Cayenne Production Rained Out

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Germany has seen heavy floods, and it is beginning to impact car production. Porsche had to stop production of the Cayenne in its Leipzig plant. Not because the plant is under water: Bodies for the SUVs are made in Bratislava, Slovakia, however, they don’t reach Leipzig because the railroad tracks in the Czech Republic are under water.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • LeeK LeeK on Jun 05, 2013

    So, did VW stop production of Touaregs and Audi stop Q7s too? Those are also manufactured on the same line in Bratislava as the Cayenne.

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    • Kyree Kyree on Jun 05, 2013

      @corntrollio In that case, I'm almost certain that production of the body will begin in Bratislava, but as one of the biggest Bentley fans out there, I'm strongly hoping for coachwork and final assembly to be done in Crewe. It all depends on how mass-market they want to make this thing (it has to be pricier and nicer than a Range Rover or Cayenne, obviously, but probably not as expensive as the other Bentley models). I just hope that some of that exquisite British craftsmanship will be spread to the new SUV and that it won't just be a Bentley-by-name. But thus far, VW Group has done a pretty good job honoring its prestige brands' unique heritage and values with the popular Continental and Cayenne models, so I'm sure I won't be disappointed... I really don't care so much for the Lamborghini SUV, but it will capitalize on the brand as long as the prices don't become astronomical. I could really see it being sold at the same price-point as the Bentley SUV without either one of them cannibalizing the other's sales since they would appeal to two different types of people.

  • Sitting@home Sitting@home on Jun 05, 2013

    My heart goes out to all the trophy wives who will have to wait an extra week or two for delivery of their new Cayenne, and hence will miss a spa appointment because it is just too much trauma to be seen in last year's model.

  • Asdf Asdf on Jun 05, 2013

    Who would have thought that a few raindrops would result in Porsche having a more coherent lineup (albeit only temporarily)?

  • FreedMike FreedMike on Jun 07, 2013

    A tragic day for douchebags everywhere...

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