The Volkswagen brand produced more than six million vehicles in 2017, setting a new record. What it described as the largest model offensive to date in the history of the Volkswagen Group’s core brand led to the new record. The Volkswagen Jetta, Golf, Santana, Passat and Polo lead the brand’s global production rankings.
Thomas Ulbrich, member of the board of management of the Volkswagen brand responsible for production and logistics, said: “More than six million vehicles produced in 12 months – there is one thing that this shows above all: our plants and employees are continually improving their production competence. We have top teams in production which successfully master growing demand from customers.”
Last year’s record was driven by the long-standing bestsellers Jetta, Golf, Santana, Passat and Polo, growing demand for the Tiguan and recently launched products such as the new Polo, Arteon and T-Roc, VW said. Overseas models have also contributed to the production record, with the Chinese Santana sedan being an especially popular model.
The Volkswagen brand produces vehicles at more than 50 plants in 14 countries. Since series production started with the original Beetle 72 years ago, more than 150 million Volkswagens have rolled off the production lines. The brand’s global product portfolio now includes over 60 models.
Within the framework of the Transform 2025+ strategy for the future, the Volkswagen Group’s core brand is stepping up its model offensive, the company said. In 2017, Volkswagen launched more than 10 new models throughout the world. Over the next few years, the entire product range is to be renewed and expanded in core segments such as SUVs and e-mobility. In this first phase, especially the brand’s presence in the SUV segment is to be boosted. By 2020, the brand will offer 19 SUV models throughout the world and will increase the share of SUVs in the overall model range to 40 per cent. In the second phase, from 2020 onwards, the brand is to build up a comprehensive family of full-electric vehicles on the basis of an entirely new electric architecture.
The ID will be the automobile future of Volkswagen, the brand said. The family will include the ID, ID Crozz and ID Buzz. These three models are part of the initial formation which Volkswagen will be introducing at rapid intervals from 2020 onwards to launch its worldwide electric offensive. In 2025, one million electric Volkswagens are to reach the roads, VW said.