VW may sell Polo in the U.S.
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"We are deliberating whether to launch smaller models than the Golf in the US market," Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn said in an interview with Handelsblatt at the Detroit auto show.
This is the automaker's first consideration of models smaller than the Golf in the US.
Winterkorn said: "I will ask the question this week when I meet with our 600 dealers in the US: 'Do you need the VW Polo?'"
The planned model based on the VW concept Space Up could also go to the US market, he said.
More carmakers are introducing smaller models in the U.S. Earlier this week, Ford said it would introduce a hatchback variant of the next-generation Fiesta small car in the U.S. in 2010. The model is set to debut in Europe and Asia this year.
BMW had its U.S. debut of its 1 series entry-premium car at the Detroit auto show, and General Motors is set to launch the Opel Astra as a Saturn brand in the U.S. Daimler also launched its Smart ForTwo microcar in the U.S.
Experts see a growing U.S potential for small cars because of rising gasoline prices and greater environmental awareness. Last year this segment was one of the few to growth in the U.S.
