Volkswagen may build next Golf in Mexico

[FastGTi]

The seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf is likely to go into production next year for North American consumption, but Automotive News is reporting that the latest version of the Volkswagen hatchback could end up being built in Mexico by 2014 according to an interview with CEO Martin Winterkorn. The decision to produce the recently debuted 2014 Golf there could happen within a few weeks, and if it does come to fruition, all three of VW's biggest sellers in the U.S. would be produced in North America.

This would bode well for VW's targeted sales growth in the U.S., which is already up 37 percent this year over 2011. AN says that Golf production would take place at VW's Puebla, Mexico plant that currently builds the Jetta and Beetle, marking the first time the Golf is built outside of Germany. The report also indicates that the automaker is planning to produce the car in China as well.

The Winterkorn interview also discussed the Chattanooga, Tennessee plant that currently builds the Passat. Winterkorn admits that while capacity maxed-out at the year-old facility, there's room for expansion. On that front, confirming earlier rumors, Winterkorn noted that if VW is going to expand, it would be with a utility vehicle that is "roomier than the Tiguan."

[Time for a GTI]

They're not gingers for crissake

[WRXGuy]

>"... marking the first time the Golf is built outside of Germany. "

Uhh, pretty darn sure that my '95 GTI VR6 was Hecho en Mexico.

[romanl]

would TDI and GTI still be built in Germany?

[bora-brazil]

I bet it's going to happen....it's the only way if it's coming to Brazil because cars made in Mexico are not charged with import tax here.

[Benkennedy11]

I've owned Mexican and Brazilian made Golfs... but never a Golf made in Germany (though I had a German Rabbit and a German Jetta). So, what difference does it make?

[Lwize]

I didn't think the US consumed enough Golfs to justify local production.

[firstorbit84]

My mk4 golf TDI was made in Mexico, and my mkv Wolfsburg Jetta was made in Mexico, and my fox was made in Brazil. No big deal really. The only VW I've owned that was made in Germany was my Corrado, and guess which one was the least reliable

[mhjett]

I didn't think the US consumed enough Golfs to justify local production.

No, but you could make them cheaply, sell them profitably in the US, and then export the rest to the EU and make a killing.

[pete@blackforest]

My mk4 golf TDI was made in Mexico, and my mkv Wolfsburg Jetta was made in Mexico, and my fox was made in Brazil. No big deal really. The only VW I've owned that was made in Germany was my Corrado, and guess which one was the least reliable

[Lwize]

No, but you could make them cheaply, sell them profitably in the US, and then export the rest to the EU and make a killing.

This is VW. They'll find a way to screw it up.

[BetterByDesign]

The production plant in MX has been around for quite some time. So has automation.

What do you think Made In Germany means?

[caj1]

This is VW. They'll find a way to screw it up.

Must be why they are vying for top manufacturer in the world.

[mhjett]

This is VW. They'll find a way to screw it up.

[VR6GURU]

In before "cars made in Mexico are inferior"

[maloosheck]

(...) the Chattanooga, Tennessee plant (...) capacity maxed-out at the year-old facility (...)

German Engineering?...

[MK5golf]

The fact that my car was built in Germany was a serious positive when I was car shopping. I would much rather not buy something Mexican assembled, if only because ive heard a lot of horror stories.

But like someone else posted... the Corrado was made in Deutschland :p

[BostonB6]

>"... marking the first time the Golf is built outside of Germany. "

Uhh, pretty darn sure that my '95 GTI VR6 was Hecho en Mexico.

Also, Golf is currently assembled in:

Wolfsburg, Germany
Mosel-Zwickau, Zwickau, Germany
Changchun, China
Jakarta, Indonesia
Pekan, Malaysia
Solomonovo, Ukraine

although all current US Golfs come from Germany

[Jiffycake!]

I've had two mexico built golfs and they were fine.. on the other hand my cabriolet was made by karmann in germany and it sucks

[ToucheTurtle]

[Perio5]

My mk3 was built in Mexico and sold it after 10 years without a SINGLE issue, the most reliable car i´ve ever had, or does the passat being built in Chatanooga by overweight employees make it a ford pinto?, let´s stop this BS, Puebla´s plant is one of the most important assembly lines in the world for VAG, i´m not saying they´re perfect but come on

[2.0T_Convert]

My mk4 golf TDI was made in Mexico, and my mkv Wolfsburg Jetta was made in Mexico, and my fox was made in Brazil. No big deal really. The only VW I've owned that was made in Germany was my Corrado, and guess which one was the least reliable

This will be a huge deal over on the MK(model) forums.

Reading a thread this morning over on MK6 where people talked down the Focus ST. Because made in Mexico

[tiexgrr]

They're not gingers for crissake

[velocidub]

I've owned 9 VWs. 1 made in USA, 2 Mexico, 2 Brazil, 4 Germany. All of them were good cars.

[pretzelogik]

So will this model be called the Tequila?

[Klim18]

No mames wey!

[seadoo2006]

[Remedy]

Looks like VAG is choosing mexico as mentioned earlier in the year.

[TM87]

I wonder how people feel about their Iphone being build in China by child laborers.

94% of your life is "made in China" and you are b!tching about your econobox being made in Mexico.

[Klim18]

I wonder how people feel about their Iphone being build in China by child laborers.

94% of your life is "made in China" and you are b!tching about your econobox being made in Mexico.

Hey. from past experience those iPhones are quality products, on the other hand, Mexico assembled MKAY4's not so much.

[4-Dr-W-a-T]

My VIN begins with 9,... made in Brazil!

One of the toughest cars ive driven/owned

[stascom]

I find this disappointing. It may not sway my decision to get a VW by much. But I still prefer products that are manufactured where they are designed. It's nothing more than a coolness appeal. It's been kinda of a warm-fuzzy feeling for me to see "Made in Japan" when opening the door to my former Mazda, Subaru and current Nissan

[WhistlerYOW]

I want my robots to be part of the master race.

[mtb_jeremy]

My friend had a Mk3 Golf that was made in Mexico. STUPID PERSON THAT WROTE THE ARTICLE!!!!!


With the key in the ignition and the door open, it would play "La Cucaracha" (seriously).

[Lwize]

My MKV was made in Germany, and its a steaming pile.
I welcome our new Mexican Overlords.