VW begins Amarok production in Germany

[Wimbledon]

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/05...uction-of.html

A little over two years after the introduction of the Amarok and the start of production at Volkswagen Group's manufacturing Pacheco plant in Argentina, the automaker announced that the midsize pickup is also to be produced at the brand's factory in Hanover, Germany.

Volkswagen said it plans to manufacture around 40,000 Amarok trucks a year for customers in Eastern and Western Europe as well as Africa. The company noted that production in Argentina will continue but in the future, it will focus on deliveries to Latin America and South America.

The German firm's CEO Martin Winterkorn opened the newly installed assembly lines for the Amarok during a special ceremony on Thursday.

"Volkswagen has big growth opportunities worldwide in the light commercial vehicles segment," said Winterkorn. "With the start of production in Hanover, the Amarok has finally arrived in Europe. The Amarok ‘made in Hanover’ stands for the production capability of the location and gives additional ongoing impetus to the success story of our Volkswagen pickup," he added.

Currently, VW has started the pre-production phase of the Amarok, with serial production to commence from the end of June, at which point, 185 trucks will be rolling off the Hanover assembly lines per working day.

[Euro Hillbilly]

Why does the orange service truck look like a really good photoshop? Edit: As far as there being a fully articualting (heavy) man lift in the bed.

[Saintor]

Oh! return of the tires with markings. Must be rare in Europe.

[stuvy]

just sell this here. TDi amarok would be in my driveway no question.

[MRVW00]

Do want!

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[50fridge]

I wish they would sell this here.

[bringtheshred]

Amarok bucket truck! Pretty cool.

[jaystone]

And just to show my ignorance; why are they not going to import this to the US/Canada?

[Grey Mouser]

F-150 that's why?

[50fridge]

And just to show my ignorance; why are they not going to import this to the US/Canada?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tax
The US government puts a 25% tariff on light trucks imported into the United States. This tariff would make the truck too expensive and it would sell poorly and this is the reason why VW will not sell it here. Unless they start building the Amarok in Mexico then the US will never see this truck.

[stuvy]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tax
The US government puts a 25% tariff on light trucks imported into the United States. This tariff would make the truck too expensive and it would sell poorly and this is the reason why VW will not sell it here. Unless they start building the Amarok in Mexico then the US will never see this truck.

They already do build it in south america.

[200HP4dr]

I actually find the single cab long bed version to be a refreshing return to smaller trucks. I would imagine, if this truck were any good, it would do very well here.

Chris

[50fridge]

They already do build it in south america.

But we do not have a free trade agreement with Argentina so it would still be hit with a 25% tariff.

[emmettlodge]

Why does the orange service truck look like a really good photoshop? Edit: As far as there being a fully articualting (heavy) man lift in the bed.

The man bucket truck is def a photoshop. And not a very good one at that

It's missing the control unit/base at the bottom, which is what gave it away for me.

Here's a pic of an actual man bucket unit on a Tacoma:

[emmettlodge]

I would give this a shot to replace my Tacoma if it got at least 27 mpg highway (What my Taco gets), had a gas engine option, was automatic, and cost less than $17,500 (What my Taco cost).

[Turbio!]

just sell this here. TDi amarok would be in my driveway no question.

Okay. Now go price out a Tacoma, extended or crew cab, and add $2500 to the MSRP for the configuration of your choice. Still enthusiastic?

I actually find the single cab long bed version to be a refreshing return to smaller trucks. I would imagine, if this truck were any good, it would do very well here.

Chris

It's no smaller than the Tacoma - actually, it's an inch or so wider and taller. Think, say, Dakota-size. It's a biggun.

[Grey Mouser]

I would give this a shot to replace my Tacoma if it got at least 27 mpg highway (What my Taco gets), had a gas engine option, was automatic, and cost less than $17,500 (What my Taco cost).

You may as well require it to give rim jobs with those unrealistic expectations.

Taco's aren't $17.5k new, cheapest I see is in the high 19s new, base, etc.

[emmettlodge]

You may as well require it to give rim jobs with those unrealistic expectations.

Taco's aren't $17.5k new, cheapest I see is in the high 19s new, base, etc.

None of those expectations are unrealistic. Toyota, Ford, Chevy, and Nissan have all been able to make small trucks that meet those.

I paid $18,000 flat for my Tacoma, including all the dealer's stupid fees. So my point is that the Amarok would have to be a bit cheaper than that in order for me to consider an untested and unknown brand.

[Turbio!]

Also...this isn't intended to be insulting to anybody, but unless you're already a truck or SUV owner, I'd be extremely skeptical that, when push comes to shove, you actually need an Amarok enough to put your money where your mouth is. If you don't already need a truck (or SUV or crossover) and its utility enough to own one even as a secondary vehicle, are you really - really really really - going to buy a $35-40k one if it's sold here, just because it's got a diesel and a badge you like on the front end? Maybe a few of you would, but...

If VW's considering selling this here, the question they're asking is "how many Tacoma, F-150, Frontier, Ram, and Silverado customers can we win over," not "How many VW buyers would also buy this."

[50fridge]

Also...this isn't intended to be insulting to anybody, but unless you're already a truck or SUV owner, I'd be extremely skeptical that, when push comes to shove, you actually need an Amarok enough to put your money where your mouth is. If you don't already need a truck enough to own one even as a secondary vehicle, are you really - really really really - going to buy a $35-40k one if it's sold here, just because it's got a diesel and a badge you like on the front end?

If VW's considering selling this here, the question they're asking is "how many Tacoma, F-150, Frontier, Ram, and Silverado customers can we win over," not "How many VW buyers would also buy this."

