VW America Chief Plans for Global Dominance

VW’s US head, Stefan Jacoby, is not hiding his wild ambition for the German giant.  Justin Hyde of The Detroit Free Press quoted Jacoby as saying: “We want to be the No. 1 automaker globally.  Not everybody believes in this goal. We believe in this vision we have, and we are working very hard on its realization.”

Entailing that vision will mean VW improving is US offerings, pushing the “blue” (diesel) mantra further, and improving the poor reputation VWs have received in reliability.  VW will be replacing the Passat with a new midsize family sedan built in North America, as well as create a new midsize crossover to better compete with the likes of the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander.  The VW overhaul will reportedly be completed by the 2012 production year.