.

News: Volkswagen Peninsular Malaysia 'Volkswagen On Tour' Roadshow is now on going

Volkswagen Group Malaysia is extending its comprehensive and compelling Volkswagen brand experience to various locations across Peninsular Malaysia as part of its continuous commitment to engage with Malaysians. 

Starting with its first stop at One Utama in Petaling Jaya, the continuation of the Volkswagen On Tour series of roadshows will see visitors engaging personally with Volkswagen’s fleet of vehicles in Malaysia including all of Volkswagen’s recently launched vehicles – the all-new Golf R, the latest Tiguan, the enhanced Passat and the locally assembled Jetta. Visitors will also stand the chance to win the Polo Sedan in conjunction with Volkswagen’s “Safe and Stylish Balik Kampung” campaign.

Volkswagen Premiers 4 New Models At Auto China 2014

Press Release

Volkswagen celebrates four world premieres at Auto China 2014
• Touareg, technically and optically refined
• Golf R 400, extremely sporty concept car
• New Midsize Coupé, four-door design concept
• Golf Edition, concept on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Golf