Comments on: Winterkorn: “World Car” Dead And Buried http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/winterkorn-world-car-dead-and-buried/ The Truth About Cars is dedicated to providing candid, unbiased automobile reviews and the latest in auto industry news. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:42:43 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: hal http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/winterkorn-world-car-dead-and-buried/comment-page-1/#comment-230582 hal Sun, 16 Mar 2008 06:56:34 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/winterkorn-world-car-dead-and-buried/#comment-230582 Just to take midsize cars for example the reality is that the Accords sold in Europe are not the same as those sold in the US, the Toyota Avensis is not sold in US either. VW does offer the same Passat in Europe and the US and that's one likely reason for its poor performance as expectations and the competition are so different compared to the EU. So even if Ford invested and retooled a plant to produce the Mondeo in the US it would still likely find that it is too small and too expensive to be a real volume seller. It is probably true that Toyota and Honda do a better job of not duplicating effort when developing and localizing cars than Ford but, Ford has apparently been famously bad at doing things like sharing components across its range even just within the US market. VAG has cash to invest, if they quit screwing around, build a US plant or 3 and relaunch with a new range they should be able to put their image problem in the US behind them, they'll still have their awful dealer network though. Just to take midsize cars for example the reality is that the Accords sold in Europe are not the same as those sold in the US, the Toyota Avensis is not sold in US either. VW does offer the same Passat in Europe and the US and that’s one likely reason for its poor performance as expectations and the competition are so different compared to the EU.
So even if Ford invested and retooled a plant to produce the Mondeo in the US it would still likely find that it is too small and too expensive to be a real volume seller.
It is probably true that Toyota and Honda do a better job of not duplicating effort when developing and localizing cars than Ford but, Ford has apparently been famously bad at doing things like sharing components across its range even just within the US market.
VAG has cash to invest, if they quit screwing around, build a US plant or 3 and relaunch with a new range they should be able to put their image problem in the US behind them, they’ll still have their awful dealer network though.

]]> By: joeaverage http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/winterkorn-world-car-dead-and-buried/comment-page-1/#comment-230402 joeaverage Sun, 16 Mar 2008 03:03:35 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/winterkorn-world-car-dead-and-buried/#comment-230402 I agree with Frontline. Then use the savings from more limited vehicle development programs (fewer models across the globe) to improve their quality. I know the current lineup is miles ahead of cars from 20 years ago but their are vehicles from the competition that are still miles ahead of GM, Ford and Chrysler... VW and Honda do this for example. Same products around the globe though not all models reach all markets (damn!) I agree with Frontline. Then use the savings from more limited vehicle development programs (fewer models across the globe) to improve their quality. I know the current lineup is miles ahead of cars from 20 years ago but their are vehicles from the competition that are still miles ahead of GM, Ford and Chrysler…

VW and Honda do this for example. Same products around the globe though not all models reach all markets (damn!)

]]> By: frontline http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/winterkorn-world-car-dead-and-buried/comment-page-1/#comment-228332 frontline Fri, 14 Mar 2008 22:36:31 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/winterkorn-world-car-dead-and-buried/#comment-228332 I disagree with Herr Winterkorn. If Ford and GM had shared their European models with the US all along they would probably be in much better health. I see it as each market should have a niche product , such a micro car in Europe or a monster truck for the States, etc. I disagree with Herr Winterkorn. If Ford and GM had shared their European models with the US all along they would probably be in much better health. I see it as each market should have a niche product , such a micro car in Europe or a monster truck for the States, etc.

]]> By: Bancho http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/winterkorn-world-car-dead-and-buried/comment-page-1/#comment-228102 Bancho Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:24:28 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/winterkorn-world-car-dead-and-buried/#comment-228102 Xebras for all my comrades! Xebras for all my comrades!

]]> By: Banned User http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/winterkorn-world-car-dead-and-buried/comment-page-1/#comment-228052 Banned User Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:15:17 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/winterkorn-world-car-dead-and-buried/#comment-228052 The way the economy is going we may soon be driving the same cars as the Chinese. The way the economy is going we may soon be driving the same cars as the Chinese.

]]> By: John Williams http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/winterkorn-world-car-dead-and-buried/comment-page-1/#comment-227882 John Williams Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:37:58 +0000 http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/news-blog/winterkorn-world-car-dead-and-buried/#comment-227882 <em>To that end, VW will be rolling out no fewer than 20 new models in the next three years– as it tries to oust Toyota from the top global sales spot.</em> No good can come of this. I expect VW to place themselves on the teetering edge of bankruptcy trying to pull something like that off. It's not like they have the "reliability" halo to bolster sales.... To that end, VW will be rolling out no fewer than 20 new models in the next three years– as it tries to oust Toyota from the top global sales spot.

No good can come of this. I expect VW to place themselves on the teetering edge of bankruptcy trying to pull something like that off. It’s not like they have the “reliability” halo to bolster sales….

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