NY Auto Show: VW Considers Mini Car For U.S.

Posted by: David Kiley on April 8, 2009

Volkswagen AG is considering selling its Up minicar in the United States, said Stefan Jacoby, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America.

Body styles of the Up family could be suitable for the United States, and the vehicle is perfect for urban markets like New York, San Francisco and Washington, Jacoby said. But the decision “is a bit too much in the future,” he added.

Mercedes-Benz’s smart car has already staked out that market. And there is a lot of debate in the auto industry about how big the urban mini car market is in the U.S.

The Up brand is scheduled to go on sale in Europe in early 2011 — it was delayed several months because of an engine change. VW plans to build a hatchback, small minivan and sedan.

The Up is key to VW meeting its plan to increase worldwide sales to 1 million a year by 2018. VW plans to sell at least 500,000 Up models a year in Europe and emerging markets, Jacoby said.

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