Volkswagen brass lobby hard for North American SUV

Story by John LeBlanc As it pushes to become a full-line automaker in North America, one gaping hole in the Volkswagen brand’s product portfolio is a three-row SUV. But if Volkswagen Group of America executives get their way, a new VW crossover will not only be sold in America but also built there. At this year’s Detroit auto show, Volkswagen debuted its CrossBlue Concept (seen above). Larger than the compact Tiguan and projected to be roomier but less expensive than the mid-size, two-row Touareg, the CrossBlue Concept three-row crossover is targeted right at the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, and Ford Explorer crowd. Volkswagen officials have not confirmed a production version of the CrossBlue Concept is a go. But according to a report from Automotive News, the brass at Volkswagen Group of America are pitching a plan to the home office in Germany that shows it can add 100,000 units of new production to its Chattanooga, Tennessee plant to accommodate a CrossBlue-like vehicle. If it was built on the same line in Tennessee as the existing Volkswagen Passat mid-size sedan, adding the new SUV would bring production to the German automaker’s lone American facility to 250,000 units annually. Frank Fischer, head of operations at the Chattanooga plant, said the expansion would require a third 40-hour-per-week shift, with the potential to push production to 300,000, if necessary. However, even if a production version of the CrossBlue Concept was approved (and based on Volkswagen’s North American sales growth plans, the product seems like a slam dunk), there’s always Volkswagen’s three Mexican facilities: the assembly plant in Puebla; an engine plant in Silao; or a new facility in San Jose Chiapa that is being built to assemble the Audi Q5. Regardless of where the CrossBlue (or whatever Volkswagen decides to call it) is built, it looks like a production version is in the cards. And if it's built in North America, it should follow recent offerings like the Jetta and Passat by offering a good price-to-features ratio. What do you think? Would you buy a Volkswagen three-row crossover? Or is the Volkswagen brand still a “small” car only brand in your mind? Source: Automotive News

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