If they started building it in Mexico or America I bet it would be cost as much as a similar Tacoma.

[Turbio!]

If they started building it in Mexico or America I bet it would be cost as much as a similar Tacoma.

A reasonably well-equipped Taco crew cab hits $33-35k effortlessly. As I said above, then add $2000-2500 on to that if you want a diesel, which in the US would require AdBlue. If their strategy with the Q7, Touareg, and JSW TDI models is any guide, a diesel would only be available in a well-equipped trim line, not on base models.

So...I'd be astonished if you could obtain a diesel Amarok for any less than $33k. Now, I'd be willing to pay that, but I've bought $33k SUVs a couple of times.

[Turq]

I know -why- they do it, but does anyone else find robots wearing those sleeve things a bit hilarious looking? Or do I just need to go to bed?

[Fritz27]

I know -why- they do it, but does anyone else find robots wearing those sleeve things a bit hilarious looking? Or do I just need to go to bed?

It's so they're weatherproof when they begin the robot takeover.

[Turbio!]

I know -why- they do it, but does anyone else find robots wearing those sleeve things a bit hilarious looking? Or do I just need to go to bed?

I haz a jacket! Yaaaaay

[Lwize]

The Amarok is coming to the US, shortly after the Polo...

[CBJ]

A reasonably well-equipped Taco crew cab hits $33-35k effortlessly. As I said above, then add $2000-2500 on to that if you want a diesel, which in the US would require AdBlue. If their strategy with the Q7, Touareg, and JSW TDI models is any guide, a diesel would only be available in a well-equipped trim line, not on base models.

So...I'd be astonished if you could obtain a diesel Amarok for any less than $33k. Now, I'd be willing to pay that, but I've bought $33k SUVs a couple of times.

And you still get a little itty-bitty little diesel. The size of the TDI unit in the VW has been the biggest draw back here where 3L+ diesels are the norm in all the competition. The new Ranger is probably the class of this field now.

[gti_matt]

They already do build it in south america.

Mexico is not South America and it's likely as part of NAFTA that imports from Mexico are probably not subjected to the same tariffs that South American products would be.

[IridiumB6]

If anything, I wouldn't have anything in protest of VW selling a cheapened out version of this, building it in Mexico and selling it here for a lowered price, but with a TDI...

I see no reason why (what is undoubtedly a work truck) this needs to have soft touch materials and what not.. perhaps on a higher trim it can still come with all those amenities for those who really want it..just my $0.02

[gti_matt]

I still don't understand why (VWoA thinks) this wouldn't fly in the US (assuming that cost and build location is worked out, like Mexico or even in the US; building the Passat in TN worked wonders for the price and didn't absurdly cheapen it but yet sliced the MSRP nicely).

Tacomas, Frontiers, etc. all reasonably popular here and enthusiasm is growing in the US for VW's diesels, the Ranger is NLA here too so there's some vacancy to fill.

[8v_gti777]

Fappin away here.

[robr2]

If they started building it in Mexico or America I bet it would be cost as much as a similar Tacoma.

Sure - as long as VW can justify the expense of a billion? dollar assembly line to handle body on frame for 10K annual sales.

[Turbio!]

I still don't understand why (VWoA thinks) this wouldn't fly in the US (assuming that cost and build location is worked out, like Mexico or even in the US; building the Passat in TN worked wonders for the price and didn't absurdly cheapen it but yet sliced the MSRP nicely).

Tacomas, Frontiers, etc. all reasonably popular here and enthusiasm is growing in the US for VW's diesels, the Ranger is NLA here too so there's some vacancy to fill.

VW doesn't have factory capacity in Mexico to build this, and the Chattanooga line will be devoted to building the Passat and a brace of crossovers, which are vastly more lucrative. They'd have to build a new factory to build it. That's not going to happen for 10,000 sales a year.

Tacomas are the only smaller pickups that sell in appreciable numbers. The Frontier hangs on, mostly because its platform is shared with 4 other Nissan vehicles. The Ranger wasn't worth it for Ford to produce here, and nobody else is even bothering. The midsize pickup market is not a lucrative niche. If VW had a partner it could share frames and design with to amortize costs, maybe it would be justifiable, but I think you're totally overestimating the size of the opportunity the Amarok represents to VW.

[Turbio!]

And you still get a little itty-bitty little diesel. The size of the TDI unit in the VW has been the biggest draw back here where 3L+ diesels are the norm in all the competition. The new Ranger is probably the class of this field now.

From what I've gathered, it's pretty strong because it's got two turbos. I'd rate it more likely that, if they tried to take a go at it here, they'd just use the V6 diesel they've already got federalized for the SUVs.

[Grey Mouser]

None of those expectations are unrealistic. Toyota, Ford, Chevy, and Nissan have all been able to make small trucks that meet those.

I paid $18,000 flat for my Tacoma, including all the dealer's stupid fees. So my point is that the Amarok would have to be a bit cheaper than that in order for me to consider an untested and unknown brand.

http://www.fuelly.com/car/toyota/tacoma

27 MPG is unrealistic. Mid 18s Mixed. So if you took 27+18.5/2=22.55 mixed and it's falling below that.

[MCTB]

I love these threads. Its always, "I will buy it!" But I highly doubt it. If there was a strong demand, combined with a good profit margin, for a small diesel pick up, there would be one here already since every midsize pickup we have has a diesel counterpart over here already, including the Ford Ranger. I rack a lot of this up in the same category as the Passat alltrack. It wont come here so stop complaining about how its not.

Big deal, theyre building the truck in Germany now. Hooray. I guess the ones that I have been seeing are the ones made in Argentina. Meh.